Psalm 7
Many of the Psalms that David wrote followed struggles or difficult experiences. We often find that we can relate to David's words as we encounter bumps in our lives. It matters not the struggle we face, we find refuge in God's loving arms. Let us begin by reading the Psalm:
"Lord my God, I take refuge in you; save and deliver me from all who pursue me or they will tear me apart like a lion and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue me. Lord my God, if I have done this and there is guilt on my hands— if I have repaid my ally with evil or without cause have robbed my foe— then let my enemy pursue and overtake me; let him trample my life to the ground and make me sleep in the dust. Arise, Lord, in your anger; rise up against the rage of my enemies.
Awake, my God; decree justice. Let the assembled peoples gather around you, while you sit enthroned over them on high. Let the Lord judge the peoples. Vindicate me, Lord, according to my righteousness, according to my integrity, O Most High. Bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure—you, the righteous God who probes minds and hearts. My shield is God Most High, who saves the upright in heart. God is a righteous judge, a God who displays his wrath every day. If he does not relent, he will sharpen his sword; he will bend and string his bow. He has prepared his deadly weapons; he makes ready his flaming arrows.
Whoever is pregnant with evil conceives trouble and gives birth to disillusionment. Whoever digs a hole and scoops it out falls into the pit they have made. The trouble they cause recoils on them; their violence comes down on their own heads. I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High."
While David is asking God for protection from those who pursue him, he begins by seeking forgiveness for any evil that he may have done. We are always wise to keep this attitude in mind as we pray. As Jesus noted in "The Lord's Prayer," forgive us as we forgive those who trespass against us. God is a righteous Judge and will punish the evil doer and rescues the innocent.
The one who conceives evil gives birth to disillusionment. The evil doer is often trapped in the very deeds they have practiced. As David notes, "... their violence comes down on their own heads." We ought to give thanks to the Lord as a Righteous Judge. We ought to sing praises to the name of the Lord! Even in the midst of difficult situations, our hope, our focus, and our praises are to the Lord.