◄ What Does Psalm 7:1 Mean? ►

{Shiggaion of David, which he sang unto the LORD, concerning the words of Cush the Benjamite.} O LORD my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me:

Psalm 7:1(KJV)

Verse of the Day

David was chosen by God to be the king of Israel who would shepherd and care for His people. He was a man after God's own heart because he trusted in the Lord. From his youth, David found God was faithful and true, and despite his own foolish actions, some irresponsible decisions, and sinful behaviours, David maintained a holy faith in the Lord and found Him to be the only Rock on which he could stand and his only secure Tower of Refuge.

Despite being a called and chosen vessel of God, David faced many difficulties and dangers, and much of his life was spent running from enemies who hotly pursued him. Often David sought refuge from those that sought to kill him, by hiding in caverns and caves. Often David cried to the Lord to save and deliver him.

The passionate appeal at the start of Psalm 7 is a cry for salvation. It is a call for help and an appeal for justice against those who hounded him: "O Lord my God," was his intense cry, "In You have I taken refuge. Save me from all who pursue me... and deliver me."

We are informed that this psalm is a 'Shiggaion of David'. It is an impassioned cry for help: "Which he sang unto the LORD, concerning the words of Cush the Benjamite." Perhaps Cush was a relative of Saul who relentlessly sought to slay David because of his evil jealousy of God's anointed. Maybe Cush was one of Saul's henchmen who was employed to destroy the king's rival, or possibly he was David's friend who turned into an enemy.

David felt like a little defenceless lamb that was being hotly pursued by a roaring lion with no place to hide and no-one to help! It seems Cush made many accusations against David, which he vigorously denied: "If I have rewarded evil to my friend, or plundered him without cause, then let the enemy pursue my soul and overtake it. But if I have done this evil, then let him trample my life down to the ground and lay my glory in the dust."

David was willing to stand trial for his offenses, but pleaded his innocence before the Lord and called for righteous justice when falsely accused: "Vindicate me, O Lord, according to my righteousness and my integrity. Let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous, for you are the righteous God who discerns inner thoughts."

Like Abraham, David was declared righteous before the Lord, not because of who he was but because of the One in Whom he trusted. David believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. Because of this, he was able to cry out to the Lord to vindicate his servant, according to his righteousness and integrity.

Despite his pain, David was willing to trust in God as his Shield and Defender. He acknowledged the Lord to be a righteous Judge Who would vindicate His oppressed people. David acknowledged that in this world we will suffer trials and tribulations and the enemy of our soul will use every opportunity to depress our heart and shipwreck our faith, but this man of God never forgot that the Lord is in control, and the mischief of the oppressor will finally return on his own head.

As in so many of David's songs, the knowledge of the truth of God's righteous judgement lifted his soul and encouraged his heart. It caused him to rejoice in the Lord and to offer thanksgiving and praise for the sure knowledge that His plans and purposes for the salvation of His people is sure.

"I will give thanks to the LORD according to His righteousness." are David's final thoughts with regard to Cush the Benjamite and all those that oppressed his soul: "I will give thanks to the LORD according to His righteousness, and will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High." David has become a great example of a man whose trust in God was severely tested, but one who maintained his faith in His Redeemer.

No matter what we are facing in this world, no matter who is oppressing us, and no matter what difficult circumstances we have to face, may we never forget in Whom we have placed our trust. Vengeance belongs to the Lord, and because He is the God of righteousness in Whom we stand, He is the One Who will vindicate all those who have placed their trust in Him.

My Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for the example that David set when he was pursued by his enemies, falsely accused, and persecuted for righteousness' sake. Thank You that my hope is in You. Thank You for Your promise to vindicate all Your people who are unjustly accused, or have been hotly pursued by the enemy of our soul. Give me a heart that trusts You, no matter what difficulties or dangers may cross my path. I pray that, like David, my hope will be built on nothing less than the Lord Jesus Christ and His perfect righteousness. Thank You that my salvation does not depend on what I have done, but on Who Christ is and what He has done on my account. In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN.