Introduction: The next group of psalms (7-14) deal with the same basic issue last the previous four: David’s distress/affliction at the hands of his enemies.

Shiggaion? There are many terms used in the heading of the psalms that often refer the psalm to specific instruments or to the director of music. This term might fall somewhere in between. The Septuagint simply “translates” it into Greek with the word “psalm”, evidently pointing to the fact that already in antiquity the meaning of this word was lost.

Psalm 7

1 O Lord my God, I take refuge in you; save and deliver me from all who pursue me, 2 or they will tear me like a lion and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue me.

What gives this prayer a sense of urgency?

Explain the significance of David calling the Lord “my” God.

Unfortunately, we often can treat God like a last resort. How does the second line of verse two help us fight that temptation?

3 O Lord my God, if I have done this and there is guilt on my hands— 4 if I have done evil to him who is at peace with me or without cause have robbed my foe— 5 then let my enemy pursue and overtake me; let him trample my life to the ground and make me sleep in the dust.

Compare David’s attitude toward the punishment any evil done by him deserves with your own attitude toward the same.

What does the punishment David lists suggest about the nature of things he is accused of?

Which is worse: to wrong a friend or to wrong an enemy? 6 Arise, O Lord, in your anger; rise up against the rage of my enemies. Awake, my God; decree justice. 7 Let the assembled peoples gather around you. Rule over them from on high; 8 let the Lord judge the peoples. Judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, according to my integrity, O Most High. 9 O righteous God, who searches minds and hearts, bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure.

In another place David will ask God “enter not into judgment with your servant, for no man living is righteous before you.” Explain why David says what he says here in verse 8. Isn’t he making a grave mistake? Did his theology change between the writing of Psalm 7 and Psalm 143?

Isn’t it hypocritical to ask the Lord to deal mercifully with yourself, but to “rise up” and “decree justice” for the wicked? If not, why?

Why can we always trust God’s judgment?

10 My shield is God Most High, who saves the upright in heart. 11 God is a righteous judge, a God who expresses his wrath every day. 12 If he does not relent, he will sharpen his sword; he will bend and string his bow. 13 He has prepared his deadly weapons; he makes ready his flaming arrows.

The Hebrew of verse 10 can be taken to say “My shield is God Most High” or “My shield is upon God.” Both are comforting. What would be the beauty and added comfort of the latter translation?

Forty lashes with a wet noodle—as my grade school principal was fond of saying—to the NIV for translating the end of verse 11 as “expresses his wrath every day.” More accurate is “is indignant” or “is in indignation.” Why would God be in indignation “every day”? Who do you think will win a fight: God equipped as listed or the wicked?

Over the past several psalms, one might get the impression that David relishes the thought of God punishing the wicked. How is this not sinful?

Why might we shy away from it?

Should we?

14 He who is pregnant with evil and conceives trouble gives birth to disillusionment. 15 He who digs a hole and scoops it out falls into the pit he has made. 16 The trouble he causes recoils on himself; his violence comes down on his own head.

David isn’t really breaking any new ground here. Give examples from Scripture or real life where the truth of these verses is on display.

Where in the New Testament are these thoughts echoed?

17 I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.

Do this right now. Write a prayer or song of thanks and praise to the Lord that focuses on his righteousness as Judge of all the earth. Look at some of the thoughts of this psalm for ideas.

Conclusion: God loves justice. It’s okay for his believers to love justice, too. If you are ever tempted to take revenge, come back to this psalm and be reminded that, since vengeance is the Lord’s, A) the Lord will shield you, therefore B) you don’t need to take revenge because C) the Lord will punish the wicked who afflict you, often through their own evil deeds and intentions.