PSALM 7

Psalm 7:1-17 (ESV) A Shiggaion of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning the words of Cush, a Benjaminite. O Lord my God, in you do I take refuge; save me from all my pursuers and deliver me, [2] lest like a lion they tear my soul apart, rending it in pieces, with none to deliver. [3] O Lord my God, if I have done this, if there is wrong in my hands, [4] if I have repaid my friend with evil or plundered my enemy without cause, [5] let the enemy pursue my soul and overtake it, and let him trample my life to the ground and lay my glory in the dust. Selah [6] Arise, O Lord, in your anger; lift yourself up against the fury of my enemies; awake for me; you have appointed a judgment. [7] Let the assembly of the peoples be gathered about you; over it return on high. [8] The Lord judges the peoples; judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness and according to the integrity that is in me. [9] Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to an end, and may you establish the righteous— you who test the minds and hearts, O righteous God! [10] My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart. [11] God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day. [12] If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword; he has bent and readied his bow; [13] he has prepared for him his deadly weapons, making his arrows fiery shafts. [14] Behold, the wicked man conceives evil and is pregnant with mischief and gives birth to lies. [15] He makes a pit, digging it out, and falls into the hole that he has made. [16] His mischief returns upon his own head, and on his own skull his violence descends. [17] I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High.

Once again David is beseeching God in a time of trouble. He approaches God over the “words of Cush, a Benjaminite.” We are unsure who this person was, but we can infer from the contents of this Psalm that this a person who opposes David in a vicious manner. In verse 2 David says “lest like a lion they tear my soul apart, rending it in pieces, with none to deliver.” This likely calls to the Christian’s mind the same language used of the Devil regarding us in 1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (ESV)

In the course of his pleading, David appeals to his innocence in the matter at hand. In verses 3 and 4, he calls upon God to search him out to see if he has done any wrong, and if so, to then punish. He continues that theme in verse 8, “The Lord judges the peoples; judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness and according to the integrity that is in me.” This verses sounds problematic to the Christian ear when failing to consider the context, but remember David is not talking about his ultimate righteousness, but his righteous actions in the given circumstance.

David then calls upon God’s justice to be revealed. He calls upon him arise and implement justice, to come to his aid, not only his but the entire ‘assembly of the peoples.’ David leaves justice, judgment, and retribution up to God. This was characteristic of David’s prayer life and well as his practice. On two occasions at least, David refused to kill Saul even though he had clear opportunity.

Before we flee to God seeking retribution for the wrongs we have suffered, let us be careful to make sure there is no fault in ourselves. We may only confidently call on God as our shield and avenger during these times when we have acted uprightly. Let this be a call to us to act uprightly toward others, to be honest, fair, and righteous regardless of whom we are dealing with.

Let us also be reminded of our destructive enemy, Satan. He will seek our destruction through his action, and our downfall through slander and lies. We must be ever conscious of the redeeming love of Jesus Christ for us as he seeks to bring us down. Let us call on our advocate and defender Jesus Christ to plead our case against the accuser. Let us call upon our God, our refuge and shield to hold us safe in the attack. We can be sure that the attacks will come. We can even be sure that they will be vicious and painful to us. But we can also be assured that “My shield is with God who saves the upright heart.” Not upright because of our innocence, for we are not innocent, but because of the righteousness and blood of Jesus Christ.

LET ME NOT DENY

John 13:36-38 and 2 Timothy 1:6-8

Lord, let me not deny when it is time to stand. Let me stand firm on your promises by the power of your spirit. Let me not be as Peter who denied you while you were suffering. Let me not be a Judas who betrayed you for worldly gain. Give to me the kind of faith that boldly stands up for the gospel. Let me one who will lay down his life in allegiance to the one who laid down his life for me. Let me be not ashamed of the gospel. Let me not fear, but walk in the Spirit of power, love and self-control. May my testimony always be faithful and my words be true and glorifying to you. Amen.

FEEDING AND KILLING

A devotional prayer based on Matthew 5:29-30; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 4:17-32

Lord God I need your grace. I find myself feeding what I ought to kill, and killing what I ought to feed, loving what I ought to despise, and despising what I ought to love.

I am to crucify the flesh with its sinful desires. I am to flee immorality. I am to put off all iniquity and the sin which so easily entangles. I am to pluck out the eye and cut off the hand that causes me to sin. But yet I let sinfulness remain alive in me. What is worse, I feed it, I fuel it, and I give it life. I do not cast it aside, but put it on.

Still worse than this, as I give Satan a foothold and remain chained to sin's enslavement, I kill righteousness and holiness. I ought to feed it, to fuel it, to give it life. O Lord, that I would feed righteousness and holiness with the same passion and vigor that I once, and still often, pursue wickedness. Give me the strong desire to seek Your kingdom and righteousness, just a deer pants for water, and an infant craves milk.

Make me into a fighter, not a quitter. Make me into a worker, not a slacker. Make me into a lover of Your ways, not a lover of sin. To the glory of God and in the name of the savior. Amen

HUMILITY

This is another prayer/devotional offering. This one is based on Philippians 2:1-11

Lord Jesus, You did not hold tightly to the rights of your divinity, but willingly gave up those rights in humility, and in taking on human flesh. A human form that is full of limitations, and subject to temptation and judgment. Your humility led You to death on the cross on my behalf. You subjected yourself to humiliation, so that You name might be exhalted, so that every knee should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to Your glory, O God.
You have called us to be of the same mind. Not that we could even make atonement for our sins by way of humiliation and sacrifice, but that we might reflect Your purposes and heart. Remove from my heart rivalry and deceit. Let me not look at my needs, but also at the needs of others. Work in your church that we would live in the unity that you have called us to. May You use us to bring tongues to You that will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. In the name of the Lord Jesus. Amen.