Psalms 7:1 - Meaning and Application

Shiggaion is a song or psalm, and the word appears only here and in Habakkuk 3:1. Some take it to mean a wandering song, with different parts joined together skillfully. Others think it means a charming song, something very pleasing. David did not only write this psalm, he sang it himself in a devout way to the Lord, about the words or deeds of Cush the Benjamite, that is, likely Saul himself, whose cruel treatment of David made him seem more like a Cushite, an Ethiopian, than a true Israelite. Or it may have been some relative of Saul named Cush, a bitter enemy of David, who misrepresented him to Saul as a traitor and stirred Saul up even more. He was one of those “children of Belial,” or worthless men, who caused trouble between David and Saul (1 Samuel 26:19).

When David was so unfairly treated, he turned to the Lord. The wrongs people do to us should drive us to God, because we can entrust our case to him. David even sings to the Lord. His spirit was not shaken or crushed, but stayed so calm and cheerful that he was still ready for sacred songs, with no sour note in his harp. In the same way, when people hurt us, their attacks should stir up prayer and worship instead of anger.

In these verses, David first places himself under God’s protection and runs to him for help and shelter (Psalm 7:1). “Lord, save me, and deliver me from the power and evil will of all who persecute me, so they will not get their way over me.” He gives several reasons. First, he points to his relationship with God, “You are my God, so where else should I go but to you? You are my God, so you are my shield” (Genesis 15:1). Second, he points to his trust, “Lord, save me, because I depend on you. In you I put my trust, not in human strength.” People of honor should not fail those who trust them, especially when they themselves have invited that trust. Third, he points to the violence and hatred of his enemies and the danger that he might be swallowed up by them. “Lord, save me, or I am lost. He will tear me apart like a lion tearing its prey,” with such pride, delight, and force, and so cruelly. Paul compares Nero to a lion (2 Timothy 4:17), and David compares Saul in the same way. Fourth, he points to the lack of any other helper. “Lord, please deliver me, because no one else can” (Psalm 7:2). It is God’s glory to help those who cannot help themselves.

Second, David makes a serious statement of his innocence in the charges brought against him, and he calls on God, the one who searches hearts, to judge it (Psalm 7:3-5). In general, when people falsely accuse us, it is a great comfort if our own consciences clear us. Their lies may fail to stand up in court (Acts 24:13), and our own hearts may also prove them false to our own peace. God is the protector of wrongly treated innocence. David had no earthly court to appeal to. His prince, who should have defended him, was his sworn enemy. So he turned to the court of heaven and to a righteous Judge there, whom he could call his God.

Here is the charge he denies. He was accused of planning treason against Saul’s crown and life, of plotting to remove and kill him, and of gathering war against him for that purpose. David strongly denies it. He never did such a thing, and there was no evil of that kind in his hands (Psalm 7:3). He hated the thought of it. He never repaid Saul with evil while Saul was at peace with him, and not with anyone else either (Psalm 7:4). Some take the sense to be that he never returned evil for evil, and never wronged those who had wronged him.

He also gives proof of his innocence. It is hard to prove a negative, but David could point to clear evidence: “I have delivered him who is my enemy without cause” (Psalm 7:4). This showed beyond dispute that David had no plan against Saul’s life. More than once, Providence placed Saul in David’s power, and men around David would have quickly killed Saul. But David carefully and honorably stopped it, both when he cut off Saul’s robe corner (1 Samuel 24:4) and later when he took Saul’s spear (1 Samuel 26:12). Those acts testified to what David could have done. Saul himself admitted both were strong proof of David’s integrity and goodwill. If we return good for evil and hold back our anger, that may one day speak for us more than we realize.

David also says what judgment he would accept if he were guilty (Psalm 7:5). “Let the enemy chase my life to the death, and my good name after I am gone. Let him drag my honor into the dust.” This means, first, that if he had truly harmed others, he would have reason to expect the same treatment in return. Anyone who raises his hand against everyone else must expect every hand to be against him. Second, if he were guilty, he could not honestly go to God and ask for help or for his case to be defended. It is dangerous for guilty people, who are suffering justly, to appeal to God as if they were innocent and treated unfairly. They should humble themselves, accept the punishment for their sin, and not expect the righteous God to defend what is wrong. Third, David was fully convinced of his own innocence. We naturally want good for ourselves, so a curse brought on ourselves if we swear falsely has long been seen as a very serious oath. David uses such an oath here to confirm his claim of innocence, though that does not make it right for us to do the same for every small matter. The situation here was serious.

Third, having this witness from his conscience, David humbly asks God to act for him against his persecutors, and he supports each request with a good reason, showing that he knew how to present his case before God. He asks God to show his anger against his enemies, and he points to their anger against him: “Lord, they are wrongly angry at me, so be rightly angry with them and make that clear, too” (Psalm 7:6). “In your anger rise up and sit as judge, and make your power and justice seen, because of the rage, the fury, and the violence of my enemies.” Those do not need to fear human anger who have God’s anger against them. Who can fully understand the power of his anger? David then asks God to plead his cause.

He prays, “Awake for me to judgment,” meaning, let my case be heard. This points to God’s power, because as he effectively gives blessings, he also effectively gives judgment. God’s judgment cannot be blocked, and when he decrees it, it will surely be carried out.

It also points to God’s purpose and promise. David is asking for the judgment God has already planned to bring on the enemies of his people. God has commanded earthly rulers and judges to defend the wronged and protect the oppressed, so David prays that God would rise up to that same justice. The one who loves righteousness and requires it from others will surely do it himself. Even if God seems to overlook wrong for a time, as if asleep, he will wake in due season (Psalms 78:65), and then it will be clear that his delay was never neglect.

David also prays, “Return thou on high” (Psalms 7:7). He is asking God to assert his authority again and take up his royal throne, which his enemies have treated with contempt. He wants God to return openly, so that all can see heaven itself backing David’s cause. Some understand this as pointing to Jesus Christ, who, after returning to heaven in his exalted state, had all judgment given to him. It may also look ahead to Christ’s second coming, when he will return in glory to judge everyone. God’s injured people wait for that return, pray for it, and appeal to it when men judge them unfairly.

He asks again, “Judge me” (Psalms 7:8), meaning, give sentence on my side. To strengthen this request, he says the matter has now come before the proper judge, because “the Lord shall judge the people.” Since God is the Judge of all the earth, he will do what is right, and all must accept his decision. David also speaks of his own integrity in the matters between him and Saul, and he asks to be judged according to his righteousness and the sincerity of his heart in all he has done to advance to the throne.

He also says it would greatly honor God and bless his people if God would appear for him. Then “the congregation of the people” would gather around God and praise him. They would do this gladly, because God’s help to David, and the keeping of his promise to him, would show God’s righteousness, goodness, and faithfulness in a way that would fill his worshipers with joy and praise. David was loved by his country, especially by those who feared God, so his rise would lead many to thank God for the good of the nation. And if David came to power as God had promised, he would use that influence to draw people to worship, so that the ark would not be neglected, as it had been in Saul’s day (1 Chronicles 13:3).

He then prays more generally for the conversion of sinners and the settling of the godly (Psalms 7:9). “O let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the just.” Every one of us should desire and hope for these two things. First, we should pray for sin to be brought to an end in ourselves and others. That happens when corruption is put to death, when wicked ways and wicked thoughts are given up, and when the life that once rushed toward the world and the flesh is turned back toward God and heaven. It also happens when there is a real reform of life, when atheists and the ungodly are convinced and converted, when the spread of sin is stopped, when evil people can go no farther, when their folly is exposed, when the evil plans of the church’s enemies are defeated, when their power is broken, and when the man of sin is destroyed.

Second, we should pray for righteousness to continue and grow: “But establish the just.” As we pray that the wicked may become good, we also pray that the good may become stronger. We ask that they not be led away by the tricks of the wicked or shaken by their malice, but be confirmed in choosing God’s ways and strengthened to keep walking in them. We pray that they remain firm in the cause of God and true religion, and that they be zealous in helping bring wickedness to an end.

David supports this prayer with this reason: “For the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.” That means God tests the inner life, the heart and mind. So he knows the hidden evil of the wicked and knows how to end it. He also knows the hidden sincerity of the righteous, and he has secret ways of strengthening them. As far as we have the witness of a clear conscience that we have been wronged and unfairly spoken against, we may sing these verses and bring our appeal to the righteous God. We can be sure that he will uphold the right cause, and that, at the latest on the last day, he will bring our integrity into the light.