Psalm 7 - Gleanings in the Psalms

Gleanings in the Psalms
(Psalm 7)

Psalm 7 may be called - THE SONG OF THE SLANDERED SAINT.

Division: -
The danger is stated and prayer offered. (Verses 1-2)
The Psalmist most solemnly avows his innocence. (Verses 3-5)
The Lord is pleaded with to arise to judgment. (Verses 6-7)
The Lord sitting upon His throne hears the renewed appeal of the slandered supplicant. (Verses 8-9)
The Lord clears His servant and threatens the wicked. (Verses 10-13)
The slanderer is seen in vision bringing a curse upon his own head. (Verses 14-16)
David retires from trial singing a hymn of praise to his righteous God. (Verse 17)

C.H. Spurgeon

Verse 1. "O Lord my God, in Thee do I put my trust; SAVE ME FROM ALL THEM THAT PERSECUTE ME …"

We read in the Book of Genesis that after the fall of man, the Lord said unto the serpent: "I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed". We find in the psalms abundant evidence of this enmity. We not only find Satan at enmity with Christ, but also the children of Satan at enmity with those who are Christ's.

Charles Girdlestone

Verse 4. "If I have rewarded evil unto him that is at peace with me …"

THE BEST REVENGE. Evil for good is devil-like; evil for evil is beast-like; good for good is man-like; good for evil is God-like.

Hints to the Village Preacher

Verse 5. "… Let him tread down my life upon the earth". The allusion here is to how the vanquished were often treated in battle, when they were rode over by horses, or trampled by men in the dust. The idea of David is that if he was guilty, he would be willing that his enemy should triumph over him, should subdue him, should treat him with the utmost indignity and scorn.

Albert Barnes

Verse 6. "Arise, O Lord … and awake for me to the judgment that Thou hast commanded". We can never pray in faith unless we attend, in the first place, to what God commands. David, therefore, in order to pray aright, reposes himself on the Word and promise of God; and the import of his exercise is this: Lord, I am not led by ambition, or foolish headstrong passion … to ask Thee whatever is pleasing to my flesh; but it is the clear light of Thy Word which directs me, and upon it I securely depend.

John Calvin

Verse 9. Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for THE RIGHTEOUS GOD TRIETH THE HEART AND REIGNS".

I that alone am Infinite, can try
How deep within itself thine heart doth lie;
Thy seaman's plummet can but reach the ground,
I find that which thine heart itself ne'er found.

Francis Quarles

Verse 12. "… He hath bent his bow and made it ready".

The bow is bent, the aim is taken, the arrow is fitted to the string, and what, O sinner, if the arrow should be let fly at thee even now! Remember, God's arrows never miss the mark, and are, every one of them, "instruments of death". Judgment may tarry, but it will not come too late. The Greek proverb saith: "The mill of God grinds late, but grinds to powder."

C. H. Spurgeon

Verse 14. "Behold, he travaileth with iniquity and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood".

The longer a sin is in forming and forging within, and the oftener the head and the heart meet about it, the more complete the sin. There are many litters of unformed sin in one, such, I mean, as are conceived and cast forth in the hurry of an extemporary passion; such sudden acts show weakness; the others, deep wickedness.

William Gurnall

Verse 15. "He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made". No one can complain of his own measure. No one pities the fate of a man buried in that pit which he dug to receive his neighbour; or the fate of him who owes his death-wound to the return of an arrow shot against heaven.

Bishop Horne

Verse 17. "I will praise the Lord according to His righteousness".

To bless God for mercies is the way to increase them; to bless Him for miseries is the way to remove them. No good lives so long as that which is thankfully improved; no evil dies so soon as that which is patiently endured.

William Dyer

"According to His righteousness
The Lord I'll magnify;
And will sing praise unto the name
of God that is most high".

Metrical Version

This Page Title – Gleanings in the Psalms (Psalm 7)
The Wicket Gate Magazine "A Continuing Witness".
Internet Edition number 42 – placed on line May 2003
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