Put things right, Lord!
Opening Prayer
God, let us not seek to make You in our image, which is twisted and broken, but let us seek to reflect Yours.
Read Psalm 7:1-17
[1] A shiggaion of David, which he sang to the LORD concerning Cush, a Benjamite. LORD my God, I take refuge in you; save and deliver me from all who pursue me, [2] or they will tear me apart like a lion and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue me. [3] LORD my God, if I have done this and there is guilt on my hands- [4] if I have repaid my ally with evil 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. [6] Arise, 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, while you sit enthroned over them on high. [8] Let the LORD judge the peoples. Vindicate me, LORD, according to my righteousness, according to my integrity, O Most High. [9] Bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure- you, the righteous God who probes minds and hearts. [10] My shield is God Most High, who saves the upright in heart. [11] God is a righteous judge, a God who displays 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. [14] Whoever is pregnant with evil conceives trouble and gives birth to disillusionment. [15] Whoever digs a hole and scoops it out falls into the pit they have made. [16] The trouble they cause recoils on them; their violence comes down on their own heads. [17] I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness; I will sing the praises of the name of the LORD Most High. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
In what way does this psalm reflect justice?There are psalms I tend to hurry through as I seek to minimize the impact of the violence they describe upon my spirit. I guess I am not alone: one commentator described this psalm as “one of the least inspiring.” When life is comfortable and I am at peace with the world it is hard to identify with David’s troubles, and the psalm sounds an awkward note. But, when I find myself in conflict with others, this psalm fits me like a glove. O my fickle soul! Whoever Cush was, he was making David’s life a misery, and David wonders if the cause of this opposition was his own fault (“If I have done this. . .”; 3). We are wise to search our own soul first before blaming others when life becomes conflicted, but, as David does, we can also turn to God, praying that his justice will vindicate us and end the conflict (5,6). Indeed, those who wish us harm often end up only destroying themselves (14-16). The result for David will be praise for deliverance (17), to which I might want to add a cry to God for mercy toward those who pursue us
Apply
Take some time with the Lord, asking your part in any conflict you are in.
Closing prayer
God, thank You that You are not conflicted: You love mercy and You do what is right.
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