The Highest Court
Opening Prayer
O Lord, my Lord, how great You are and how wonderful is Your holy Word. Speak through it now.
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 Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
Reflect
How does David describe the Lord in this psalm?Who do you turn to when you have been wronged? David took his case to God (1,3,6). Notice David’s supreme confidence in God’s power over all people (6-8), in his ability to protect (1,10) and deliver justice (9,11,12). In human law courts miscarriages of justice sometimes occur because vital evidence is lacking. God, however, has all the evidence at his disposal: every act, thought and feeling (9). The heavenly Judge is neither corrupt nor biased; the guilty, whoever they are, will face the consequences and those who are innocent will be vindicated (3-5,9,11-16). When suffering and evil have the upper hand, we want God to act now (6)! God only delays judgment because he longs for people to relent (12). David is convinced that God expresses his wrath “every day” (11). Every time his Spirit pricks our consciences, he expresses his displeasure at the sinful attitudes and behavior that mar his image in us. The question remains, will we “relent” and turn to him? If we do not, he gives us over to the sin we have chosen (14-16).
Apply
Are you or others facing injustice of one form or another? Cry out to God today for his help and deliverance.
Closing prayer
Lord, I trust in You in good times and bad. Keep me from sin and focused on You.
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