INTRODUCTION
Part of growing up into biblical wisdom is coming to understand just how grave the situation is and at the same time just how good and just our God is. It’s worse than you think, and God has it in hand. American Christians need a lot more desperation in their prayers, and then a lot more praise in their hearts.
The Text: “Shiggaion of David, which he sang unto the Lord, concerning the words of Cush the Benjamite. O LORD my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me…” (Psalm 7:1-17)
SUMMARY OF THE TEXT
The context of this Psalm is a bit mysterious. A “shiggaion” is probably a song of deep or intense emotion. The word only occurs in one other place in Hab. 3:1. Cush the Benjamite is not mentioned anywhere else in the Bible, although it seems likely he was in some way involved in Saul’s persecution of David since Saul was from Benjamin.
David cries out for deliverance from an enemy seeking to tear his soul to pieces like a lion (Ps. 7:1-2). He prays an oath, saying that if he has done anything to deserve such treatment, let it come upon him (Ps. 7:3-5). David pleads with God to arise in His anger, and he asks God to judge him according to his righteousness and integrity (Ps. 7:6-8). David prays that God’s judgments would distinguish between the righteous and wicked, since God is angry with the wicked every day (Ps. 7:9-11).
The psalm warns that if the wicked will not turn from their evil ways, God will hunt them down (Ps. 7:12-13). The wicked do not merely do evil; they labor in their evil, bringing it forth with great effort and determination like a woman giving birth and they will fall into their own pits and plots (Ps. 7:14- 16). So David praises the Lord for His righteous judgments (Ps. 7:17).
THE INSOLENT REBELLION
Because of God’s goodness and power, evil is kept in significant check. This is the doctrine of common grace: God constantly restrains the evil impulses of sinners. Because of this, people are tempted to think that evil is not as bad as it is. We do not see sin for the insolent rebellion and suicidal terrorism that it is. For example, it came as something of a surprise for many when the COVID insanity persecuted businesses and churches and medical freedom. But “tyranny” is simply lawlessness: “As a roaring lion, and a ranging bear; so is a wicked ruler over the poor people” (Prov. 28:15). If God and His law are not over the state, then you have a lawless state, a tyrannical state. The lion may not be hunting you right now, but it can turn on you any minute.
Many Christians have made peace with a lawless state simply because it hasn’t targeted Christians explicitly yet. But every law or policy in defiance of God’s law is an inherent claim to the right to. This is what pure democracy is: “vox populi vox dei.” Whether we are talking about socialized medicine, sodomite mirage, the abortion carnage, or unjust taxation, it doesn’t matter what the people vote for if they are disobeying God. We can and should be deeply grateful for God’s restraining mercy on our land, but we must recognize that we live in a land full of roaring lions and ranging bears.
OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS
It’s often hard for Calvinists to pray the psalms that ask God judge us according to “our righteousness,” since we believe in “total depravity,” but there are at least three reasons we should not choke on these words at all.
First, we believe that by faith in Jesus Christ, His righteousness has truly been imputed to us, and therefore we are righteous in the sight of God (Rom. 4:22-25). He has done this by His free grace, and therefore it is humility to appeal to it. Second, remember that the Psalms are the Songs of Christ (Col. 3:16). He is our lead singer, and we sing in Him. This is really just another way of saying the first, but Christ sings for us and our lives are hidden in Him (Gal. 2:20, Col. 3:3). Third, the Holy Spirit is working in us what is well-pleasing to God (Eph. 2:10, Heb. 13:21). There really is a difference between the fruit of the Spirit and the works of the flesh (Gal. 5:19ff). It is not inappropriate to ask God to judge between us and our enemies on this basis. We cannot do it on an absolute basis (if God should mark iniquity, who could stand? Ps. 130:3), but we can do it on the basis of God’s work. And when we do, we should be willing for God to hold us to it (Ps. 7:3-5).
NO LITTLE SINS
This psalm says that the wicked “labor” with iniquity, literally they are “pregnant” with evil, having “conceived” mischief, which will always give birth to monstrous lies (Ps. 7:14).
James says that every man is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust and enticed, and conceives sin, and when sin is born it brings forth death (Js. 1:14-15). The answer to this is looking to God as the giver of every good and perfect gift (Js. 1:17). When you think of “lust” do not merely think of sexual lust; think of all your desires, all your longings. Desire is not evil, but it must be constantly taught to receive the good and perfect gifts of God. Desire turns into sinful lust when it resents what God has given (and not given). This can be your desire for a meal, a different tone of voice from your spouse, better pay, different clothes or body, a car, a husband/wife, children, a house, leadership/respect, etc.
Psalm 19 says that the fight against sin begins at the level of “secret sins,” or they grow into presumptuous sins, which grow into great transgressions (Ps. 19:12-13). This is why sins need to be put to death when they are little through confession, repentance, and forgiveness. Keep short accounts. What are you in labor with?
CONCLUSION
We live in a land that has attempted to make peace with evil, but that is to actually be at war with God and to have God angry with us as a nation. And much of the church has led in this insolence. At the same time, He has demonstrated that He is a God who distinguishes between the wicked and the righteous. God did this in Sodom, and He has done this decisively in the resurrection of Jesus. How much more will He do this in our land, where thousands still refuse to bow to the death-Baals?
Worship holds these realities together. The joy of the Lord if your strength. If you would avoid the ditches of panic and apathy, worship the Lord and sing the Psalms with gladness. Keep your eyes fixed on Jesus. The Cross is where God’s justice and mercy meet, and He will always do what is right.