O Lord my God, if I have done this
and there is guilt on my hands–
if I have done evil to him who is at peace with me
or without cause have robbed my foe–
then let my enemy pursue and overtake me;
let him trample my life to the ground
and make me sleep in the dust.
Selah (Psalm 7:3-5)
Who prays like that? Who sings songs about being judged for their guilt if they have been unrighteous in their dealings with others?
In the context, David appeals to God for protection against his enemies (vv. 1-2). The opening title tells us that David sang the psalm to the Lord “concerning Cush, a Benjamite.” David thought he would be torn to pieces unless the Lord delivered him.
Now, when I’m feeling embattled, my thoughts don’t turn to my own righteousness, much less do I appeal to God to judge me if I’m wrong. How about you? I’m more concerned to bolster support for my cause. I don’t tend to remember the righteousness of God’s cause. How about you?
Why does David pray this way? I think for one simple reason: The “man after God’s own heart” loves the righteous character of His God more than he loves the protection of his name or life.
David will not settle for receiving God’s protection at the expense of God’s righteousness. He’d rather suffer God’s judgment of his guilt than have God be seen as unjust–even when God is judging between David and his enemies.
David calls upon God to awake and decree justice (6b). He calls on God to “rise up against the rage of his enemies,” but in the next breath Israel’s greatest king calls upon God to “Judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, according to my integrity, O Most High.” Is David taking for granted his righteousness? Are verses 3-5 a mindless boast, the way silly children on the playgournd used to say, “If I’m lying may God strike me dead”?
I don’t think so. David knows the “righteous God, who searches minds and hearts” and can be trusted to “bring to an end the violence of the wicked and make the righteous secure” (v. 9). David knows that “God is a righteous judge, a God who expresses his wrath every day” (v. 11).
The difference between David singing this psalm and me reading the Scripture before having the Spirit open my eyes this morning is this: David and I both know that God is the Righteous Judge, but David loved what he knew. He loved it so much that he counted God’s honor more precious than his own life. I knew what I knew; David loved what He knew.
But there’s another difference. David appealed to God in his own righteousness, trusting God to keep His promise of deliverance. I appeal to God in Jesus’ righteousness, trusting God to keep His promise vouchsafed by His Son’s righteousness and sacrifice for me. What David longed to see, by God’s grace I have been given to see (Matt. 11:25-27). I may feel the conviction that comes from recognizing David’s greater righteousness, then look away from both David’s righteousness and my own unrighteousness to the Perfect Righteousness who died for me. I may see the weakness in my love, and turn away from my wretched weakness to contemplate Perfect Love. And in Him, I may cry out in love: Father you have already judged me in your Son; You have already completely satisfied your justice. So, with David and all the saints who love your appearing, “I will give thanks to the Lord because of His righteousness, and will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High” (v. 17).
What began as exposing conviction turns to faith expressing itself in love through the completed work of Jesus. What began as a wretched lack of love grows by degrees into a truer love and real progress in adoration. Thanks be to God who delivers us!
