Psalms 7:1-17 - Homilies By C. Short

Trust in God.

An earnest appeal to God to save him from the wickedness of men who would requite him with evil for the good he had done in sparing Saul's life. The charge against him probably was that he still sought the life of Saul; and they plotted against his life. In the midst of this wrong and danger, what was his resource?

I. TRUST IN GOD . Not in counter-plotting against his enemies, nor neglecting the use of means for his own safety; but faith in the all-controlling providence of God.

II. A LOFTY CONSCIOUSNESS OF INNOCENCE . ( Psalms 7:3-5 .) Nothing can give such confidence in a righteous God as the consciousness of righteousness in ourselves. We cannot pray for Divine help if we regard iniquity in our heart.

III. IN " IS BLAMELESSNESS HE APPEALS TO GOD FOR JUDGMENT BETWEEN HIM AND HIS ENEMIES . ( Psalms 7:6-9 .) He calls upon God to "arise," "to lift himself up," "to awake," to exert his mightiest power in doing justice to both sides.

IV. GOD 'S RIGHTEOUSNESS GIVES HIM HOPE THAT THE OVERTHROW OF HIS ENEMIES IS NEAR . ( Psalms 7:10-13 .) God's justice is a manifest present fact, not deferred. "He judgeth the righteous, and is angry with the wicked every day." The overthrow may come at any moment.

V. THE OVERTHROW HAS ALREADY BEGUN , AND THIS GIVES HIM CONFIDENCE AND GRATITUDE . "Is fallen into the ditch which he made" Deliverance is come, therefore "I will sing praise to the Name of the Lord most high." But he did not see this so clearly before. Experience opens our eyes.—S.