Psalms 7

Shiggaion of David, which he sang unto the LORD, concerning the words of Cush the Benjamite.

The animated style of this psalm accords well with the genius of David. It was written in a time of great peril, reproach, and suffering, and is commonly referred to his persecution by Saul, chiefly because the allusion of Psalms 7:4 seems to point to the scenes of 1 Samuel 24, 26, where David spared Saul’s life. But there are serious objections to this. The allusion better suits as an answer to the fierce accusations of Shimei, (2 Samuel 16:7-8,) and Psalms 7:3-5 are a protestation of innocence in the catastrophe of Saul’s house, and of the death of Saul and Ishbosheth. Besides, the language of Psalms 7:12-16 is not such as David would use toward Saul, and it is improbable that it applies to a courtier of Saul named Cush in the title, (see note on title,) for no such name appears in the books of Samuel, although Doeg and Shimei, other enemies of David, are named. That David appeals to his integrity (Psalms 7:3-10) is no objection to dating this psalm at the time of Absalom’s rebellion. His great sin had been forgiven, and it is not that he had never sinned, but that he was innocent of the crime alleged, that he urges his plea. The accusation was fresh; it was the occasion of the psalm, (see title;) it charged upon him the blood of the house of Saul, (2 Samuel 16:7-8;) and Psalms 7:3-5 are his answers. No historic occasion suits these circumstances but the one here given. For further argument see the notes.

The divisions of the psalm are as follows: Psalms 7:1-2, an earnest prayer for instant help; Psalms 7:3-5, a solemn protestation of innocence, being his reply to the accusations of his enemies who had distressed him, and were the occasion of the psalm. Thus far may be taken as an introduction to the matter of the psalm, which may be resolved into the following strophic divisions: Psalms 7:6-8, a call upon Jehovah, as the righteous Judge of all, to vindicate his cause on the ground of his integrity and innocence, and for the public effect upon the congregation; Psalms 7:9-10, his profession of confidence in God’s justice, and of his own consequent vindication; Psalms 7:11-13, a warning of the imminence of the ruin of the wicked from the already prepared instruments of death; Psalms 7:14-16, the wicked, personified in his Cushite enemy, taken by their own devices, become victims of the destruction they had prepared for others; Psalms 7:17 seems an independent ejaculation of praise to God for his righteousness.

TITLE:

Shiggaion From שׁגה , ( shagah,) to wander, to reel, is supposed to signify a dithyrambic ode; that is, one irregular in metre and of impetuous performance. Jebb says: “It may be understood of an ode composed in various measures, and consequently adapted to different modes of recitation and accompaniment.” Horseley defines it: “A wandering ode, in different parts taking up different subjects in different styles of composition.” The word occurs only once more as a musical or rhythmical sign, in Habakkuk 3:1; where al-shiggionoth (plural) means, after the manner of shiggionoth, or, of dithyrambic songs. Such is the character of this psalm: “Painful unrest, of defiant self confidence, triumphant ecstasy, calm trust, prophetic certainty, all these states of mind find expression in the irregular arrangement of the strophes of this Davidic dithyramb, the ancient customary psalm for the feast of Purim.” Delitzsch.

Concerning the words On account of the words.

Cush The word means black, dark coloured; and applied to countries means Arabia, Ethiopia, and the parts of Northern Africa. The Cushites were a dark skinned race. The word here is manifestly not a proper name, but an epithet, figuratively used to denote character. “Cush the Benjamite,” is the black hearted, or barbarian Benjamite. So the word is used figuratively, Jeremiah 13:23, “Can the Cushite change his skin?” Amos 9:7, “Are ye not as the children of the Cushites unto me, O children of Israel?” So David said he “dwelt in Meshech and Kedar Moschica=Scythia and Arabia (compare “Gog and Magog,” Revelation 20:8; and Scythian, Colossians 3:11;) meaning only the wildest barbarians. The title, dark souled, fitted Shimei, the Benjamite. 2 Samuel 16:7-8