Psalm 7 Save me from all those who pursue me, and deliver me. The word shiggaion likely means “a passionate or sad song” or an “elegy.” Here is what we know. We know that the Spirit of the Lord has departed from King Saul. God no longer approves of him (see 1 Samuel 15). We also know that David has been anointed to be the next king (see 1 Sam. 16:12ff). We know that David has taken on Goliath and routed the Philistine army. And, lastly, we know that Saul’s jealousy drove him to hate David and vow to kill him. Keep in mind that by this time, Saul was also David’s father-in-law. Verse 1: O Lord my God, in You I have taken refuge; save me form all those who pursue me, and deliver me. Verse 2: Or he will tear my soul like a lion, dragging me away, while there is none to deliver. Verses 3-5: O Lord my God, if I have done this, if there is injustice in my hands, if I have rewarded evil to my friend, or have plundered him who without cause was my adversary, let the enemy pursue my soul and overtake it; and let him trample my life down to the ground and lay my glory in the dust. Selah. Before we call down judgment on our accusers, we should first make sure that our conscience is clear and our actions are right according to God’s Word. Verses 6-11: Arise, O Lord, in Your anger; lift up Yourself against >the rage of my adversaries, and arouse Yourself for me; You have appointed judgment. Let the assembly of the peoples encompass You, and over them return on high. The Lord judges the peoples. Vindicate me, O Lord, according to my righteousness and my integrity that is in me. O let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish the righteous; for the righteous God tries the hearts and minds. My shield is with God, Who saves the upright in heart. God is a righteous judge, and a God who has indignation every day.” Verses 12-13: If a man does not repent, He (God) will sharpen His >sword; He has bent His bow and made it ready. He has also prepared for Himself deadly weapons; He makes His arrows fiery shafts. Verses 14-16: The wicked (those chasing David) conceive evil; they >are pregnant with trouble and give birth to lies. They dig a deep pit to trap others, then fall into it themselves. The trouble they make for others backfires on them. The violence they plan falls on their own heads (NLT). Verse 17: I will give thanks to the Lord according to His righteousness. APPLICATION First, we must repent, claim God’s salvation, and give ourselves to righteousness. Everyone of us needs an altar—a place to go and seek God when hearts are heavy with grief and disappointment. It is at that altar that God will reveal himself to us as powerful and yet full of grace. The worst mistake in life is to fail to repent of our sins. The second worst mistake might be to try to do what only God can do. You do not have to exact revenge. You can trust in God to bring justice, to vindicate you, if you will only trust Him.