PSALM 7

1 A Meditation of David, which he sang to the LORD concerning the words of Cush, a Benjamite. O LORD my God, in You I put my trust; Save me from all those who persecute me; And deliver me, 2 Lest they tear me like a lion, Rending [me] in pieces, while [there is] none to deliver. 3 O LORD my God, if I have done this: If there is iniquity in my hands, 4 If I have repaid evil to him who was at peace with me, Or have plundered my enemy without cause, 5 Let the enemy pursue me and overtake [me]; Yes, let him trample my life to the earth, And lay my honor in the dust. Selah 6 Arise, O LORD, in Your anger; Lift Yourself up because of the rage of my enemies; Rise up for me [to] the judgment You have commanded! 7 So the congregation of the peoples shall surround You; For their sakes, therefore, return on high. 8 The LORD shall judge the peoples; Judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, And according to my integrity within me. 9 Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, But establish the just; For the righteous God tests the hearts and minds. 10 My defense [is] of God, Who saves the upright in heart. 11 God [is] a just judge, And God is angry [with the wicked] every day. 12 If he does not turn back, He will sharpen His sword; He bends His bow and makes it ready. 13 He also prepares for Himself instruments of death; He makes His arrows into fiery shafts. 14 Behold, [the wicked] brings forth iniquity; Yes, he conceives trouble and brings forth falsehood. 15 He made a pit and dug it out, And has fallen into the ditch [which] he made. 16 His trouble shall return upon his own head, And his violent dealing shall come down on his own crown. 17 I will praise the LORD according to His righteousness, And will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.

PSALM 7:1-17

PRAYER FOR WHEN I AM BEING SLANDERED

All we really know about Cush the Benjamite is that he was a Benjamite who seemingly was slandering or oppressing David. He probably afflicted David during the reign of Saul (Who was also a Benjamite) and possibly was one of the members of Saul’s inner circle. When others were chanting, “Saul has slain his thousands and David his ten thousands,” it is possible that this fellow Cush was helping to excite the jealousy that was already there in Saul’s heart. 

This Psalm is a very emotional prayer in the midst of a very trying time in David’s life where is facing persecution in the form of verbal assault that was probably inciting and ramping up the persecution of those who were already against David. I’m sure it felt like David had enough going on without someone slandering him and inciting others against him. Yet, here this man makes it into David’s prayer and song because he has made himself David’s enemy, which poses a very interesting question, “How do we pray when we are being slandered?”

Part of us really want’s to slander those who have been slandering us. We want to settle the score ourselves. However, David offers Cush the Benjamite up in prayer. He simply brings him before the Lord like he is pleading a case. David confesses something like, “look at my heart in this matter, I am innocent. Now also look at Cush’s heart, is he innocent? If not, I ask you to give him the justice that this case deserves. Not an ounce more, not an ounce less.”

David trusted God to be God. He knew that God was just and that whatever David or Cush did in this matter, they would report to God. David trusted God to examine his own life and he trusted God to take care of whatever wrongs Cush had committed. It takes a lot of courage to do the right thing in the midst of adversity, especially when someone is going around slandering your name.

PRAYER

Father, We ask that we would walk with integrity in the midst of whatever situations we find ourselves in. We trust that you are not swayed by compelling speeches or the slander of our enemies but you see the truth of the matter all the way down to each individual heart. We ask for you to uphold the righteous and render just verdicts against those who senselessly oppress your people. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

I’m reading and blogging the Psalms Through The Summer. I’d love for you to join me. You can find out a little more here.