Psa. 7:0 Shiggaion of David, which he sang unto the LORD, concerning the words of Cush the Benjamite.
I could find no other reference to Cush the Benjamite using my bible software program. I am going to assume that Cush is the enemy being referenced, but maybe he was just the informant concerning another enemy who is after David.
“Shiggaion” = a dithyramb or rambling poem
“dithyramb” = a poem written in a wild irregular strain….a passionate or inflated speech, poem, or other writing.
Psa. 7:1 O LORD my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me:
Psa. 7:2 Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.
“trust” = to flee for protection; figuratively, to confide in:—have hope, make refuge, (put) trust.
It’s obvious that David feels his life is in danger. Maybe this was written while he was on the run from Saul. He approaches Almighty God as “his” God and his only hope for deliverance from destruction.
Psa. 7:3 O LORD my God, if I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands;
Psa. 7:4 If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:)
Psa. 7:5 Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. Selah.
It sounds like this Cush is after David for perceived mistreatment of some sort at the hands of David. Either that and/or this is David’s way of expressing his confidence that the LORD will find no reason for Cush to be after David. Either way, David opens himself up for God’s inspection and judgment and expects to be found innocent.
“Selah” = suspension (of music), i.e. pause:—Selah.
Psa. 7:6 Arise, O LORD, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded.
David was a man after God’s own heart.
Acts 13:22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.
He knew that God declared vengeance to belong to Him.
Psalm 94:1 O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself.
Therefore, David felt perfectly justified in calling for God to act against his enemies. He did not deserve the anger being directed against him, and he wants justice from the Almighty.
Psa. 7:7 So shall the congregation of the people compass thee about: for their sakes therefore return thou on high.
In context, these verses are referencing the LORD as judge. David seems to be saying that the people expected righteous judgment on their behalf from the LORD and implying that they would recognize such judgment on his behalf.
Ironside: “In this world God often seems to treat His best friends worst, and He treated His own Son worst of all, and what does that tell us? All these hard and difficult things are working out for future blessing.”
Psa. 7:8 The LORD shall judge the people: judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.
This verse clearly shows that David has a clear conscience before God in respect to the situation at hand. This is one of those verses that makes me wish I knew Hebrew. As I look at the entries in Strong’s, the verse makes more sense to me without the personal application that has been added by the translators. I think David is calling for righteous judgment based on his moral innocence. I don’t think he would declare himself righteous, but he could declare himself innocent regarding the current situation. He is not afraid of God’s righteous judgment in this instance.
It is so wonderful to know that we can now stand in righteousness before God, because we have been washed clean by the blood of Jesus. That righteousness is not our righteousness; it has been imputed to us by the Savior.
Romans 4:11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also….
2Corinthians 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
Psa. 7:9 Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.
David continues to plead for God to cause wickedness to cease. It sounds as though David is praying that the wicked will turn from their wickedness; he would rather see them repent of their sin than be destroyed because of their sin. He longs for righteousness to be the norm, to be the dominant characteristic among men. He takes comfort in the knowledge that it is the righteous God that examines and tests the inner man, who he really is in heart and mind. He doesn’t just look on the outward appearance.
1Samuel 16:7 … for the LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.
Psa. 7:10 My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.
David is confident of God’s protection because he knows that God provides safety for those who are upright in heart. I thought the word for upright was interesting in that it included “pleased well.” That should be one of our great motivations—to please God. That is why we were created in the first place.
Revelation 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
Psa. 7:11 God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.
I think this verse is saying that God is continually making judgments on behalf of those who follow Him in faith as well as those who don’t. His judgment results in vindication on behalf of the righteous. God is ever provoked to anger by those that are wicked and act in complete defiance to and rejection of Him.
Psa. 7:12 If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.
Psa. 7:13 He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.
If the person(s) who provokes God’s anger does not turn back from and repent of his wickedness, God will execute judgment—eventually resulting in death.
Psa. 7:14 Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.
Psa. 7:15 He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made.
Psa. 7:16 His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.
“travail with iniquity” = bound with evil/wickedness
“conceived mischief” = becomes pregnant with worry, misery, sorrow, wickedness
“brought forth falsehood” = speaks untruth, deceit, lies
David is comparing the wicked person with one who digs a pit (for a prison) and ends up in a prison of his own making.
That is what sin does to us; it binds us and fills our life with misery.
Verse 16 brings in the law of sowing and reaping.
Job 4:8 Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.
Galatians 6:7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
Wiersbe: “The image of sin as pregnancy is frequently found in Scripture. Sinners ‘conceive’ sin that, like a monstrous child, eventually grows up and destroys them.”
Psa. 7:17 I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.
David breaks out into praise of YHWH. He is praising God for His righteousness. Why? David knows he is not deserving of attack from his enemies at this time, and he can count on God’s protection and deliverance from His enemies because God is righteous and “saves the upright in heart.”
How blessed we are to have God’s word and to be able to claim His promises in times of trouble. We can trust in His faithfulness and righteousness. The key is not to base our faith on Him acting according to our expectations. We are to trust Him because of Who He Is.
Psa. 8:0 To the chief Musician upon Gittith, A Psalm of David.
This seems to be sent as a song of praise to the head of music in the temple. Either the musician played the Gittith, a type of stringed instrument that seems to have originated in Gath, a Philistine city, or David was giving instruction that this Psalm was to be accompanied by the Gittith.
Constable quoting Kidner: “This psalm is an unsurpassed example of what a hymn should be, celebrating as it does the glory and grace of God, rehearsing who He is and what He has done, and relating us and our world to Him; all with a masterly economy of words, and in a spirit of mingled joy and awe.”
Psa. 8:1 O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens.
O YHWH (the self-existent, eternal One) our Lord (sovereign, master). This is a statement acknowledging the covenant God of Israel, the Creator, as the authority over David and the people of Israel. The Hebrew word for name states “an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character.” David is declaring God’s name to be excellent (powerful, famous, and worthy)—not just in Israel, but in all the earth. He also acknowledges God’s dwelling place, the place of His glory, beauty and majesty, as being above the heavens (from earth’s perspective). The visible expression of God’s glory is hidden from our view except as declared by the heavens—which only give us a glimmer of His glory.
Psa. 8:2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.
After looking up the Hebrew words and finding a cross reference to Matthew 21, it seems that David is making an observation about the bold praise that comes naturally from young children as they observe the wonders and beauty of God’s great creation. The truth of their praise cannot be denied. It serves to silence those who would place themselves in opposition to that truth.
Psa. 8:3 When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;
I can certainly relate with David in these verses. I love to “consider the heavens.” As he considers, David realizes that the stars and planets are God’s artistry, his craftsmanship, “the work of His fingers” set in place according to His plan and purpose for our benefit. He placed them in position and set them in motion that has continued with dependability and predictability since the time of creation. By considering the heavens we can learn to navigate the oceans and predict the weather. The rising and setting of the sun and the phases of the moon enable us to define time and chart the seasons. It’s just amazing to me to know that the same stars and planets that I see were seen by Adam, Abraham, Ruth, David, Esther, Peter etc.
Psa. 8:4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
As David considers the heavens, he begins to feel very small and insignificant. How can man occupy a position of any consequence in the mind of the Creator? How does man even come to His remembrance in comparison to such beauty and majesty? More to the point—how does David even rate recognition of any sort from God, let alone His pointed care and provision?
This section was referenced in the epistle to the Hebrews:
Hebrews 2:6-7 But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands….
This verse, in particular, expresses the thoughts of every person who comes to know God intimately through relationship and through the study of scripture. You can’t help but wonder why He cares about us so much! We have continually rejected His authority and taken His provision for us for granted. Still He provided His Son as the sacrifice for “my” sin and continues to reach out to us in love. It’s beyond my human understanding!
A few years ago I got to visit my daughter who was working in the Bahamas at the time. We stayed on the island of Eleuthra part of the time. One of my favorite memories is of getting to see the heavens with more stars than I’d ever seen before. There was no light pollution, and I even saw the Milky Way! I couldn’t hold back the tears as I thought of this section of scripture. It just befuddles me that anyone can deny our Creator.
Wiersbe: “What we know today about the size of the universe makes the earth and its inhabitants look even more insignificant than they appeared in David’s day. Our knowledge of light-years and the reaches of outer space gives us even more reason for appreciating our insignificance in the solar system and God’s wonderful concern for us.”
Psa. 8:5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
Psa. 8:6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
Psa. 8:7 All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field;
Psa. 8:8 The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
Order and authority are part of God’s plan. Man occupies a position “a little lower than the angels.” There seem to be different “levels” of responsibility and authority assigned to angels—archangel, seraphim, cherubim, watchers, etc. God has also delegated “levels” of authority for man—husband over wife over children; kings over government leaders over citizens, etc. Man was created to be the delegated authority and caretaker over all the creatures on planet earth.
Genesis 1:26-28 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. 8 And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
The “all things” referenced in verse 6 are, in context, those things on planet earth as defined in the verses that follow.
I think the crowning glory and honor of man is to have been created “in the image of God.” The angels cannot claim this privilege. Being created in the image of God has placed man in a position to enjoy a fellowship and relationship with the Creator that no other creation of God can experience.
These verses were used by the writer of Hebrews in explaining why Christ became a man and was made “a little lower than the angels.” Why? To “taste death for every man….in bringing many sons unto glory.”—to become “the captain of their salvation.”
Hebrews 2:9-10 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
Psa. 8:9 O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!
David closes with the words of praise with which he started this song. It’s an exclamation point on the glory, power, and majesty of the Creator.