PLEASE PIN THIS IMAGE - The real meaning of Psalm 7.What is the true meaning of Psalm 7? If you’ve beenfollowing my ongoing study of the book of Psalms, then you can surmise thatbetween the English translations (yes, even TheMessage) and our general ignorance of ancient Near East culture, theseventh Psalm contains theological gleanings that the vast majority ofChristians never pick up.

In fact, though on its surface it sounds like a simple cryfor help, it’s actually a sophisticated legal document, a raw emotional outpouring,and a masterpiece of ancient poetry all rolled into one.

If I’ve intrigued you, grab your Bible and read each verseas we unpack the hidden nuances of Psalm 7.

A what?

Like many psalms, the seventh one begins with asuperscription, or explanation before the actual piece. This one says, “AShiggaion of David, which he sang to the Lord concerning the words of Cush, aBenjaminite.”

Right away, if you knew Hebrew, you’d realize that Psalm 7isn’t your typical psalm. Scholars believe that the word shiggaion refers to a wild, emotionally intense song, suggesting itmay have been written with an irregular meter or as a passionate outcry.

This sets the tone for everything that follows. David ispouring out his heart in spiritual catharsis, responding to false accusationsfrom a dude named Cush.

The cry of every human heart.

The first two verses state, “O Lord my God, in You I put mytrust; save me from all those who persecute me, and deliver me, lest they tearme like a lion, rending me to pieces, while there is none to deliver.”

I think I have previously touched on the fact that whenancient Israelites used the phrase, YahwehElohai – Lord my God – they were using covenant language.

They were bringing up God’s legal duty to them; in thiscase, David is saying, “You are bound by covenant to protect me.”

Probably every one of my readers can relate to the fearevoked by David’s image of being torn apart as by a lion. However, the ancientunderstanding goes deeper than personal attack or destruction. The underlyingmeaning is that the cosmic order is endangered, in which the innocent will bedevoured if God doesn’t take action.

“Did I do that?”

“O Lord my God, if I have done this, if there is iniquity inmy hands, if I have repaid evil to him who was at peace with me, or haveplundered my enemy without cause, 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 [vs. 3-5].”

The self-imprecatory oath was one of the most powerful legalinstruments in ancient covenant culture. Apparently, Cush the Benjamite haslaid powerful accusations against David, and to emphasize his innocence, theking calls fire upon his own head should he be lying.

Invoking a curse on oneself was common back then, in covenantcontexts, as violating moral or social codes invited divine judgment.

The legality of the psalm has only just begun. The Hebrewword ra’, translated as “evil,”refers to covenant violation, not general wrongdoing.

The end of David’s self-curse is even more dramatic than itsounds. Allowing his enemy to lay his honor in the dust refers to much morethan his reputation. He’s saying, “If I’m guilty, let my entire being – body andsoul – be crushed.”

Calling up a divine court.

The meaning of Psalm 7:6-8 is more apparent, even withoutknowing that David has been, up until now, using legal terminology. His requestthat people assemble around God, while He sits enthroned over them, judging, isclearly a call for God to convene court. In fact, the Hebrew word translated as“rise up” or “awaken” carries the technical sense of a judge taking his seat tohear a case.

The word shaphatfor “judge” isn’t only about delivering verdicts, but also includes deliveringthe oppressed and punishing the wicked.

In verse eight, when David asks the Lord to judge himaccording to his (David’s) righteousness and integrity, he’s not claiming to bewithout sin. Rather, he’s referring to his covenantal faithfulness – which includeshis community as well as God – and his blamelessness in conduct.

It’s legal innocence language, not an assertion of moralgoodness.

Divine testing.

Psalm 7:9 reads, “Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked cometo an end, but establish the just; for the righteous God tests the hearts andmind.”

“Tests” comes from the Hebrew word bochan, which specifically means “to assay metals.” In case you’veforgotten that lesson from sixth-grade science, to assay a metal is to test itfor genuineness. It requires an intense examination.

In this context, David is saying that God tests theauthenticity of legal claims with the precision of a craftsman.

God is just.

In verses ten and eleven, we read, “My defense is of God,who saves the upright in heart; God is a just judge, and God is angry with thewicked every day.”

English (and I would imagine every other language)translators often lose the deep meaning of these verses when they translate elyon into “God.” Those who tack on “MostHigh” are closer, but the meaning of that addition is usually lost in themodern age.

The word elyon wasused by the Canaanites as well, so by invoking the term, David is reminding hislisteners that Israel’s God is not a tribal deity but the supreme judge overall nations and gods.

You have to remember that back then, even those who werefaithful to Yahweh did not necessarily not believe in the existence of othergods.

God being angry every day is a weak translation of theHebrew. The root suggests boiling rage, and not just occasional, but consistentand daily.

Getting ready for war.

“If he does not turn back, He will sharpen His sword; Hebends His bow and makes it ready. He also prepares for Himself instruments ofdeath; He makes His arrows into fiery shafts [vs. 12-13}.”

Several of the words in this passage are technical militaryterms. The idea of God appearing as a warrior to defend the innocent was notexclusive to the Israelites, but was a common belief among the various culturesof the day.

The “fiery shafts” (“flaming arrows” in more moderntranslations) referred to the ancient warfare tactic of dipping arrows in pitchand then setting them ablaze. Ancient audiences would have immediatelyrecognized such phraseology as serious military preparation.

Testosterone-laden though these two verses might be, theycan bring the modern Christian comfort, reminding us that God is all-powerfuland that when we engage in spiritual warfare, He has the most and strongestweapons in the cosmos.

And they are all at our disposal.

The conception and consequences of evil.

“Behold,” verse 14 begins, “the wicked brings forthiniquity; yes, he conceives trouble and brings forth falsehood.”

The birth metaphor implies intentional, cultivated sin, notjust spontaneous wrongdoing. Evil requires gestation and growth. It’s adeliberate process.

Think murder verses manslaughter.

The pit-digging imagery in verse 15 reflects the ancientlegal principle of “measure for measure” (such as, an eye for an eye). A commontheme in ancient Near Eastern wisdom literature, it reflects belief in moralcausality, where wrongdoing sets inevitable consequences in motion.

David’s declaration of faith.

“I will praise the Lord according to His righteousness, andwill sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High,” Psalm 7 concludes.

Where the NKJ version of the Bible says, “praise,” otherversions say, “give thanks.” They come from the Hebrew word odeh, which has its root in yadah, which implies confession andpublic acknowledgment.

Which gives new meaning to the Yiddish phrase, “yadah-yadah-yadah,”doesn’t it?

Back to being serious.

As in most – if not all – of the psalms, the praise offeredby the psalmist is in a communal setting. Here, David is declaring publiclythat God’s justice is worthy of communal worship.

Finally, by ending with “Lord Most High,” the king bringsthe psalm full circle, affirming God’s supremacy over all other powers and hisrole as the ultimate judge who vindicates the innocent.

It’s a type and shadow of the Messiah who would come athousand years later to save us from the power of evil and make us innocent bythe washing away of our sin.

And it’s done by a covenant written in the heavens by theCreator of the universe, a legal document more solid than granite, and amillion times stronger than steel.

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