Psalm 7 - end of wickedness
Structure:
a. 1-2, initial plea
b. 3-5, defense
against the wicked man
c. 6-8, LORD as a judge
d. 9,
repentance of the wicked
c’. 10-13, LORD as a judge
b’. 14-16, how
a wicked man conceives evil
a’. 17,
final praise
Main
themes:
First, as
talked last time – this is a great example when the psalmist runs back to God
when he encounters himself in a difficult situation. Please note that now David
develops from his plea to praise at the end of the psalm (v. 17).
There are two
types of righteousness as there are two [main] types of relationships: vertical
and horizontal. Vertical one is the righteousness/relationship with God, while
horizontal one describes the relational aspect with other people. Why is this so
important? Because if we do not differentiate between these, we will see David
as an arrogant, boasting, and self-promoting man. Yet, when we read what he
says very carefully, we see that he mentions only interaction between him and people
who attack him. So, he presents himself as a man who keeps his “horizontal”
relationship in order (vv. 3-5).
Then, what
about “vertical” righteousness? We see references to God as a Judge. It is Him,
Who set up the standards, it is He, Who was offended in the Garden when Adam
and his wife broke the agreement and then run away and hid from His gracious
invitation for the reconciliation. He is the One Who passes judgements on our
behavior (vv. 6b). Then David brings up crucial point: judge me, o LORD, according to my righteousness (v. 8). On a human level the only
thing we can say is: David, are you crazy?!?!?! But he knew the character of
God as the loving Father. That’s why the righteousness he talks about is given
or imputed (to use a scholarly word) righteousness. We know it from the other
David’s psalms, but we can see his understanding of this distinction even here:
if a man does not repent, God will whet His sword (v. 12). The only
righteous way to present ourselves to God is to rely on HIS righteousness given
to us in Jesus Christ.
That’s why,
when David asks for the end of the evil of the wicked, he is not asking for the
destruction of a human, he asks for an intervention of the Holy Spirit guiding
the wicked one to conversion/repentance. Psalmist knows that Gid is the One Who
tests the minds and hearts, therefore without faith and faithful relationship
with Him we can not pass “the judgement” (v. 9).
Even though
He might FEEL indignation every day, He does not act upon it – He is the shield
for those who upright in heart for it He Who SAVES them. It is not their own achievement,
it is His gracious act, expressed most vividly on the Cross of Calvary (John
3:16).
And then He
uses His armor to defend His children against the assaults. In the psalm we see
a shield, a sword, and arrows etc. (vv. 10-13). So, should we sharpen the
swords and go and “purge the land.” No, because there are different “rules of
engagement” so to speak for the Old Testament and the New Testament. In the Old
Testament the people of God would literally fight (using the armor and armies)
with the people for the land and life. Now, in the times of the New Testament,
after the incarnation of God, we actually deal on a higher level – the spiritual
level. St. Paul explains it in the Letter to Ephesians: for our wrestle is
not against flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12). Then he lays out the similar
list of armory assigning to each item a spiritual significance – Ephesians 6:4-17:
(1) Belt of truth, (2) breastplate of righteousness, (3) shoes of readiness to
spread the Good News, (4) shield of faith, (5) helmet of salvation, (6) sword
of the Spirit, (7) praying at all times.
As I said in
the beginning. David concludes with praise due to HIS (LORD’s) righteousness and to His Name
(see Proverbs 18:10 and John 17:6, 11-12).
