Psalm 7, 8, 9

Psalm 7: Cush was probably one of Saul’s kinsmen who, like Doeg and the Ziphites, supported Saul and tried to do away with David. Here David basically says to God, “Hey, if I’ve done anything to be worthy of this hatred and pursuit, I’ll accept my death!” But David believes that he is righteous, and that God will ultimately vindicate him because God is a righteous judge. And God will not only vindicate him, but God will judge the wicked as well.

In one sense we are righteous, because the righteousness of Christ has been imputed to us. This is positional righteousness:

Romans 8:10 (WEB) “ If Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the spirit is alive because of righteousness.”

However, while we live this life, we aren’t perfect. So, we strive to be better. We strive to have practical righteousness:

1 Peter 1:15-16 (WEB) “but just as he who called you is holy, you yourselves also be holy in all of your behavior, because it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’ “

David warns the evildoers who are after him: if you don’t repent of your sins, God is preparing for war, and He is coming for you. If you continue to lie and deceive, you’ll fall into the pit you’ve dug for me. Your own violence is going to rebound against you. Turn back before it’s too late!

God protects us as well. When we know Jesus, we are His for eternity!

John 6:40 (WEB) “This is the will of the one who sent me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him should have eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

But there is another way that David’s warning should ring in our heads. When we rebel against God, we set ourselves up for failure. When we discover our own sin, we need to repent. Repentance is more than just feeling sorrow. Repentance is a turning away from sin and turning to God. There are both eternal and temporal aspects to repentance. There is a once and for all turning to Jesus as Savior, and there is the daily confession to make sure our ongoing relationship is where it needs to be.

Psalm 8: God is to be praised! When we consider not only creation, but the dominion that mankind has over it, we rejoice in God’s majesty. Even babies praise His name and put His enemies to shame! He is both sovereign (Lord = Adonai), and personal (LORD = YHWH, Israel’s covenant name for God). He is to be feared and loved.

This passage also points to Jesus in a special way. The author of Hebrews sees the son of man not just as mankind, but as pointing to the special Son of Man who is the coming Messiah!

Hebrews 2:5-9 (WEB) “For he didn’t subject the world to come, of which we speak, to angels. But one has somewhere testified, saying, ‘What is man, that you think of him? Or the son of man, that you care for him? You made him a little lower than the angels. You crowned him with glory and honor. You have put all things in subjection under his feet.’ For in that he subjected all things to him, he left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we don’t yet see all things subjected to him. But we see him who has been made a little lower than the angels, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that by the grace of God he should taste of death for everyone.”

Psalm 9: David sees how God has worked on his behalf, and he is moved to praise. He also reminds us of God’s faithfulness and righteousness. It’s why we can put our trust in Him. He is our place of refuge, and He promises that he’ll never leave us or forsake us.

Thought for the day: Do you have a problem in your life? Even if it’s not someone persecuting or hating you, you can cry out to God for help because He is merciful. And when He helps, however He does, we should rejoice and tell others about His faithfulness.

Hebrews 13:5 (WEB) “he has said, ‘I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you.’ “