Psalm 7, pt. 2
Imprecatory Prayers
We continue from the previous (pt. 1) meditation on this Psalm. Imprecatory prayers are those offered in petition for God to move against one’s enemies.
David envisioned a revival of Faith as the people who were standing helplessly by as David was attacked saw the activity of God on his behalf. They would be, he thought, spiritually encouraged by seeing righteousness prevail and false accusations condemned and judged by God.
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.
This is the goal of a proper imprecatory prayer concerning one’s physical enemies, “let the wickedness end.” At the same time he asked that “the just,” the one being wrongly accused (himself), be “established,” vindicated, shown to be innocent of the charges. And, he reminded himself and his readers that God indeed is continually examining and recording, in the finest detail imaginable, every motive as well as every
action
10 My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.
11 God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.
This was not a battle which could be fought with a sword. It is a battle against lies and character assassination, in which only God, Who does indeed work to the protection of His people, can grant victory, suppress
and defeat the false charges.
The anger of God burns against all wickedness of every kind but David seemed to think there was a special reserve of fury against those who attack His people with falsehood as they labor earnestly and faithfully in the service of God. For those who have seen such anger, you know that it is an ugly thing for the wicked when God moves to deliver His people.
12 If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.
13 He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.
“If he turn not,” that is, if the wicked liar does not repent of his lies and false accusations, God has a sharpened sword and an arrow with the bow already drawn as it were. He is prepared to avenge His servant with Justice ever so severe.
14 Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.
15 He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made.
Two interesting images are used here to describe how the evil bring their wickedness upon the righteous and an understanding of these pictures demonstrates why God’s vengeance is so severe against this particular evil (lying accusations against the faithful servant of God).
On the one hand, the wicked one has so involved himself with ‘iniquity’ that it is as if he has both conceived and given birth to a child. On the other hand, this evil is pictured as one who digs a pit with a plan to capture someone in it, much as the ancients did to entrap a large animal.
Both of these pictures envisioned planning and deliberate execution of a plan. This is no incidental or accidental crime, as evil workers will often claim when caught, it is a thought hatched, a plan designed, and a cruel act carried out. Such a thing springs out of the very depths of wickedness in a corrupt soul. It is the very epitome of evil.
Thus, it is judged so severely.
16 His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.
David was confident that the Lord would indeed take care of this wickedness efficiently and completely, even using the liar’s own plan to catch and undo him.
17 I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high. (KJV)
And, as always, David knew that he would worship when God moved to deliver him. He did so, even as he wrote, anticipating the answer to this prayer. Worship drove every action of the man concerning God.
— April 7, 2020