O Lord my God, in You I have taken refuge; save me from all those who pursue me, and deliver me, or he will tear my soul like a lion, dragging me away, while there is none to deliver. (Psalm 7:1–2)

The historical setting for this psalm of lament is challenging to pinpoint. Clearly, David is the author (vs. 0), and his writing reflects on a time when he was being pursued by an individual (vss. 1, 2). He gives us some clue as to who this might be when he writes that this is a song “concerning Cush, a Benjamite.” But no such person is identified elsewhere in Scripture. The individual pursuing David is most probably from the tribe of Benjamin. (In the early days of the united monarchy of Israel, there were some tensions between the twelve “tribes” who descended from the sons of Abraham). Some translations reflect more accurately the original language, “… he sang to the Lord concerning the words of Cush …” (italics mine).

This person could be Saul (2 Sam. 23:24-29), the first king of Israel, who came from the tribe of Benjamin. He was extremely jealous of David because of the latter’s military successes and the growing loyalty of the people toward David. Then later, after David was well established as the king, his son Absalom turned the people’s loyalty away from him in a wrongful desire to usurp the throne. During that time, Shimei the Benjamite brazenly cursed David as he was fleeing for his life out of Jerusalem (2 Sam. 16:11). Finally, we note that the tribe of Benjamin revolted against David (2 Sam. 20). So, there could a number of alternatives to choose from, which may do little more than satisfy our curiosity; but it matters little to the value the psalm has for us.

Note: the word “Shaggaion” in verse 0 is used only here in Scripture; biblical scholars tell us we can’t be sure of its meaning, though all agree it is some kind of musical notation. For further understanding of the various musical notations used in the psalms, see The Book of Psalms.

How often do each of us encounter people who work against us? There may be gossip, backstabbing at work, or bullying. There are those who undermine our efforts or are always critical, or even verbally or physically abusive. At times, there seems to be no escape, and we feel resigned to never-ending oppression. David pictured his enemies as a lion ready to punch and deal the final blow. Life wasn’t always like that for David, but there were times when he had no recourse to deal with a situation in his own strength and ability. Can you relate?

This psalm can give us words to express our feelings to God. And not just on the rare occasion; the psalm exudes a familiarity that David had with the Lord to come to Him in this way. It is not that he was given to the misfortune of being accident-prone or in the wrong place at the wrong time. Like most godly leaders, he encountered much hostile resistance because he was living for the Lord. Being God’s chosen man to establish a God-ordained dynasty was not an easy task. Jesus said to His disciples, “In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). David was going to the Lord for courage.

In verses 4-5, David admits that if his present difficulty were his fault, he would be willing to accept the consequences. He understands that sometimes we suffer opposition from other people because we have done something wrong, and they push back. But David is convinced that is not the case in this situation, and the oppression against him is not just.

He boldly puts his request before the Lord (vs. 6-9): Arouse Yourself (colorful word pictures), vindicate me, stop the evil, establish the righteous. He can ask for all this because he knows the Lord. David loved the Word of God; he loved the Lord and was loyal to the Him. So he knows how best to approach with his prayer in the context of God’s character.

First, David addresses his lament to “O Lord my God.” God was very personal to him. Second, he calls on God to be angry; for Christians, this may seem odd, but remember, David was a godly man after God’s own heart. There are times when we should call on God to be angry because of injustice done to us. David asks God to arise and arouse Himself. This is the honest outpouring of his heart. Like David, we must admit there are times when God seems completely inactive. Whether that is a proper way to approach God or not, it is certainly an honest approach. If our hearts are loyal to God, then He sees the deep groanings in our limited wording.

David knows God is the One who vindicates because He is a righteous and impartial judge. He is indignant at sin. David knows the Lord’s anger is tempered by a person’s genuine repentance (vs. 12), and he would welcome that, but that is not what is happening. Verses 13-14 give us a glimpse at what awaits those oppressors of his who do not repent; their own actions will do them in. They essentially will shoot themselves in their spiritual foot.

David finished with proclaiming his trust, with thanksgiving and praise to “the Lord Most High.” Like David, we commit to trusting God, beginning with a tangible step of telling Him.

Lord, thank You for being perfectly righteous, for Your vindication for which I pray expectantly. You are my refuge and protection, and for that, I praise You!