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Psalms 7

17 verses

TL;DR

The Psalmist cries out to God for deliverance from persecutors while affirming confidence in divine justice, culminating in praise for God's righteousness.

Summary

In Psalm 7 the Psalmist first laments personal persecution, pleading for the Lord’s protection against enemies who threaten to destroy his soul. He acknowledges potential guilt yet maintains his integrity, asking God to judge him justly. The Psalm shifts to a broader call for divine justice against the wicked, declaring that God’s wrath will be exercised through instruments of death such as swords and arrows. The Psalmist predicts that the enemy’s own mischief will fall upon him, likening it to a pit he has dug. Despite the distress, the psalm concludes with a declaration of praise, affirming that the righteous God is a refuge and that the Psalmist will sing God's name most high. The overall tone balances urgent supplication with trust in God’s righteousness and justice.

Outline
  1. 1. Personal plea for deliverance amid persecution
  2. 2. Assurance of God’s judgment against the wicked
  3. 3. Concluding praise of God’s righteousness
Themes
trust in Goddivine justicerighteous deliverance
Keywords
trustjusticewrathdeliverancerighteousnessswordbowarrowspitjudgment
People
PsalmistLORD
Places
earthheaven
Things
swordbowarrowspitinstrument of deathjustice
Key Verses
  • Psalms 7:1: Opening prayer for protection from persecutors.
  • Psalms 7:10: Affirmation that God will judge the wicked.
  • Psalms 7:13: Illustration of God’s instruments of judgment.
  • Psalms 7:16: Poetic depiction of the enemy’s downfall.
Questions
  • What does the Psalmist identify as the cause of his distress?
  • How does the Psalmist balance acknowledgment of personal sin with trust in God?
  • In what ways does the Psalm portray God’s judgment against the wicked?
  • What role does the image of a pit play in the Psalm’s metaphor?
  • How does the Psalm conclude with an expression of praise, and what does it reveal about the Psalmist’s faith?
Sentiment

mixed
contains expressions of distress and pleas for justice, balanced by confidence and concluding praise.