Matthew Henry Commentary Psalms 7
Matthew Henry Commentary
Psalms 7
Matthew Henry Commentary
Psalms 7
"O Jehovah my God, in thee do I take refuge: Save me from all them that pursue me, and deliver me, Lest they tear my soul like a lion, Rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver. O Jehovah my God, if I have done this; If there be iniquity in my hands; If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (Yea, I have delivered him that without cause was mine adversary;) Let the enemy pursue my soul, and overtake it; Yea, let him tread my life down to the earth, And lay my glory in the dust. Selah Arise, O Jehovah, in thine anger; Lift up thyself against the rage of mine adversaries, And awake for me; thou hast commanded judgment. And let the congregation of the peoples compass thee about; And over them return thou on high. Jehovah ministereth judgment to the peoples: Judge me, O Jehovah, according to my righteousness, and to mine integrity that is in me. O let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish thou the righteous: For the righteous God trieth the minds and hearts." — Psalms 7:1-9 (ASV)
David flees to God for aid.
But Christ alone could call on Heaven to attest His uprightness in all things. All His works were performed in righteousness; and the prince of this world found nothing of which to justly accuse Him. Yet for our sakes, submitting to be charged as guilty, He suffered all evils, but, being innocent, He triumphed over them all.
The plea is, For the righteous God trieth the hearts and the reins. He knows the secret wickedness of the wicked, and how to bring it to an end; He is witness to the secret sincerity of the just, and has ways of establishing it.
When a man has made peace with God about all his sins, upon the terms of grace and mercy, through the sacrifice of the Mediator, he may, in comparison with his enemies, appeal to God's justice to decide.
"My shield is with God, Who saveth the upright in heart. God is a righteous judge, Yea, a God that hath indignation every day. If a man turn not, he will whet his sword; He hath bent his bow, and made it ready. He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; He maketh his arrows fiery [shafts]. Behold, he travaileth with iniquity; Yea, he hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood. He hath made a pit, and digged it, And is fallen into the ditch which he made. His mischief shall return upon his own head, And his violence shall come down upon his own pate. I will give thanks unto Jehovah according to his righteousness, And will sing praise to the name of Jehovah Most High. " — Psalms 7:10-17 (ASV)
David is confident that he will find God his powerful Saviour. The destruction of sinners may be prevented by their conversion; for it is threatened, if he does not turn from his evil way, he should expect it will be his ruin. But amidst the threats of wrath, we have a gracious offer of mercy.
God gives sinners warning of their danger, and space to repent, and prevent it. He is slow to punish, and long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish. The sinner is described (see verses 14–16) as taking more pains to ruin his soul than, if directed rightly, would save it.
This is true, in a sense, of all sinners. Let us look to the Saviour under all our trials. Blessed Lord, give us grace to look to you in the path of tribulation, going before your church and people, and marking the way by your own spotless example. Under all the persecutions which in our lesser trials mark our way, let the looking to Jesus animate our minds and comfort our hearts.
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