Job 7
Psalm 7 is a song of supplication and lament that David brought to God while being slandered by "Cush the Benjamite." Overall, this psalm pleads to God for vindication, asking for His just judgment; it consists of the following parts:
- Opening (verses 1–2): Seeking refuge in God and requesting deliverance
- Claiming innocence (verses 3–5)
- Calling for God's just judgment (verses 6–9)
- Confidence in, and praise of, the righteous God (verses 10–17)
1verse“Isn’t a man forced to labor on earth? Aren’t his days like the days of a hired hand?
2verseAs a servant who earnestly desires the shadow, as a hireling who looks for his wages,
3verseso I am made to possess months of misery, wearisome nights are appointed to me.
4verseWhen I lie down, I say, ‘When will I arise, and the night be gone?’ I toss and turn until the dawning of the day.
5verseMy flesh is clothed with worms and clods of dust. My skin closes up, and breaks out afresh.
6verseMy days are swifter than a weaver’s shuttle, and are spent without hope.
7verseOh remember that my life is a breath. My eye will no more see good.
8verseThe eye of him who sees me will see me no more. Your eyes will be on me, but I will not be.
9verseAs the cloud is consumed and vanishes away, so he who goes down to Sheol will come up no more.
10verseHe will return no more to his house, neither will his place know him any more.
11verse“Therefore I will not keep silent. I will speak in the anguish of my spirit. I will complain in the bitterness of my soul.
12verseAm I a sea, or a sea monster, that you put a guard over me?
13verseWhen I say, ‘My bed will comfort me. My couch will ease my complaint,’
14versethen you scare me with dreams and terrify me through visions,
15verseso that my soul chooses strangling, death rather than my bones.
16verseI loathe my life. I don’t want to live forever. Leave me alone, for my days are but a breath.
17verseWhat is man, that you should magnify him, that you should set your mind on him,
18versethat you should visit him every morning, and test him every moment?
19verseHow long will you not look away from me, nor leave me alone until I swallow down my spittle?
20verseIf I have sinned, what do I do to you, you watcher of men? Why have you set me as a mark for you, so that I am a burden to myself?
21verseWhy do you not pardon my disobedience, and take away my iniquity? For now will I lie down in the dust. You will seek me diligently, but I will not be.”
The Flow of the Poem and Its Message
In Psalm 7, David, who is in an unfair and difficult situation, first asks God for refuge; if the accusations against him are true, he says he deserves punishment, but if they are not, he asks God to judge fairly. David examines his own innocence and trusts that God searches what is right and what is wrong. His prayer ultimately leads to God's righteousness—that is, God's justice in protecting those who do what is good and judging those who do evil.
The Key Meaning of Psalm 7
Through this psalm, we can learn how to entrust our own unfairness and our sense of justice to God in difficult circumstances and cry out. We can also look back on our own wrongs; if we have sinned, we can have the courage to accept punishment, yet if innocence is proven, we come to hold a belief that God's justice will certainly be realized. In the final part of the psalm, David gives thanks for God's name and praises His righteousness.
Points to Reflect On
- When I face an unfair situation or misunderstanding, who do I first turn to for protection?
- Am I entrusting the judgment and righteousness of everything to God, who knows the hearts of me and my opponent?
- In prayer, am I objectively reflecting on the state of my heart and my actions?
Try Applying It to Yourself
About the unfair things or unjust situations I face today—with the trust of "God is my judge"—I can bring my unfairness, my sense of rightness, and even my wrongdoing honestly before God and pray. Just as in Psalm 7, I hope to keep believing in the righteous God to the end and to enjoy the peace and comfort that He gives.
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