{"id":358,"date":"2016-09-19T23:07:38","date_gmt":"2016-09-19T23:07:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/biblefreak.org\/teaching\/?p=358"},"modified":"2019-12-30T14:35:04","modified_gmt":"2019-12-30T22:35:04","slug":"our-defense-is-yhwh-psalm-7","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/biblefreak.org\/teaching\/?p=358","title":{"rendered":"Our Defense is YHWH (Psalm 7)"},"content":{"rendered":"<!--[if lt IE 9]><script>document.createElement('audio');<\/script><![endif]-->\n\t<div class=\"wp-playlist wp-audio-playlist wp-playlist-light\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-playlist-current-item\"><\/div>\n\t\t<audio controls=\"controls\" preload=\"none\" width=\"1118\"\n\t\t\t><\/audio>\n\t<div class=\"wp-playlist-next\"><\/div>\n\t<div class=\"wp-playlist-prev\"><\/div>\n\t<noscript>\n\t<ol>\n\t\t<li><a href='https:\/\/biblefreak.org\/teaching\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/12\/Our-Defense-is-YHWH-Elder-Matthew-Davis-919161839234.mp3'>Our Defense is YHWH<\/a><\/li>\t<\/ol>\n\t<\/noscript>\n\t<script type=\"application\/json\" class=\"wp-playlist-script\">{\"type\":\"audio\",\"tracklist\":true,\"tracknumbers\":true,\"images\":true,\"artists\":true,\"tracks\":[{\"src\":\"https:\\\/\\\/biblefreak.org\\\/teaching\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2019\\\/12\\\/Our-Defense-is-YHWH-Elder-Matthew-Davis-919161839234.mp3\",\"type\":\"audio\\\/mpeg\",\"title\":\"Our Defense is YHWH\",\"caption\":\"\",\"description\":\"\\\"Our Defense is YHWH\\\" from Covenant Reformed Church GV by Elder Matthew Davis. Released: 2016. Genre: Other.\",\"meta\":{\"artist\":\"Elder Matthew Davis\",\"album\":\"Covenant Reformed Church GV\",\"genre\":\"Other\",\"year\":\"2016\",\"length_formatted\":\"1:00:14\"},\"image\":{\"src\":\"https:\\\/\\\/biblefreak.org\\\/teaching\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2019\\\/12\\\/The-Completion-Fulfillment-and-Perfection-of-Christ-Elder-Matthew-Davis-2319178144-mp3-image-1.jpg\",\"width\":196,\"height\":242},\"thumb\":{\"src\":\"https:\\\/\\\/biblefreak.org\\\/teaching\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2019\\\/12\\\/The-Completion-Fulfillment-and-Perfection-of-Christ-Elder-Matthew-Davis-2319178144-mp3-image-1-150x150.jpg\",\"width\":150,\"height\":150}}]}<\/script>\n<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Anger and Justice of YHWH Psalm 7:1-13<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>The Lord judges the people, and us based on our righteousness, our inner integrity.&nbsp; He is our defender, and our salvation He makes us upright in heart.&nbsp; But against the wicked His anger is constant or perfect daily.<\/li><li>Finally, the central focus is summarized in v9. For in introducing this focus, the wicked and their end vs the righteous and their salvation are all completed according to the sovereign will of God.<\/li><li>Note the flow of the Hebrew provides a parallel organized throughout the 17 verses which is reflected in the following verses and notes, drawing the attention to central theme at vv8-11. YHWH is Judge, He condemns wickedness, He judges righteous, He is to be praised.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/biblefreak.org\/teaching\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Saplm7Chiasm.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"596\" height=\"735\" src=\"https:\/\/biblefreak.org\/teaching\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Saplm7Chiasm.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-462\" srcset=\"https:\/\/biblefreak.org\/teaching\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Saplm7Chiasm.jpg 596w, https:\/\/biblefreak.org\/teaching\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/09\/Saplm7Chiasm-243x300.jpg 243w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 596px) 100vw, 596px\" \/><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>Psalm 7:title\u20132 (NKJV)<br>A Meditation Of David, Which He Sang to the Lord Concerning the Words of Cush, a Benjamite.<\/p><p><sup>1<\/sup>O Lord my God, in You I put my trust; <strong>Save<\/strong><strong> me<\/strong> from all those who persecute me; And <strong>deliver me<\/strong>,<br><sup>2<\/sup>Lest they tear me like a lion,<br>Rending me in pieces, while there is none to deliver.<\/p><p>Compare Psalm 7:17 (NKJV)<br><sup>17<\/sup>I will praise the Lord according to His righteousness,<br>And will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>David\u2019s life continues to be the focus of our instruction.&nbsp; For as we are instructed in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, all of God\u2019s word is profitable, and Paul often alludes to the purpose of the Scripture as for our admonishment through examples (1 Cor 19).&nbsp; The character of this lament points us to the Lord as our comfort, our vindication and justifier, as well as the Lord whose anger and wrath are displayed righteously against the wicked and guilty.&nbsp; Even when we are the guilty ones.&nbsp; It is a Kingly Lament.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Our instruction begins with recognizing that the arguments of the wicked are only emboldened against the people of the Lord.&nbsp; Those who live lives of piety and righteousness, in Christ, in submission to all proper authority, and passionately toward all people, in the hope, love and humility of the Gospel of Jesus Christ &#8211; such are accused, despised, and rejected (Isaiah 53, Matt 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For the title tells us plainly that this is a (\u05e9\u05b4\u05c1\u05d2\u05b8\u05bc\u05d9\u0597\u05d5\u05b9\u05df) Shiggaion of David, but this phrase if found only elsewhere in Habakkuk 3, and the picture which the prophet brings is a pronouncement against the sinfulness of Israel, and the promise of their destruction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>David\u2019s cry here is some 400 years before the prophetic voice condemns the enemies of God.&nbsp; David\u2019s persecution is well known from the OT.&nbsp; He was persecuted by Saul, Michal, Absalom, Shimei, Sheba, Joab, Adonijah, but above all these David remained his own worst enemy.&nbsp; A view we see in this Psalm as we saw in the previous 4 laments.&nbsp; David relies on God for mercy and deliverance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>Psalm 7:3\u20137 (NKJV)<br><sup>3<\/sup>O Lord my God, if I have done this: &nbsp;If there is iniquity in my hands,<br><sup>4<\/sup>If I have repaid evil to him who was at peace with me,<br>Or have plundered my enemy without cause,<br><sup>5<\/sup>Let the enemy pursue me and overtake me;<br>Yes, let him trample my life to the earth,<br>And lay my honor in the dust.<br><strong>Selah<br><\/strong><sup>6<\/sup>Arise, O Lord, in Your anger;<br>Lift Yourself up because of the rage of my enemies;<br>Rise up for me to the judgment You have commanded!<br><sup>7<\/sup>So the congregation of the peoples shall surround You;<br>For their sakes, therefore, return on high.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Contrast vv 11-16 where God is seen only as the Just Avenger, and where the fall of the wicked is a result of his own hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>David\u2019s main complaint is directed toward accusations against him, some of which were true, as can be seeing the character of his petition against his own sins in Psalm 51.&nbsp; It is important we see David\u2019s statements not as conditional questions; the Hebrew poetic feature uses the word (\u05d0\u05b4\u05bd\u05dd) \u201cfor though this is.\u201d&nbsp; The character of his prayer against the wicked is not spared against himself, as he contrasts with the later verses, the devices of the wicked result in their own fall (v14-16), his words proclaim the same with these passionate pleas in verses (3-5).&nbsp; This section is marked for deep reflection and meditation, as seen in (\u05e1\u05b6\u05bd\u05dc\u05b8\u05d4) in the passage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Such prayers are not to be considers a sign of weakness, or loss of trust.&nbsp; For if we review the events of David\u2019s life, we note here he not only hears the accusations against him, he can through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, though he has sinned and is deserving of judgement which the Lord has commanded (v6), yet he notes the occasions for these accusation is the rage and is not motivated by those seeing righteousness or God\u2019s Justice, but vengeance apart from God, they want David\u2019s downfall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Why this is important:&nbsp; The condemnation of David\u2019s sins for murdering Uriah the Hittite (2 Sam 12) were the very things David ask against himself in verses 3-7.&nbsp; His lament and cries are not empty, uninformed or vain.&nbsp; Far from it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Lord has commanded judgement against David for the iniquity and plundering of Uriah\u2019s life, and wife.&nbsp; That he prays with a deep, deep sense of sorrow concerning his condemnation provides us with a picture of the man after God\u2019s own heart (1 Sam 13:14; Acts 13:22).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>David\u2019s primary focus is upon the kingdom and not himself, God\u2019s kingdom and people.&nbsp; Note he closes this petition asking for the sake of the God\u2019s people, not his own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>Psalm 7:8\u201311 (NKJV)<br><sup>8 <\/sup>The Lord shall judge the peoples;<br>Judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness,<br>And according to my integrity within me.<br><sup>9 <\/sup>Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end,<br>But establish the just;<br>For the righteous God tests the hearts and minds.<br><sup>10 <\/sup>My defense is of God,<br>Who saves the upright in heart.<br><sup>11 <\/sup>God is a just judge,<br>And God is angry with the wicked every day.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Properly verses 8-11 form the center of the focus of the Psalm.&nbsp; V9 being the central focus.&nbsp; The righteous desire not only the end of the wicked, but the judgment of the Lord.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The wicked revile God, they mock him, as we have seen from Psalm 1-6, here David reflects upon the truth which is in the heart and mind of every true child of Christ.&nbsp; The assurance that God will judge all people.&nbsp; That we can only stand before the Lord\u2019s judgement in the righteousness which is our through him.&nbsp; We are wise to take note that David does not view his righteousness or integrity (harmlessness) upon his own strength.&nbsp; For this the second part of v9 indicates clearly, it is the righteous God who tests the hearts and minds, and v10, we see clearly that he accounts God as his defense.&nbsp; Also in the former Psalm (6) he prayed under similar sorrows, \u201cFor thy mercies sake..\u201d and also in Psalm 4 \u201cO God of my righteousness!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is this character we are encouraged to reflect upon when we are tried, when testing comes, when evil is spoken against us without cause.&nbsp; And only one against the oppression of physical enemies, but also the spiritual oppression which manifests itself in our own hearts and minds.&nbsp; Our cry in the midst of all doubts is to be \u201cMY DEFENSE IS GOD, WHO SAVES THE UPRIGHT IN HEART!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Verses 12-16 Contrast the condemnation for the section in vv3-8.&nbsp; Note the comments in the sermon above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>Psalm 7:17 (NKJV)<br><sup>17<\/sup>I will praise the Lord according to His righteousness,<br>And will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Finally, v17 returns us to the theme of confession, and reflecting the praise properly belongs to the LORD.&nbsp; The reflections upon the wicked and their deeds are intended to comfort us, though they may also make us cry.&nbsp; Our defense is of the LORD, and note David not only began this lament by calling upon the Covenant name of God (YHWH, \u05d9\u05b0\u05d4\u05d5\u05b8\u05a3\u05d4), but in closing he also returns to that sacred and holiest of names.&nbsp; More than reflecting praise, it is according to the righteousness of the LORD, David\u2019s a cause to rejoice in Song is that holy name.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Beloved of the LORD!&nbsp; We will find darkness in this life, for it is a valley of tears, it is filled with the betrayal of our own hearts and minds against us, it is a rotting corpse which need the LORD, our Savior Christ Jesus to lift us from the miry pit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let us Praise the LORD, according to his righteousness and Sing praises to his NAME!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Elder Matthew Davis<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Anger and Justice of YHWH Psalm 7:1-13 The Lord judges the people, and us based on our righteousness, our inner integrity.&nbsp; He is our defender, and our salvation He makes us upright in heart.&nbsp; But against the wicked His anger is constant or perfect daily. Finally, the central focus is summarized in v9. For [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":501,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[9,12,6,15,13,14,4,5,11],"class_list":["post-358","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-covenant","tag-lament","tag-lord","tag-mercy","tag-praise","tag-prayer","tag-song","tag-suffering","tag-woes","tag-yhwh"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblefreak.org\/teaching\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/358","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblefreak.org\/teaching\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblefreak.org\/teaching\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblefreak.org\/teaching\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblefreak.org\/teaching\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=358"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/biblefreak.org\/teaching\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/358\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1088,"href":"https:\/\/biblefreak.org\/teaching\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/358\/revisions\/1088"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblefreak.org\/teaching\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/501"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/biblefreak.org\/teaching\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=358"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblefreak.org\/teaching\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=358"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/biblefreak.org\/teaching\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=358"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}