INTRODUCTION
Read Psalm 7
David begins this psalm with a confession of his faith:
"O Lord, my God. in THEE do I put my TRUST." (KJV)
"Lord, my God, I take REFUGE IN YOU." (NIV)
"I come to YOU FOR PROTECTION, O Lord my God." (NLT)
Why, at this particular time did he need this refuge and protection? Why, at this moment was trusting God so important?
This psalm was written `concerning CUSH THE BENJAMITE. Now we know little about Cush. Some say he was a relative of Saul, others, an enemy of David's, and others even believe it may have been Saul himself. Whoever he was, we do know he was out to cause trouble for David. He was out to slander him and bring him down.
It makes little difference who he was, the fact is is, `when in trouble, David went to the Lord'.
We will later discover that David was not guilty of the accusations made against him. Still, he would have been feeling hurt and a little `hard done by'. He may have even been a little discouraged. But, he wasn't bitter, and he didn't sit around worrying or feeling sorry for himself. What did David do? He went to the all knowing (omniscient), faithful and merciful judge, in which he knew he could put his TRUST.
"Be strong and courageous. Don't be frightened by the King of Assyria or the crowd that is with him. Someone GREATER is on OUR SIDE. The king of Assyria has human power on his side, but the LORD OUR GOD is on OUR SIDE, and will help us fight our battles."
2 CHRONICLES 32:7&8 (NLT)
(These are the words of King Hezekiah, who was "good and right and true to the Lord His God.")
1. Are there things or people in your life that have hurt you, and still, at times make you feel discouraged?
Pray now that God will help you remember, that in faith, you can have deliverance.
WHY WERE THEY AFTER HIM?
Read Psalm 7: 1&2, 1 Samuel 18:-5-15
Since David had defeated Goliath,Saul had become jealous of him. God had `removed His spirit' from Saul, and this was also the start of David's battle. In spite of all the good things David did for him - up to now all he had sought to do was to serve God and the king - Saul had tried to kill him six times. Saul was afraid of David, because with God on his side, David was succeeding in everything he did.
David called his enemies `lions', because he knew how to fight them. Only as David continued to focus on God was he able to survive Saul's (the lions') attacks. God continued to sustain David during this difficult situation, and he can sustain you too, as the `Sauls (lions)' in your life continue to bring you down. Through every attack, whether it be against your body or spirit, you can have faith and confidence in a God who will continue to strengthen you. There is nothing that cannot be overcome if you have the Lord as your defender.
Read 1 Samuel 18:1-4; 1 Samuel 19:1-7; 1 Samuel 20
David also had a close friend in Jonathon, Saul's son, and he was able to give David help and encouragement during these difficult times. Make sure that you have people around you, special friends `on your side'. God has anointed these people to be your help and encouragement when things get too difficult for you to handle on your own.
2. Think of some people who you know will be by your side in the hard times. Ask them if they will be your PRAYER PARTNERS, and always know they are there for you at the end of the phone or an email.
WAS DAVID GUILTY?
Read Psalm 7: 3-5
In these verses David declares his innocence. He had been accused of treason; lies had been told about him, and there had been lots of gossip. But how could he be guilty of these accusations? All David wanted to do was to love and serve his king. He knew that one day, he would be king, but not yet. God said he could do what he liked to Saul, but David would do nothing to this man God had ordained. He even grieved at his death and wrote a song of mourning for him and his son Jonathon. (2 Samuel 1:17-27)
"It would be unthinkable for me to raise my hand against his majesty, the Lord's anointed king, since he is the Lord's anointed." (1 Samuel 24:6) (NLT)
"Then David grabbed his own clothes and tore them in grief." (2 Samuel 2:11) (NLT)
Read Matthew 5:43-48
"You have heard that it was said, "Love your neighbour and hate your enemies", but I say to you, "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. If you do this you will be children of your Father who is in Heaven." Matthew 5:43 (NLT)
Jesus gave us this `command' many years after David had written this psalm, but what an example David had been of this love. There were these people saying bad things about him, wanting to destroy him, but what did David do: he focused on God, and what God would want of him - to love his enemies and to pray for those who persecuted him.
3. What are some ways we can show love to those we feel are often `persecuting' us? What kind of things could we say in our prayers?
GOD IS THE JUDGE, NOT US
Read Psalm 7:6-17
When I was going through a bad time and felt that `the world was against me', I used to read these words of David and think: "great, the Lord will bring `fire and brimstone' down on my enemies".
"Arise in anger, O Lord, stand up against the fury of my attackers." Psalm 7:6 (NLT)
"Let the evil in wicked people come to an end." Psalm 7:9 (NLT)
That's what bitterness does! Now when I read these words, and others like them in David's Psalms, I see them as what they are - prayers. I see that yes, David is seeking justice for the evil that has been done against him, but he is also asking God to bring the evildoers to repentance, so like him they can know the joy that comes from salvation and righteous living.
Jesus died on the cross for his enemies and our enemies, again many years after this psalm was written, but David knew, even then, that salvation came from having a relationship with God. David knew that God would defend him because he was righteous, but he also knew it was up to him to live this righteous life before his enemies, so they too could be redeemed.
"If you hate your enemies, you have no way to redeem or transform them." Martin Luther King Jnr.
David had confidence in his God, his Protector and his Saviour. He knew God was the righteous judge who showed favour to the righteous. God's justice would also see that all that was unfair would be dealt with; but most of all what David wanted was to see the redemption of his enemies, which is ultimately GOD'S PLAN OF SALVATION.
4. Can you think of a time when you were falsely accused of something? What did you do? Did you turn to God, or take matters into your own hands?
TRUST - BETTER THAN WORRY AND BITTERNESS.
Read Matthew 6:25-34; Philippians 4:6&7; Ephesians 4:31&32
I've spent a lot of time over the years living in bitterness and worrying about things that may not happen. But, I have also learnt some important lessons:
1) WORRY AND BITTERNESS ACCOMPLISH NOTHING. They are simply 2 ways that the devil uses to draw us away from God by damaging our relationship with Him.
"Let the wrongs we receive from others not kindle or arouse our anger, but rather kindle and arouse our devotion to God." Matthew Henry.
2. WORRY AND BITTERNESS ARE NOT HEALTHY. They not only become a spiritual burden, but can take away our physical strength. I have medical proof, but I truly believe that my cancer was partly due to the stress I put myself through after my termination from work.
"Worry weighs a person down, an encouraging word cheers a person up." Proverbs 12:25 (NLT)
"But those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength. They will sour high on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:31 (NLT)
3. WORRY AND BITTERNESS TAKE OUR FOCUS OFF GOD. God has a plan for our lives and even in the difficult times, He takes cares of us. This is what we need to focus on, not on the thing or people that are causing our distress.
"For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11
"Give all your worries and cares to the Lord." 1 Peter 5:7
4. WORRY AND BITTERNESS ARE THE OPPOSITE OF TRUST. I know from experience that when you trust in the Lord, it feels like the `weight of the world' has been taken off your shoulders. You no longer feel that you need to solve the problem and that you need to take charge. The pressure is off you and now on God. Accept that God knows what is best for you and HE CAN HANDLE ANYTHING!!
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5&6
5. These are some lessons I have learnt about trusting in God. Have you any lessons you would like to share?
CONCLUSION
David made the choice, like we can, to focus on God and what He could do for him, rather than to get bitter and worry about what his enemies would do to him. He knew that praying for his enemies and loving them was their only way to redemption. He knew that trusting in God and in the protection of the righteous judge was where he would find peace and joy.
"I will thank God because He is just. I will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High." Psalm 7:17
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