HOLY PSALM OF DAVID (ZABUR) SEVEN

David writes in a time of persecution. He turns to God in prayer to rescue him, believing he has done no wrong and that his enemies are unjust in attacking him.  For all who suffer persecution for their faith, ethnicity or both, this psalm of David speaks encouragement.

1 I come to you for protection, O Lord my God. Save me from my persecutors—rescue me! 2 If you don’t, they will maul me like a lion,
tearing me to pieces with no one to rescue me.

David acknowledged in verse 4 that if he were sinning such as by paying back evil for good, or unjustly attacking those he disliked, then it would be right for God to allow his persecutors to punish him. But he argued, he is not living an unrighteous life. It is hard for people to understand why God allows persecution and suffering, but then David looked further to God’s justice, which he knew will be meted out on all, both the righteous and the unrighteous at the day of judgement. God’s justice and God’s faithfulness are fundamental to Biblical revelation and are also implied in the Holy Koran. David prays for justice and he believed God would answer his prayer of faith. And in verse eight, David prayed for that future day,

8 The Lord judges the nations. Declare me righteous, O Lord, for I am innocent, O Most High!

Jesus also believed firmly in God’s justice, but when faced with unjust persecution and death though he had done no wrong, he prayed to be delivered from it (as anyone would do), but he willingly submitted to God’s over-riding purpose to bring salvation from sin to all human-kind.

“My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine (Matt.26 v.39).” 

Though there may be no justice apparent in this life, David was confident that all who persecute and are persecuted will face God’s judgement, those who are righteous will be with God and those who are not righteous will be cast out. Jesus, God’s Holy Messiah (Christ) says a similar Word of God in one of his parables…

‘But when I the Messiah (Christ), shall come in my glory, and all the angels with me, then I shall sit upon my throne of glory. And all the nations shall be gathered before me. And I will separate the sheep from the goats, and place sheep at my right hand and the goats at my left. Then I the king shall say to those on my right, ‘Come blessed of my Father, into the kingdom prepared for you from the founding of the world. For I was hungry and you fed me; I was thirsty and you gave me water; I was a stranger and you took me into your homes; naked and you clothed me; sick and in prison, and you visited me.’....’And I the king, will tell them, “When you did it (all these things) to the least of my brethren you were doing it to me”.’ (ref Book of God, Ingil, New Testament, Matt.25 v31-46).

Here Jesus is saying that God identifies with the victims of persecution, violence and neglect; and on God’s Day of judgement, those who have mistreated others (including the followers of God’s Messiah, Jesus), will be deemed ‘unrighteous’ and will not inherit eternal life.  So, Jesus, who (in the Ingil) is described as David’s greater son, will under God, be the judge of all! Thus, those like David who are persecuted now, will then be established in honour and truth.

A poem for Psalm 7: -

Lord help us to stand in that day

Clothed in your righteousness divine

We trust in you as you in us

O give us grace to persevere!

A prayer: - Save me, Lord God, as you have promised! Amen

mjk 30/11/17 c. mikereflects