THE SLANDERED SAINT
PSALM 7:1-17
PSALM 7:1-17
Introduction:
It appears probable that Cush the Benjamite had accused David to Saul of treasonable conspiracy against his royal authority. Saul was already jealous of David and in fear of losing his kingdom to him.
Cush being of the same tribe of the king, was near the throne and could do more injury to David than an ordinary slanderer. So David made this slander into a song. “Let us learn a lesson from Luther, who once said, “David made Psalms; we also will make Psalms, and sing them as well as we can to the honour of our Lord, and to spite and mock the devil.”
I. DAVID AVOWS HIS INNOCENCE, vv. 3-5
A. David puts his trust in the Lord, Psalms 18:2, “The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.”
1. David was not ashamed, Psalms 25:2, “O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me.”
2. David walked before the Lord with integrity, Psalms 26:1, “Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide.”
3. David expected God’s mercy to endure, Psalms 32:10, “Many sorrows shall be to the wicked: but he that trusteth in the LORD, mercy shall compass him about.”
B. David was happy and confident in the Lord, Psalms 146:5, “Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:”
1. David “stayed” upon the Lord, Isaiah 50:10, “Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God.”
2. David was confident that the truth would be revealed, Psalms 146:6, “Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever:”
II. DAVID PLEADS FOR JUDGMENT, vv. 6-7
A. David prays for God to judge him, Psalms 35:1, “Plead my cause, O LORD, with them that strive with me: fight against them that fight against me.”
1. God had judged between David and Saul, 1 Samuel 13:14, “But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the LORD hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the LORD hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the LORD commanded thee.”
2. Saul’s disobedience to God had caused him to be rejected, 1 Samuel 15:23, “For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.”
B. He prays for the sake of the people, Psalms 35:23, “Stir up thyself, and awake to my judgment, even unto my cause, my God and my Lord.”
1. That they might observe God’s justice, Psalms 58:10, “The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked.”
2. That men might know that there is a reward for the righteous, Psalms 58:11, “So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth.”
III. DAVID IS CLEARED BY THE LORD, vv. 8-9
A. Let the evil of the wicked come to an end, Daniel 11:44-45, “But tidings out of the east and out of the north shall trouble him: therefore he shall go forth with great fury to destroy, and utterly to make away many. 45- And he shall plant the tabernacles of his palace between the seas in the glorious holy mountain; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him.”
B. Let the Lord vindicates his servant, Psalm 26:1, “Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide.”
1. God preserves those that are innocent, Daniel 6:22, “My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions ’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.”
2. The innocent blood of Christ made that possible, Matthew 27:24, “When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.”
IV. DAVID SEES THE PIT INTO WHICH CUSH HAS FALLEN, vv. 10-13
A. God is angry with the wicked every day, Romans 2:8, “But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath.”
B. History speaks of the danger of disobedience, Hebrews 10:28-29, He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses: 29- Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?”
CONCLUSION