Heading: ‘Shiggaion of David which he sang to YHWH concerning the words of Cush a Benjamite.' Shiggaion probably corresponds to the Akkadian segu, ‘to howl or lament'. It thus indicates a poem of passionate character written under the influence of strong emotion. No details are known of Cush the B... [ Continue Reading ]
DAVID PRAYS TO BE DELIVERED BECAUSE HE IS PURSUED AND HARD-PRESSED (PSALMS 7:1). ‘O YHWH my God, in you I put my trust, Save me from all those who pursue me, and deliver me. Lest he tear my being like a lion, Rending it in pieces when there is no one to deliver.' The prayer is a trusting cry to... [ Continue Reading ]
HE PLEADS HIS OWN INNOCENCE (PSALMS 7:3). O YHWH, my God, if I have done this, If there be iniquity in my hands, If I have rewarded evil to him who was at peace with me, Yes, I have delivered him who was without cause my adversary, Let the enemy pursue my life (nephesh), and overtake it, Yes,... [ Continue Reading ]
HE CALLS ON GOD TO SET UP A COURT OF JUSTICE AND PUT ALL ON TRIAL SO THAT THE WORLD CAN BEGIN AGAIN (PSALMS 7:6). His plight has moved David to a consciousness of the way sin triumphs and the righteous suffer. He is filled with a huge desire that righteousness might be established and that all sin... [ Continue Reading ]
HE REVEALS THAT GOD IS A PRESENT JUDGE ON ALL (PSALMS 7:11). ‘God (Elohim) is a righteous judge, Yes, a God (El) who has indignation every day. If a man turn not, he will whet his sword, He has bent his bow and made it ready, He has also prepared for him the instruments of death, He makes his... [ Continue Reading ]
HE DECLARES THAT THERE ARE EVEN NOW PRESENT CONSEQUENCES OF SIN (PSALMS 7:14). ‘Behold he exerts himself with iniquity (worthlessness), Yes, he has conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood. He has made a pit and dug it, And fallen into the trap which he was making. His mischief will retu... [ Continue Reading ]
DAVID'S FINAL HYMN OF PRAISE. I will give thanks to YHWH according to his righteousness, And will sing praise to the name of YHWH Most High.' His final gratitude is expressed concerning the fact that God is righteous and behaves righteously, thus establishing the righteous and destroying the wick... [ Continue Reading ]