Arise, Lord, in your anger;
rise up against the rage of my enemies.
Awake, my God; decree justice.
Let the assembled peoples gather round you,
while you sit enthroned over them on high.
Let the Lord judge the peoples.
Vindicate me, Lord, according to my righteousness,
according to my integrity, O Most High.
Bring to an end the violence of the wicked
and make the righteous secure –
you, the righteous God
who probes minds and hearts.My shield is God Most High,
(Ps. 7:6-11 NIV)
who saves the upright in heart.
God is a righteous judge,
a God who displays his wrath every day.
There are a number of examples in the Bible where God’s people were falsely accused. Joseph was falsely accused. Daniel and Esther saw the people of God plotted against and accused. Vulnerable with their lives at risk they turned to the LORD our God.
The Psalmist puts forth request after request before the covenant LORD. The Psalmist does not seek to defend himself but looks to God to decree justice. The Psalmist calls for God to arise, rise up, awake and decree. A judgement scene is envisaged as God gathers the nations on earth before Him and God will rule over them from on high and carry out His judgement. The false accusers and the enemies of God’s people will be judged. The triumph of God’s people will ultimately be in Christ:
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
(Phil. 2:9-11 NIV)
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.
The Psalmist has called upon God to deal with the enemies of God’s people in general in v6-8a, but then he returns to his own personal difficulty. The Psalmist refers to his own righteousness and integrity. He is not claiming sinlessness but before the righteous Judge he is innocent and has no fear. The righteous God probes minds and hearts (Ps 139:1-4). God is our refuge standing ready to deliver and save. But a refuge must be entered before it is effective (James 4:8).
The God of justice (v6) has arisen, He rose up and is awake declaring justice. Ultimately in Jesus Christ, God has taken action. We have rightly been accused, but our righteous God has sent His Son to die on the cross and God has declared us innocent because of Christ.
Prayer
LORD we acknowledge that we are not sinless but when we are falsely accused we come to You and will await vindication whether that will be now or in some future judgement. We thank You that our greatest vindication is that we have been justified in Christ. The greatest injustice was our own sin and that matter has already been settled. Thanks be to the LORD our God for our salvation. In the name of Jesus Christ we pray. Amen