Psalm 7:6-11

6  Arise, O Lord, in your anger;

lift yourself up against the fury of my enemies;

awake for me; you have appointed a judgment.

 7  Let the assembly of the peoples be gathered about you;

over it return on high.

8  The Lord judges the peoples;

judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness

and according to  the integrity that is in me.

  9  Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to an end,

and may you establish the righteous—

  you who test the minds and hearts,

O righteous God!

 10  My shield is with God,

who saves the upright in heart.

 11  God is a righteous judge,

and a God  who feels indignation every day.

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David has not done the things of which he is accused (verse 8). He wants God to take his throne on high (verse 7) and right all wrongs. He rightly leaves retribution to God, who alone has the wisdom to know what people deserve as well as the power and right to give it to them. So should we. But how can we be sure that we will survive Judgment Day? Christians know that before the Lord is lifted up on a throne to judge, first he will be lifted up on a cross to atone for sin (John 12:32). So on the final day a joy-filled, redeemed people will assemble at his feet (verse 7).

Timothy Keller

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Abba,

How do we respond when sinned against?

When wrongly accused?

When maliciously maligned?

How do we respond when attacked?

When torn down?

When opposed?

The flesh wants immediate vindication

Acquittal

Justice!!

We rebel at the injustice of it

We shout and defend our innocence!

Demanding it be set right!

David did too.

Only he let the process, the final product

Be up to you!

He too pled for vindication

For the prevailing of righteousness

He pled for a defense

But he refused

To take retribution

Into his own hands

He trusted you, Abba

The just and righteous judge

The supreme authority

He leaned into your indignation

He pressed in

To your own righteous offense

He trusted your own just offense

To respond rightly

To the harm against him

In this way

You became David’s shield

You become his defense

Your own righteous indignation

WAS David’s shield

It was his refuge

It was not necessary, therefore

For David to take up arms

In self-defense

The righteous judge of heaven

The indignant sovereign

Took it up for him.

We can be assured

That the same sovereign

Does the same for us

When offenders come

When injustice strikes

YOU are the shield we need

YOU save the upright

YOU punish evil

YOU vindicate!

Your righteous indignation

Becomes our defense

And is the refuge in which we seek sanctuary!

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God’s righteous indignation becomes a shield, a refuge, a sanctuary of rest for his people from injustice.

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But beware when the offense is ours! Rest assured, disciple or judgment will come! Beware of inciting God’s righteous indignation!