The first thing we notice about this Psalm is that it is titled ‘Shiggaion’. It’s a wild, passionate cry. David is being pursued by a ruthless enemy. None other than Saul. ‘Cush, a Benjamite’ appears to be a code-word for Saul.
The second thing we notice is that David is being falsely accused. He is being slandered by many. Satan is the one who keeps accusing us falsely. If his direct attack fails, then he will try calumny and lies. He hates the children of God. David was one who was hated more than any other man of God, barring Joseph. He was neglected by his father, hated & rebuked by his brothers, pursued by Saul and cursed by Shimei.
Why was Saul so angry with David, and wanted to ‘tear his soul like a lion’? David remembers the sight of a lion dragging away a poor, defenseless lamb. The same David had come to its rescue. Now he cries out to God to rescue him from the rage of his enemies.
Thirdly, we see David pleading his innocence. He never conspired against Saul, despite Saul trying to kill him again & again. His heart was pure; his hands were clean. In fact, twice David let Saul escape (1 Sam 24 & 26).
Fourthly, David cries out to God the Righteous Judge. He calls Him, ‘LORD, my God’ (the 1st time we come across this phrase in the Psalms). Yes, Jehovah is MY God. He is my Redeemer. The Lord Jesus Christ is MY God and Savior. But He is also Judge, the Righteous Judge, seated on the Judgment Seat, 7b, surrounded by His people who cry out for justice. Yes, the Lord will vindicate His people. No weapon formed against them will prosper; and every tongue that falsely accuses them will the Lord condemn. Isaiah 54.17.
Fifthly, David takes refuge in God and sees God as his shield, his defence, 10. David has left the matter of his vindication in the hands of his Righteous Judge, 11.
And, sixthly, we see how the Righteous Judge responds. If the anger of the wicked is like a fierce lion pouncing on a poor lamb, the wrath of God is even more terrible. God is angry with the wicked every day, 11b. He is patient & longsuffering, wanting the wicked to repent, 12a. But if he does not, then the Lord’s sword & arrows (fiery shafts) will fall. That’s exactly what happened to Saul. Saul was wounded by the arrows of the Philistines (who he plotted to use to destroy David). Saul was killed by the sword of the Amalekite (whom he spared in 1 Sam 15).
God’s retribution! Haman was hanged upon the gallows he himself had prepared. Ahitophel’s cunning recoiled on himself, and he went & hanged himself. Even the Rich Man in Luke’s gospel, who did not give a crumb to the beggar Lazarus, received not a drop in return. As you sow, you shall reap, Gal 6.7
Seventhly, as God’s children, we have to go through such painful experiences. Envy, jealousy, malice, hate. It was out of envy that the chief priests accused the Lord Jesus before Pilate, and stirred up the crowd to demand our Lord’s crucifixion. Envy like a canker burns in the soul and blinds us with hate. Our greatest enemies are from within; false friends who betray us (like Judas), jealous companions. Why so? If the flesh is not completely crucified, if the cross has not dealt completely with our old nature, we too can betray the Lord and deny Him and be no better than the uncircumcised Philistines. The Philistines dwelt in Palestine along with the Israelites; but the difference was that they were ‘uncircumcised’ (the mark of the cross was lacking in them). So also in the church, there is the mixed multitude. And it takes the inward cross to separate the sheep from the goats.
The Lord in His wisdom takes His children through fiery experiences so that they can see how deceitful and wicked the human heart is, and how incorrigible the flesh remains.
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