ANALYSIS OF THE SEVENTH PSALM

I. His appeal to God by way of petition, ver. 1, 2, 6.

II. The reasons of this appeal, ] set down through the whole Psalm.

III. His doxology or thanksgiving, ver. 17.

I. He begins his appeal with a petition for deliverance from his persecutors: "Save me and deliver me," ver. 1. In which he desires God to be: -

1. Attentive to him: 1. Because of the relation between them. For he was the Lord his God. 2. He trusted in him: "O Lord my God, I trust in thee," ver. 1.

2. Benevolent to him. For he was now in danger of death. He had, 1. Enemies. 2. Many enemies. 3. Persecuting enemies. 4. But one above the rest, a lion ready to rend him in pieces; so that if God forsook him, he would do it. "Save me from those that persecute me," &c., ver. 2.

II. And then he gives his reasons why he doth appeal to his God, which are: 1. His own innocence. 2. God's justice.

1. He makes a protestation of his innocence. He was accused that he lay in wait, and plotted for Saul's life and kingdom; but he clears himself, shows the impossibility of it, and that with a fearful imprecation. 1. O Lord-if I have done any such thing as they object; it I have rewarded evil to him that was at peace with me, ver. 3, 4, which was indeed an impossible matter. For I have delivered him-as Saul in the cave, 1 Sam. xxiv. 2. His imprecation-Then let mine enemy persecute me-let him take both my life and my honour, kingdom, property, and whatever thou hast promised me.

2. And, which is the second reason of this appeal, being innocent, he calls for justice. "Arise, O Lord-lift up thyself-awake for me to judgment." For, 1. The rage of my enemies is great. 2. The judgment was thine that chose me to be king of thy people. Awake for me. 3.

This will be for thy honour, and the edification of thy Church. "The congregation of thy people shall compass thee about. For their sakes return thou on high." Ascend the tribunal, and do justice.

Now, upon this argument of God's justice, he dwells and insists to the last verse of the Psalm.

1. He avows God to be his Judge.

2. He prays for justice to be done to him and to the wicked. 1. To him, an innocent person: "Judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness." 2. To the wicked: "O let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end!" 3. He prays not only for himself, but for all good men: "Establish the just." And adds this reason, that as "God trieth the hearts and reins," he is fittest to be judge, in whom is required knowledge and prudence.

4. The other two properties of a judge are, to save, and to punish; and the triumph of his faith is, that he knows He will do both. 1. He will save the just and upright in heart, and therefore his defense is in God. 2. He will punish the wicked, for he is angry with them every day; and yet even to them he shows much clemency and forbearance. He waits for their conversion. He whets, binds on, and sharpens his instruments of death; but he shoots not till there is no remedy. But, If they will not return he will whet his sword, &c.

5. But the Lord's longsuffering had no good effect upon Saul; he grew worse and worse: He travailed with mischief; conceived iniquity; brought forth falsehood; and digged a pit for his innocent neighbour, into which he fell himself. Thus the righteous God executed judgment and vindicated innocence.