In this episode of the International Gospel Hour, we delve into the profound teachings of Psalm 7. Led by Jeff Archie, we explore the themes of David’s prayer and his earnest plea for deliverance from his enemies. Discover how the ancient cry of ‘Shigan’ underscores the wanderings of faith and serves as a passionate expression of the challenges David faced. Reflecting on how these themes apply to modern believers, we are encouraged to embrace God’s Word for strength in our own trials.
Friends, our very special psalm cast is just ahead from the International Gospel Hour as we will look at Psalm 7 today. Again, let’s take our study, place forth the God-given application, and that’s just ahead from the International Gospel Hour. Stay with us.
SPEAKER 02 :
It’s time for our broadcast from the International Gospel Hour. I’m Jay Webb, and welcome to our study today as we embrace God’s Word to help us meet the challenges of today. Let’s open our Bibles and open our heart for this time of Bible study with our speaker Jeff Archie of International Gospel Hour, a broadcast of the Churches of Christ. Here’s Jeff.
SPEAKER 01 :
Well, thank you to our J-Web, and greetings to all of you. It is a joy to have you with us once again for our broadcast from the International Gospel Hour. You know, Hebrews 11, 6 says, But without faith it is impossible to please him, for he who comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. So friends, may we diligently seek God and His Word today as we study Psalm 7. Let us be rewarded from the things that be of God. Let’s look at a little background of Psalm 7, this part of our psalm cast, where we simply take a psalm and spend time within it in the study thereof. Psalm 7 is believed to be written by David. And in many Bibles, you will see beginning at that psalm, it’s kind of like in between both psalms 6 and 7, you’ll see a phrase that says, a shegan of David. Now, Shigan is very interesting. It’s a word that its root in the Hebrew means to wander or to reel and in turn to roar or express strongly and passionately not only the problem or problems David is facing, but also his pleas unto God in dealing with the problem or the problems. You know, when I look at that definition, to wander, which means I’m searching, I’ve got a problem, but I need to deal with that problem. And maybe we are reeling or pulling back, if you will. And in turn, we roar, we bring forth our passion and the problems they are troubling us, but also our pleas to God in dealing with them. In other words, we want to be able to deal with these matters with God’s strength, because our strength is just not getting it done. Now, one then may also ask, who is Cush the Benjamite? The late Adam Clark suggests that Cush the Benjamite was one close to King Saul and had told him evil things about David. And another suggestion is that Cush was actually Saul himself. Nevertheless, this psalm of passion and plea allows us to see how one should deal with problems and sufferings. So in a moment, we’re going to read a little and we’re going to teach a little as we focus on the first nine verses of Psalm 7. And then in our next broadcast, we will conclude the study. Before we begin, I want to take a few seconds and defer to our J-Web.
SPEAKER 02 :
Are you on Instagram? Follow International Gospel Hour on Instagram. Just search International Gospel Hour, click follow, and you are set. Keep up with International Gospel Hour on Instagram. Thank you.
SPEAKER 01 :
Now, Psalm 7, let’s read the first five verses. O Lord my God, in you I put my trust. Save me from all those who persecute me, and deliver me, lest they tear me like a lion, rending me in pieces, while there is none to deliver. O Lord my God, if I have done this, if there is iniquity in my hands, if I have repaid evil to him who was at peace with me, or have plundered my enemy without cause, let the enemy pursue me and overtake me. Yes, let him trample my life to the earth and lay my honor in the dust. Selah. Okay, friends, let’s begin with verses 1 through 5, and we’re going to see David’s prayer, his call, and his confession. His call is from verses 1 and 2. O Lord my God, and the call to deliver, to deliver him, to defend him. Only the delivering and the defending that God can provide. David is at a point that he needs God to deliver, to defend him, and he makes that plea. Then we see a confession in verses 3-5. He is saying, if I have done this, he wants to make certain that things are addressed. All the accusations and everything therein, David is pleading and making sure of his life and what it needs to be. You know, I find it very strong with David that, Lord, if there is iniquity, if I have repaid evil to him who was at peace with me, then, Father, let the enemy pursue me and overtake me. Let them take me down. And David is seeing himself not in that position, but he says, Lord, if I have done this, if this is something that is hindering me from you taking care of me, then I need to confess this and get this out there. Now, the comment, as we think about the word Salah. Now, we’ve noted this in other Psalms, but I love to do it each time I study a Psalm to remind us. Salah is that term that means you pause at the end of this Psalm or you pause at this point and And you think on this, you settle on this, and you make certain you understand at this point you have the application. In the singing of these Psalms, it is where one would pause and ponder what has been sung before they pursue the next stanza. And so we need to stop and think of David’s plea to deliver, but also his confession to make certain that things are right and what it should be. And that’s not anything different from what John wrote to the Christian concerning their assurance of salvation in 1 John 1, verses 7 into chapter 2, verse 3. But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us. My little children, these things I write to you so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And he himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only, but also for the whole world. Now by this we know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. Friends, this would be a study in and of itself and a broadcast by itself from 1 John 1, verse 7 into chapter 2 and verse 3. A couple of notes here. In verse 9, if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. That is not a plea to the one who is not a Christian, friends. Many times in denominational views of salvation, this is something that the one who is not a Christian must do. But this is not what the context is teaching. It is speaking to those who are Christians. We note that earlier in chapter 1 of 1 John. Those who are walking in the light. Those who have the blood of Jesus Christ already cleansing their lives. And we are to be individuals to confess our sins. Like David, if I have done this, and then John in 1 John 2 verse 2, and if anyone sins, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. We want to make those things right as Christians. David wanted things to be right. His call and his confession. Now let’s look at verses 6 through 9 and look at his commitment and his conviction. Arise, O Lord, in your anger. Lift yourself up because of the rage of my enemies. Rise up for me to the judgment you have commanded, so the congregation of the peoples shall surround you. For their sakes, therefore, return on high. The Lord shall judge the peoples. Judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness and according to my integrity within me. O let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the just. For the righteous God tests the hearts and minds. My defense is of God, who saves the upright in heart. Now we see David, his commitment and his conviction. He is committed to following the Lord. And he sees the conviction of others who are against God. And how God will not forget them because of the evil they are doing. David mentions the congregation, those who are the just, the upright, and as a reminder that God is for His people. That parallels with Psalm 56 and verse 9. And now we go to the New Testament, to 1 Peter 3, verse 12. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, His ears are open to their prayers, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. And who is He who will harm you, if you become followers of what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled. But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and be ready always to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you with meekness and fear. Again, he’s writing to the Christian, to the righteous. He reminds them that their ears, that God’s ears rather, are open to their prayers. And how we are to continue onward, those of us who are Christians, to set apart God in our hearts, to be ready to rise in defense, and to be ready to state the hope that is within us. We see David’s prayer, his call, his confession, his commitment, and his conviction. Friends, we hope we’ve prompted some study and some things for you to think about. And as always, we love to offer our free Bible course by mail. And here is our J-Web with the details.
SPEAKER 02 :
Our long-time free Bible study course by mail is always available. Have you tried it yet? Just call us toll-free at 855-444-6988 and leave your name, address, and just say, Home Study. That’s it. You may also go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com, click on the Contact tab, and leave us the same information, name, address, and type Home Study in the message box. Study the Bible at your own pace. Again, it’s free from your friends here at International Gospel Hour.
SPEAKER 01 :
Well, friends, we hope that our study today from Psalm 7 has been of help to you in your study of the Word of God. And in our next broadcast, we’re going to conclude Psalm 7 as we will pick up with verse 10. And we will continue that study together at another time. Thank you for joining me today here on the International Gospel Hour. I’m Jeff Archie, and as always, keep listening.
SPEAKER 02 :
Thank you for listening today. To God be the glory. And we hope that our study today will draw you closer to His Word to walk in His way. Feel free to listen to our other programs at our website at internationalgospelhour.com and join us next time.
