Lord my God, I take refuge in you;
save and deliver me from all who pursue me,
2 or they will tear me apart like a lion
and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue me.
3 Lord my God, if I have done this
and there is guilt on my hands—
4 if I have repaid my ally with evil
or without cause have robbed my foe—
5 then let my enemy pursue and overtake me;
let him trample my life to the ground
and make me sleep in the dust.
6 Arise, Lord, in your anger;
rise up against the rage of my enemies.
Awake, my God; decree justice.
7 Let the assembled peoples gather around you,
while you sit enthroned over them on high.
8 Let the Lord judge the peoples.
Vindicate me, Lord, according to my righteousness,
according to my integrity, O Most High.
9 Bring to an end the violence of the wicked
and make the righteous secure—
you, the righteous God
who probes minds and hearts.
10 My shield is God Most High,
who saves the upright in heart.
11 God is a righteous judge,
a God who displays his wrath every day.
12 If he does not relent,
he will sharpen his sword;
he will bend and string his bow.
13 He has prepared his deadly weapons;
he makes ready his flaming arrows.
14 Whoever is pregnant with evil
conceives trouble and gives birth to disillusionment.
15 Whoever digs a hole and scoops it out
falls into the pit they have made.
16 The trouble they cause recoils on them;
their violence comes down on their own heads.
17 I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness;
I will sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High.
~Psalm 7
Key verse: “He who digs a hole and scoops it out falls into the pit he has made.” Psalm 7:15
The measure you use against other people will be used against you. Have you ever tried to undermine someone? What were the results? How many times has someone tried to slander you only to have it backfire against them? In conflict, you honor God when you take the high road. Don’t stoop down and match the shady tactics of your opposition.
When people gossip, don’t slander. When people spread lies, walk in the truth. When people steal from you, don’t hold on to bitterness. When people persecute you, continue living for Jesus. When people try to close doors of opportunity, keep looking to God for the next promotion. When people don’t keep their word, maintain your integrity. The rewards will come from God, and He is accumulating treasures in heaven for you.
Jesse Bradley is passionate about helping people discover the grace of Jesus- both in practical and eternal ways. He serves as Senior Pastor of Sebastopol Christian Churchin Northern California, with degrees from Dartmouth College and Dallas Theological Seminary. Once a professional goalkeeper in Scotland and Zimbabwe, God redirected him into ministry through a life-threatening illness. He is the author of Rooted In Grace and A New Season. Jesse and his wife, Laurie, have three children.
Jesse, thanks so much for sharing this psalm and your warm words of wisdom. It is just what I needed to hear today. Take care and God bless you!
~Jessica