A Prayer for Vindication

71 Shiggaion of David, which he sang to Jehovah, concerning the words of Cush the Benjaminite. Jehovah my God, in thee have I trusted: save me from all my pursuers, and deliver me; 2 Lest he tear my soul like a lion, crushing it while there is no deliverer. 3 Jehovah my God, if I have done this, if there be iniquity in my hands; 4 If I have rewarded evil to him that was at peace with me; (indeed I have freed him that without cause oppressed me;) 5 Let the enemy pursue after my soul, and take [it], and let him tread down my life to the earth, and lay my glory in the dust. Selah. 6 Arise, Jehovah, in thine anger; lift thyself up against the raging of mine oppressors, and awake for me: thou hast commanded judgment. 7 And the assembly of the peoples shall encompass thee; and for their sakes return thou on high. 8 Jehovah shall minister judgment to the peoples. Judge me, Jehovah, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity which is in me. 9 Oh let the wrong of the wicked come to an end, and establish thou the righteous [man]; even thou that triest the hearts and reins, the righteous God.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 7:1-9

Commentary on Psalm 7:1-9

(Read Psalm 7:1-9)

David flees to God for succour. But Christ alone could call on Heaven to attest his uprightness in all things. All His works were wrought in righteousness; and the prince of this world found nothing whereof justly to accuse him. Yet for our sakes, submitting to be charged as guilty, he suffered all evils, but, being innocent, he triumphed over them all. The plea is, "For the righteous God trieth the hearts and the reins." He knows the secret wickedness of the wicked, and how to bring it to an end; he is witness to the secret sincerity of the just, and has ways of establishing it. When a man has made peace with God about all his sins, upon the terms of grace and mercy, through the sacrifice of the Mediator, he may, in comparison with his enemies, appeal to God's justice to decide.