Begin today by reading Psalm 7.
“O Lord, my God, in you do I take refuge…” (vs. 1, ESV). Psalm 7 has a much more confident tone as King David looks to the Lord God to be the Righteous Judge and win the battle he faces. Rather than be overwhelmed with his own failures and sins (as in Psalm 6), the King has cast himself in line with God and His Righteousness. King David is not only confident, but he now has a sense of integrity and vindication. The vindication is not because of his own sinlessness or innocence or righteousness. Rather, it is that humble, repentant spirit that now casts himself on the righteousness of God.
There is integrity in his thinking and his actions because of his trust in his Righteous God. Merriam-Webster defines integrity as “firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values: incorruptibility; an unimpaired condition: soundness; [and] the quality or state of being complete or undivided: completeness.” I like the “firm adherence” idea but allow me to adjust the definition. The firm adherence is to our Righteous God. I also borrow from others who suggest the idea of being undivided is an agreement or integration between belief, character and action. Because the Psalmist trusts in the Righteousness of God (belief), he has become a person of good character and he acts righteously.
King David is a great leader for the nation of Israel because of his integrity. I also like an idea I noticed in a commentary about the “cosmic battle” between good and evil. When we acknowledge our sin and in repentance place our trust in the sacrificial death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, we are no longer on the side of evil but now with God and His side of good. This is the wonderful status of King David as he surveys the evil actions of his enemy. “My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart” (vs. 10, ESV). Overcoming evil is God’s business. Our business is to overcome evil with good by the direction and power of the Spirit of God.
We will find ourselves in various battles and we must stand for what is right. But while doing so, we trust in God to exonerate us by being the Judge who overcomes evil and establishes righteousness. This is the challenge of the Apostle Paul in Romans 12: 19-21: “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ To the contrary, ‘if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (ESV). Finding yourself aligned with God is a great place to be. In fact, like King David, you and I might just find ourselves so peaceful and confident that we cannot but help to “sing the praises of the name of the Lord Most High” (vs. 17, ESV).
Prayer: I thank the LORD who is just, and I sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High! O come and glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt His name together. We trust in Him and declare, “The battle is the LORD’S!” In Jesus’ name, Amen.
