269 – Psalm 7 – Lion

Psalm 7:title (NKJV)

A Meditation Of David, Which He Sang to [Yahweh] Concerning the Words of Cush, a Benjamite.

The title of Psalm seven is very informative. It provides us with a backdrop by which we can gain some insight into this fantastic little song. I want to focus on the middle two facts the title reveals and leave the bookends unexplored for now. Among other things, the title declares King David to be the author. I submit that if we were ignorant of the author, this Hebrew poetry put to song, would have less impact on the reader than God intended. 

The second fact I would like to extract from this, which I’ve already mentioned is, that these words David penned were actually sung by him, to Yahweh. There is something uniquely powerful about songs. I’m not sure I fully understand the effect music has on both the producer and the consumer, but it is real nonetheless. An assembly of musical tones both rises and falls rhythmically to the writer’s creative direction. Maybe it is the ability to communicate not only the message but also the emotions the singer is experiencing and sharing with the hearer. Emotions such as deep sorrow, great joy, and somber pleas, are all commonly expressed in song.

Although we would be wise to recognize worship is not exclusively the expression of music to Yahweh, it certainly is a valid and powerful form of worship. As an aside remember that giving, acts of service, etc as given to Yahweh are also forms of worship.

Ok, so David is singing to Yahweh. Keep that in mind as we consider the first two verses.

Psalm 7:1-2 (NKJV)

1 O [Yahweh] my God, in You I put my trust; Save me from all those who persecute me; And deliver me, 

2 Lest they tear me like a lion, Rending me in pieces, while there is none to deliver.

“O Yahweh my Elohim in You I put my trust.” 

By considering the Hebrew words we could accurately render the first part of verse one this way, “O Yahweh my Powerful God (Elohim), in You I put my trust…”

David recognizes God for who He is. He is the self-existent One who is powerful beyond human comprehension. This is the God in whom David puts his trust. He decisively enacts his will to trust Yahweh. The implication seems to be this is not a one-time deal. He has decided once and for all to trust Him. Heart check. What about you and me? Do we put our trust in Yahweh Elohim? Before you answer “yes, of course!” too quickly, read the first two verses above again.

David is saying to Yahweh in effect I trust you to my own hurt. If you don’t come to my aid my enemies will tear me to shreds! Was David simply paralyzed in fear by his enemies? I don’t think so. Look at what he told King Saul when Saul told him there’s no way you can come against the giant Goliath and live to tell about it.

1 Samuel 17:34-37 (NKJV)

34 But David said to Saul, “Your servant used to keep his father’s sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock, 

35 I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. 

36 Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.” 

37 Moreover David said, “[Yahweh], who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.”

I don’t know about you, but I suspect that like me, you have never caught a lion by the beard and slew him! David did! And I might add, he was just a boy when he killed both the lion and the bear!

Read 1 Samuel 17:37 again. David acknowledged to Saul that although it was by David’s hand that both the lion and the bear lost their lives, it was actually Yahweh who delivered him. Now go back to Psalm 7:1-2 and read them again. David knows Yahweh. David had experienced Yahweh’s deliverance. David knows there is no deliverance, not really if Yahweh is not the deliverer! This is why David has chosen to put his trust in Yahweh.

Now let me ask the question again. Do you put your trust in Yahweh Elohim? If not, why not? Life is so short and as the saying goes, “nobody gets out of it alive (except of course those who go up in the rapture)”. 

If you haven’t put your trust in Yahweh for your eternal salvation, do so today. If you don’t live a life of trusting in Yahweh daily you are missing out on a deep sense of peace.

Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV)

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 

7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.