Psalm 7 begins with this fact: “A Psalm David sang unto the LORD, concerning the words of Cush the Benjamite.” This man Cush (meaning “darkness, blackness”) was a close “friend” of David’s nemesis, the wicked King Saul of Israel.

We do  not know precisely what has been said “against” David. Uttered by this liar named Cush. But we do know David denies all of the charges!

And David also brings his “innocence” to the Lord! As in verse 3 of our Psalm: “O LORD my God, if I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands.” (I realize the verse is not an independent clause, a full sentence. It needs the next 2 verses to complete David’s line of reasoning.) But still I want you to hear his honest protest of having “done no wrong.”

Yes, David here addresses his God, our God!

Both as “Jehovah” (LORD) and as “God” (Elohiym). I just checked. God is known by these two Names over 9,000 times in the Bible!

Then there’s the “if,” twice in a single line!

But it is an “if” of negation. David had NOT done wicked things. David had NOT been disloyal to Saul. David had NOT sought any harm to the King! (In fact, David had spared Saul’s life at least twice in the past few months.)

“O LORD my God, if I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands.”

The noun “iniquity” is spelled (ironically) “evel.” It can mean “to deviate” from the norm. To live “outside” God’s rules. Just plain “wickedness.”

David wants the Lord to know that he has acted in a noble, honorable fashion. He has not wronged King Saul in any way.

Maybe this kind of prayer is important (this claim of innocence) because this same David (or some Psalmist) later wrote “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord WILL NOT HEAR me.” Psalm 66:18

This thought will “fall into place” even more so tomorrow. When we read the whole paragraph … “O LORD my God, if I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands; if I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy.) Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. Psalm 7:3-5

David essentially is praying something like this: “If I have done these wrongs, O Lord, let their (the enemies’ … all of them) desires be enacted upon me!

Wow!

Obviously then, there is POWER in living a godly, pure life.

Confidence (not in self) … but in the Lord!

And David is here exercising that power (in prayer).

It’s Psalm 24:3-4 come to life: “Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who shall stand in his Holy Place? He that hath CLEAN HANDS, and a PURE HEART; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.”

Yes!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell