Often the Psalmists call God “Protector, Defender, Fortress, High Tower,” their Place of Safety. In other words, God could keep them from harm, from any attacker who may lodge his deadly eye toward them as a child of God.
But in Psalm 7 David sees (via a vibrant faith) God not only as mighty Protector … but active Warrior against the enemies of life! The Lord as (based on Moses’ words much centuries before David) a “Man of War!” See Exodus 15:3 for verification, one example anyway.
Yesterday’s verse, along with today’s, gives us a prime specimen of what I mean. “God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day. If he (the wicked) turn not, he (God) will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready. He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.” Psalm 7:11-13
Wow!
No wonder David did not fear!
Or certainly feared less than he would have without the Lord.
Watch verse 13 closely. “He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.”
With the pronouns amplified: “He (the Lord) hath also prepared for him (the wicked) the instruments of death; he (the Lord again) ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.”
Amazing!
Remember, the whole Psalm is written as a bold statement of faith. Exuding confidence that God WILL DELIVER David from a man who hates him and has spoken against him.
Here David pictures God as going about to “ambush” Cush (David’s current enemy, by name). “Hath prepared” is “kun” in Hebrew, “made firm, stable, established.” God has as much as “commanded” instruments of death … for the God haters!
“Instruments” means “tools, armour (10 times in the King James Version), vessels.” And the noun “death” speaks for itself. Literally and spiritually here.
Then God is seen with “arrows” in His Hand! “He ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.”
This verb, “ordaineth,” is “paal,” unusual! It actually means “to do, to make, to work.” God might here be “manufacturing” such arrows! (If the wicked can sit around and “invent” further ways to sin … God can gloriously “build” more arrows with which to piece the rebelliously ungodly!)
And the noun “persecutor” is key. “Dalaq,” very rare indeed. (Only 9 times in all the Old Testament!) It means “to burn,” but in this sense, “to hotly pursue” someone! Thus, “to chase.” One time, “to inflame!”
This is Isaiah 54:17 written in advance! “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.”
Amen.
Look at this scenario …
The wicked coming against the ungodly, David, being the inspired author of these words, is at prayer: “Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked; from the insurrection of the workers of iniquity: who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words: that they may shoot in secret at the perfect: suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not.” Psalm 64:2-4, showing arrows aimed against the godly!
Then today’s text: “If he (the wicked) turn not, he (God) will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready. He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.” God shooting at the wicked, now bringing them down!
Big difference!
BIG GOD!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell