Put an end to the evil of the wicked, but establish the righteous, O righteous God who searches hearts and minds. Bring an end to the violence of the wickedThis phrase calls upon God to intervene and halt the destructive actions of those who perpetrate evil. The Hebrew word for "violence" here is "חָמָס" (chamas), which implies not just physical violence but also injustice and oppression. The psalmist is appealing to God's justice, trusting that He will not allow wickedness to prevail indefinitely. Historically, this reflects the constant struggle of the Israelites against surrounding nations and internal corruption, emphasizing a reliance on divine justice rather than human retribution. and establish the righteous
The plea to "establish the righteous" is a request for God to uphold and strengthen those who live according to His laws. The Hebrew root "כּוּן" (kun) for "establish" suggests making firm or stable. This reflects a desire for a society where righteousness is the foundation, echoing the biblical theme that God blesses those who are faithful to Him. The psalmist's confidence in God's ability to support the righteous is a recurring theme throughout the Psalms, encouraging believers to remain steadfast in their faith. O righteous God
This acknowledgment of God as "righteous" underscores His nature as just and morally perfect. The Hebrew word "צַדִּיק" (tsaddiq) conveys the idea of being in the right, just, or lawful. By addressing God in this way, the psalmist affirms his trust in God's character and His commitment to justice. This is a central tenet of conservative Christian theology, which holds that God's righteousness is the standard for human conduct and the basis for divine judgment. who searches hearts and minds
The phrase "who searches hearts and minds" highlights God's omniscience. The Hebrew words "לֵב" (lev) for "heart" and "כִּלְיָה" (kilyah) for "mind" (literally "kidneys") represent the inner being and thoughts of a person. This imagery conveys the idea that God knows the deepest intentions and motivations of individuals, beyond outward appearances. In a conservative Christian context, this serves as a reminder of the importance of inner purity and sincerity in one's relationship with God, as He discerns the true nature of every person. Let an end be made of the evil of the wicked
This reiteration of the plea for the cessation of evil emphasizes the urgency and earnestness of the psalmist's request. The repetition underscores the belief that God, in His righteousness, will ultimately bring justice and peace. It reflects a deep-seated hope in the eventual triumph of good over evil, a theme that resonates throughout the Bible and is central to Christian eschatological beliefs. Persons / Places / Events 1. DavidTraditionally attributed as the author of this Psalm, David is seeking God's justice against his enemies. 2. GodReferred to as the "righteous God," He is the ultimate judge who discerns the hearts and minds of individuals. 3. The WickedThose who commit evil and oppose God's ways, whom David asks God to judge and bring to an end. 4. The RighteousThose who live according to God's will, whom David asks God to establish and uphold. 5. Hearts and MindsSymbolic of the inner thoughts and intentions of individuals, which God examines. Teaching Points God's Righteous JudgmentGod is the ultimate judge who discerns the true nature of every person. We can trust Him to bring justice in His perfect timing. The Call for Righteous LivingAs believers, we are called to live righteously, knowing that God examines our hearts and minds. Our actions should reflect our faith and commitment to God's ways. Prayer for JusticeLike David, we can pray for God to intervene against wickedness in the world, trusting in His righteous judgment. Self-ExaminationRegularly examine your own heart and mind, seeking God's guidance to align your thoughts and actions with His will. Hope in God's EstablishmentTake comfort in knowing that God will establish the righteous. Our hope is in His promise to uphold those who follow Him. Bible Study Questions 1. How does understanding that God searches hearts and minds influence your daily decisions and actions? 2. In what ways can you actively seek to live a righteous life, knowing that God will establish the righteous? 3. How can you incorporate prayers for justice into your personal prayer life, following David's example in this Psalm? 4. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's righteous judgment or establishment in your life. How did it impact your faith? 5. How do the additional scriptures connected to Psalm 7:9 deepen your understanding of God's role as a judge and discerner of hearts? Connections to Other Scriptures 1 Samuel 16:7This verse highlights that God looks at the heart rather than outward appearances, aligning with the theme of God searching hearts and minds. Jeremiah 17:10This passage speaks of God examining the heart and mind, rewarding each person according to their conduct. Hebrews 4:12The Word of God is described as discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart, similar to God's role in Psalm 7:9. Proverbs 21:2This verse emphasizes that while humans may justify their actions, God weighs the heart. Revelation 2:23Jesus declares that He searches hearts and minds, rewarding each according to their deeds, echoing the themes of divine judgment and discernment. People David, PsalmistPlaces JerusalemTopics Bring, Ended, Establish, Evil, Evil-doer, Full, Heart, Hearts, Measure, Men's, Minds, O, Oh, Reins, Righteous, Righteousness, Searched, Searches, Secure, Strength, Tested, Trier, Tries, Triest, Trieth, Upright, Violence, Wicked, Wickedness, Wouldest, WrongDictionary of Bible Themes Psalm 7:9 1125 God, righteousness
1310 God, as judge
5017 heart, renewal
5027 knowledge, God's of humanity
5166 liver and kidneys
5828 danger
6185 imagination, desires
8215 confidence, results Psalm 7:8-9 9210 judgment, God's Library January the Twenty-Ninth Noble Revenge
"I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy." --PSALM vii. 4. That is the noblest revenge, and in those moments David had intimate knowledge of the spirit of his Lord. "If thine enemy hunger, feed him!" Evil for good is devil-like. To receive a favour and to return a blow! To obtain the gift of language, and then to use one's speech to curse the giver! To use a sacred sword is unholy warfare! All this is devil-like. Evil for evil is beast-like. Yes, the dog bites back when it is …
John Henry Jowett—My Daily Meditation for the Circling YearTurn or Burn
In the first place, what is the turning here meant? In the second place let us dwell on the necessity there is for men's turning, otherwise God will punish them; and then thirdly, let me remind you of the means whereby men can be turned from the error of their ways, and the weakness and frailty of their nature amended by the power of divine grace. I. In the first place, my hearers, let me endeavour to explain to you the NATURE OF THE TURNING HERE MEANT. It says--"if he turn not he will whet his sword." …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 2: 1856 Self-Respect and Self-Righteousness
PSALM vii. 8. Give sentence for me, O Lord, according to my righteousness; and according to the innocency that is in me. Is this speech self-righteous? If so, it is a bad speech; for self- righteousness is a bad temper of mind; there are few worse. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar. …
Charles Kingsley—The Good News of God Love for Hate, the True Quid Pro Quo
'And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the Lord said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily. 5. And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had out off Saul's skirt. 6. And he said unto his men, The Lord forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the Lord's anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture A Bundle of Proverbs
'Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly. 23. The heart of the wise teacheth his mouth, and addeth learning to his lips. 24. Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. 25. There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. 26. He that laboureth laboureth for himself; for his mouth craveth it of him. 27. An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Of Having Confidence in God when Evil Words are Cast at Us
"My Son, stand fast and believe in Me. For what are words but words? They fly through the air, but they bruise no stone. If thou are guilty, think how thou wouldst gladly amend thyself; if thou knowest nothing against thyself, consider that thou wilt gladly bear this for God's sake. It is little enough that thou sometimes hast to bear hard words, for thou art not yet able to bear hard blows. And wherefore do such trivial matters go to thine heart, except that thou art yet carnal, and regardest …
Thomas A Kempis—Imitation of Christ The Exile --Continued.
There are many echoes of this period of Engedi in the Psalms. Perhaps the most distinctly audible of these are to be found in the seventh psalm, which is all but universally recognised as David's, even Ewald concurring in the general consent. It is an irregular ode--for such is the meaning of Shiggaion in the title, and by its broken rhythms and abrupt transitions testifies to the emotion of its author. The occasion of it is said to be "the words of Cush the Benjamite." As this is a peculiar name …
Alexander Maclaren—The Life of David Twenty-Third Lesson Bear Fruit, that the Father May Give what Ye Ask;'
Bear fruit, that the Father may give what ye ask;' Or, Obedience the Path to Power in Prayer. Ye did not choose me, but I chose you, and appointed you, that ye should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should abide: that whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, He may give it you.'--John xv. 16. The fervent effectual prayer of a righteous man availeth much.'--James. v. 16. THE promise of the Father's giving whatsoever we ask is here once again renewed, in such a connection as …
Andrew Murray—With Christ in the School of Prayer The Section Chap. I. -iii.
The question which here above all engages our attention, and requires to be answered, is this: Whether that which is reported in these chapters did, or did not, actually and outwardly take place. The history of the inquiries connected with this question is found most fully in Marckius's "Diatribe de uxore fornicationum," Leyden, 1696, reprinted in the Commentary on the Minor Prophets by the same author. The various views may be divided into three classes. 1. It is maintained by very many interpreters, …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament The Blessings of Noah Upon Shem and Japheth. (Gen. Ix. 18-27. )
Ver. 20. "And Noah began and became an husbandman, and planted vineyards."--This does not imply that Noah was the first who began to till the ground, and, more especially, to cultivate the vine; for Cain, too, was a tiller of the ground, Gen. iv. 2. The sense rather is, that Noah, after the flood, again took up this calling. Moreover, the remark has not an independent import; it serves only to prepare the way for the communication of the subsequent account of Noah's drunkenness. By this remark, …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament Calvin -- Enduring Persecution for Christ
John Calvin was born in 1509, at Noyon, France. He has been called the greatest of Protestant commentators and theologians, and the inspirer of the Puritan exodus. He often preached every day for weeks in succession. He possest two of the greatest elements in successful pulpit oratory, self-reliance and authority. It was said of him, as it was afterward said of Webster, that "every word weighed a pound." His style was simple, direct, and convincing. He made men think. His splendid contributions to …
Various—The World's Great Sermons, Volume I Some General Uses from this Useful Truth, that Christ is the Truth.
Having thus cleared up this truth, we should come to speak of the way of believers making use of him as the truth, in several cases wherein they will stand in need of him as the truth. But ere we come to the particulars, we shall first propose some general uses of this useful point. First. This point of truth serveth to discover unto us, the woful condition of such as are strangers to Christ the truth; and oh, if it were believed! For, 1. They are not yet delivered from that dreadful plague of …
John Brown (of Wamphray)—Christ The Way, The Truth, and The Life He Does Battle for the Faith; He Restores Peace among those who were at Variance; He Takes in Hand to Build a Stone Church.
57. (32). There was a certain clerk in Lismore whose life, as it is said, was good, but his faith not so. He was a man of some knowledge in his own eyes, and dared to say that in the Eucharist there is only a sacrament and not the fact[718] of the sacrament, that is, mere sanctification and not the truth of the Body. On this subject he was often addressed by Malachy in secret, but in vain; and finally he was called before a public assembly, the laity however being excluded, in order that if it were …
H. J. Lawlor—St. Bernard of Clairvaux's Life of St. Malachy of Armagh Psalms
The piety of the Old Testament Church is reflected with more clearness and variety in the Psalter than in any other book of the Old Testament. It constitutes the response of the Church to the divine demands of prophecy, and, in a less degree, of law; or, rather, it expresses those emotions and aspirations of the universal heart which lie deeper than any formal demand. It is the speech of the soul face to face with God. Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Psalm 7:9 NIVPsalm 7:9 NLTPsalm 7:9 ESVPsalm 7:9 NASBPsalm 7:9 KJV
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