Psalm 7 | My Shield
Note: This post is part of a series of brief devotional reflections upon the Psalms. Before reading the devotional below, take a moment to open your Bible and read the entirety of Psalm 7:1-17.
“My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart.” - Psalm 7:10
The king is yet again in the heat of a trial. And this test is of the sort that is perhaps one of the hardest for the sinner not to fail. What is more prized in the heart of prideful man than his own reputation? What is more valued to him than the world’s perception of him or the people’s opinion?
This is the very thing which is under siege in David’s life: his reputation. An otherwise unknown person named, “Cush,” has come against the king with the sinister sin of slander. Verse four may give us a clue as to the lies this villain was spreading, but truly, it makes little difference. Does anything unleash such a ferocious appetite for retaliation like being negatively misrepresented before others? Yet, here is what we are meant to see in this psalm: While the old tendency of our heart would undoubtedly be to reach for the sword of revenge, David reaches for the shield of faith. Rather than pridefully rising to his own defense, David humbly rests his soul in the promise of God’s defense. By faith he says, “My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart.”
What do you reach for in moments like this? Is it the sword of retaliation or the shield of faith? Who do you look to for refuge? Is it yourself or your Savior? Your own abilities or God’s unfailing promise to provide you with sustaining-grace?
When our name is being slandered by others, we are all prone to rise up in anger. We are all sorely tempted to point to our good works and achievements as proof that what “they” are saying about us is untrue. We are all given to retaliation and hatred toward the ones who wrongfully come against us. But each of these responses is rooted in the sinful pride of our old life—the life where our sense of value was based entirely on our performance and popularity in the eyes of others. But if you are a Christian, be reminded today that that way of life is long over for you. Your identity is no longer found in the fleeting opinions of men—whether those opinions be endearing or scathing. Your identity is found in the eternal verdict of heaven.
If we are to walk obediently through the fiery trials of slander we must continually rest our souls in the truth that because of Christ, we are beloved children of God forever, (Eph. 5:1). No matter what anyone in this world says about us, only what the almighty God has said will finally endure. And to each of his precious children our Father in heaven affectionately declares,
“Fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Behold, all who are incensed against you shall be put to shame and confounded;
those who strive against you shall be as nothing and perish.”
Isaiah 41:10-11
Dear believer, the hour of suffering will surely come, (II Tim. 3:12). And when it does, to whom will you look? Will you look to yourself? Or will you join the psalmist and say, “O Lord my God, in you do I take refuge; save me from all my pursuers and deliver me...”?
When the fiery darts are thrust upon you, hide yourself behind the shield of faith (Eph. 6:16)—a faith that holds confidently to the unchangeable truth of your identity as a child of God because of the work of Jesus Christ in your place, (I Jn. 3:1).