THE UPRIGHT HEART (1)

“My defence is of God, who saves the UPRIGHT in HEART” – Psalm 7:10

Divine Defence is the guaranteed portion of the UPRIGHT HEART: “My defence is of God, who saves the UPRIGHT in HEART” (Psa.7:10). In this key meditative verse, David was saying: “I now leave my cause in the hands of my Judge – the Righteous Judge. I have no uneasy or fearful apprehensions, because I know God will save the upright in heart”!

During the reign of Saul, David won much fame for himself. Saul became jealous and attempted to murder David. When the latter escaped, Saul pursued him cruelly, being urged on by a group of zealous sycophants, who accused David of plotting to overthrow the king. This was a time of considerable suffering and temptation for David, but he remained guiltless throughout. He refused to harm Saul, whom he still acknowledged as God’s anointed king. All he wanted was to save his own life (1Sam.20:1; 24:11; 26:9). Cush, the Benjaminite against whom David wrote this psalm, was probably one of those who falsely accused David and urged Saul to destroy him. Unjustly pursued by fierce enemies, David turned to God for protection, pouring his heart before the Lord.

David reaffirmed his trust in the Lord as he pleaded for salvation and deliverance from his persecutors and enemies, who if not for God, could tear him like a lion and rend him in pieces (vv.1-2). David analysed his life in God’s presence, not as a self-righteous act, but in humility and submission. He boldly declared his innocence and was confident that his relationships with God and with men were according to God’s expectations (vv.3-5). Whoever seeks God’s heart should have an attitude to examine his or her private and public life. Such disposition should be a part of our life and not only when we’re faced by trials or threatened by enemies.

David waited for God’s intervention rather than taking a step by himself: “Arise, O LORD, in Your anger; lift Yourself up because of the rage of my enemies” (v.6a). Though he was pained within, he had a heart to wait for God. He appealed to the Judge of heaven and earth, and was confident about the righteous act of God: “Rise up for me to the judgement You have commanded!” (v.6b). He added that the ways of God are high above the thoughts of the people (v.7). A man of God is always confident that God is there for him even in the adverse situations of life. Faith in God is the anchor that makes the Believer in Christ strong in life’s situations and even stronger after facing the situations, as the mighty hand of God works for him.

Thinking about the Justice of God protected David in the time of adversity as he submitted himself to be judged by God: “The Lord shall judge the peoples; judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, and according to my integrity within me” (v.8).  This was not the case of paying lip-service; it was a heart-based relationship with God: “For the righteous God tests the hearts and minds” (v. 9b). The crux of all of David’s thoughts was Uprightness in Heart: “My defense is of God, Who saves the upright in heart” (v.10).

David’s confidence was that God always acts justly (v.11). Therefore, it’s better for those who are evil to turn from their sin, or else be overtaken by God’s judgment (vv.12-13). Since evil deeds sooner or later bring about the downfall of evil doers, David had no cause to be afraid of his enemies. His confidence in God’s overruling justice strengthened him in distress (vv.14-17).

Though the entire world is against us and though things do not go the way we expect, we must never forget that, rooted in Christ’s Righteousness, God is our defense – the One who sustains us, leads us, and promised to be with us beyond Time into eternity. To experience Divine Defence, we ought to have an upright heart! Let’s pour out our heart before God and not before men, wait for Him patiently, submit to His perfect will, and have a heart that seeks Him all the time!