Psalm 7:8

8 Yahweh judges the nations. O Yahweh, vindicate me according to my innocence and according to my integrity within me.

Psalm 7:8 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 7:8

The Lord shall judge the people
The inhabitants of the world in general; for God is the Judge of all the earth, and he judges the world in righteousness daily, and ministers judgment in uprightness, though it is not always manifest; or his own people in particular, whose cause he pleads, whose injuries and wrongs he avenges, whose persons he protects and defends; this the psalmist expresses with confidence, and therefore, suitable to his character as a Judge, he entreats him as follows:

judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness;
he speaks not of his justification before God, in whose sight he well knew no flesh living could be justified by their own righteousness, ( Psalms 143:2 ) ; nor of the righteousness of his person, either imputed or inherent; but of the righteousness of his cause, ( Psalms 35:27 ) ; not of his righteousness God-ward, for he knew that he was a sinner with respect to him; but of his righteousness towards Saul, against whom he had not sinned, but had acted towards him in the most righteous and faithful manner, ( 1 Samuel 24:11 ) ; and therefore desired to be judged, and was content to stand or fall according to his conduct and behaviour towards him;

and according to mine integrity [that is] in me;
who had always acted the sincere and upright part towards Saul, though he had pursued him with so much fury and violence; the psalmist's prayer was heard and answered, ( Psalms 18:20 Psalms 18:24 ) .

Psalm 7:8 In-Context

6 Rise up, O Yahweh, in your anger, and lift yourself up against the wrath of my oppressors, and awake for me, since you have commanded judgment.

7 And let [the] assembly of peoples surround you, and over it return on high.

8 Yahweh judges the nations. O Yahweh, vindicate me according to my innocence and according to my integrity within me.

9 Let the evil of the wicked come to an end, but establish [the] righteous, and test the hearts and innermost being, O righteous God.

10 My shield [is] with God who saves the upright of heart.

Footnotes

• [a] Or "righteousness"