Psalm 7

vs 1

The intro to this psalm tells us it's about a person - Cush the Benjaminite. Unfortunately he is mentioned nowhere else, so all we know about him is contained in this Psalm.

You might think that this first verse makes it obvious the stage of life that David is either in, or reflecting on as he sings - it is a time of pursuit by his enemies, and so that narrows it down to either when Saul was out to kill him, or when Absalom was out to get him. But remember, this psalm is about Cush, the Benjaminite. So let's see what the psalm says.

David is seeking God's deliverance from this threat presented by Cush. He claims refuge in God, acknowledging that he needs the help.

vs 2

His enemies want him dead, and he acknowledges that if God doesn't help him, all is lost.

vs 3

David begins to list those things for which it would be just that he suffers the wrath of his enemies, if they were true. He hasn't actually said what would be deserving yet, but I assume that the following were accusations being made about him. His point is that he is not guilty, or else he wouldn't be asking for help.

vs 4

Interesting verse. The (T)NIV translates the second part to mean "or if I robbed my enemy without a cause to do so", like excessive looting. But the NASB makes it sound more like "or if I robbed someone who had no cause to be my enemy", like it's ok to rob enemies. The KJV oddly says "(Yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy)", which sounds to me like it is contradicting the first clause, so it's like "if I have given evil to those who are my allies (when actually, I have delivered those who are, for no good reason, my enemies)" which sounds like a defense of his actions.

In any case, it is clear the accusations that have been made against David involve treatment of allies like enemies, and perhaps enemies like enemies. Were these the accusations that Cush the Benjaminite made against David?

vs 5

David thinks that were these accusations true, he would deserve such a harsh judgement. Is this what is being called for against him? Or is it just what they would do anyway? Or is this perhaps how David feels about such people?

vs 6

David actually calls God to anger against his foes. That is a bold call. David wants justice, and God is of course angry about injustice, so it seems reasonable.

vs 7

I believe peoples would be a plural of the word "people or nation", so this verse is actually talking about the 'assembled nations' gathering around God's throne, while he rules over all of them. David's focus is indeed very wide.

vs 8

David knows that God is going to judge all the nations. Perhaps he is referring here to an idea that God is going to judge the nations through their rulers, and that David, as king of Israel, will be found righteous, whereas other kingdoms would be found worthy of judgement.