5 Understandable Words for Today:

“…may You establish the righteous…”  Psalm 7:9b (ESV)

David invited God to judge his own thoughts and actions, knowing his own innocence in this conflict stirred up by Cush, the Benjamite, between Saul and himself. (Read 8b&c) David prayed for the evil of the wicked to stop so that the righteous (David and those who followed God’s precepts) would be established. Nothing is hidden from God Who tests the minds and hearts of people. (v.9c)

That’s right… He tests our minds and hearts:

• our minds, to determine our pattern of thinking on those things which are good, God-honoring, holy, and pleasing to God;

• our hearts, for measuring the depth of our devotion by complete abandonment to Him and His Kingdom.

As God breathed these words into David’s mind, He was anchoring this precept of testing by God. David was inspired to write later: “May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14-KJV) Jesus reinforced this idea when He said, “The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil; for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks.” (Luke 6:45) Only God is qualified to both perform and measure the tests of mind and heart, for only He is completely righteous. (v.’s 9d & 11)

David confidently announced his lot was with God, who had protected him like a shield and saved him from many dangers. (v.10) It was out of his own personal experience that David prayed for the righteous to be anchored firm for God’s purposes (v.9), knowing God’s hatred toward wickedness. You read that right… God’s love does not prohibit His ability for indignation toward acts of unrighteousness and those who perpetuate evil by their acts. (v.’s 11b – 14) God’s capacity to hate evil is equal to the breadth of His love for sinners, for without such a heavenly disdain for evil, Christ’s death on the cross was for naught. There is no question about it: God is pro-righteousness! He is on the side of good and all that is right… and He is for those who embrace His design for people to experience His transforming power and grace.

David’s prayer was for the evil (the evil plans and actions) of the wicked to come to an end. (v.9) Should we not also follow his lead and pray in a similar manner? Let our prayers be bold in asking God to establish the righteous, and to establish righteousness throughout the world.

MAY YOU ESTABLISH THE RIGHTEOUS!