Psalm 7 – Skeptic's Annotated Bible answered

A response and reply to the notes on Psalm 7 in the Skeptic's Annotated Bible (SAB).

King James Version

SAB comment

My comment


1 O Lord my God, in thee do I put my trust: save me from all them that persecute me, and deliver me:

2 Lest he tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces, while there is none to deliver.

3 O LORD my God, if I have done this; if there be iniquity in my hands;

4 If I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me; (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy:)

5 Let the enemy persecute my soul, and take it; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honour in the dust. Selah.

6 Arise, O LORD, in thine anger, lift up thyself because of the rage of mine enemies: and awake for me to the judgment that thou hast commanded.

7 So shall the congregation of the people compass thee about: for their sakes therefore return thou on high.

8 The LORD shall judge the people: judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.

9 Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.

"The righteous God trieth the hearts and reins."
Jesus will search your kidneys
This is a poetic description taking from the trying of gold: to distinguish true gold from imitation, it is tried by throwing it into the fire. If it isn't gold, it will burn. That's the kind of trial God will do with a man: on the outside it might look like gold, but what are we on the inside? The searching of what lives inside us is given by the description of trying the hearts and kidneys. In the Bible the heart is used figuratively for the seat of inclination, resolution and determination and the reins for the seat of affections and emotions.

10 My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.

11 God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.

12 If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.

(7:11-13) God has prepared deadly weapons (swords, bows, etc.) and plans to use them.
In this poetic description the psalmist indicates that God is not only the creator, but he is also ready and capable to judge his creation.

13 He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.

14 Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.

15 He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made.

16 His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.

17 I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.