Commentary - Psalm 7:17

Bird's-eye view

Psalm 7 is a passionate cry for vindication from a man, David, who has been unjustly slandered. He appeals to God as the righteous judge, asking God to examine his own heart and to bring the evil of his accusers back upon their own heads. The psalm is a raw and honest prayer, full of the turbulence of false accusation, but it does not end there. It concludes in verse 17 with a settled resolution. The turbulence gives way to tranquility, the plea for justice gives way to praise for justice. Having laid his case before the ultimate court of heaven, David concludes with a commitment to worship. This final verse is the logical and theological culmination of the entire psalm. It teaches us that the proper response to God's righteous judgment, whether experienced as deliverance for ourselves or as justice upon the wicked, is not triumphalism or gloating, but rather robust, heartfelt worship. The end of the matter is always the glory of God.

This verse neatly divides into two parallel actions: giving thanks and singing praise. Both are directed toward Yahweh, and both are grounded in His character. Thanksgiving is offered "according to His righteousness," and praise is sung to "the name of Yahweh Most High." This shows that true worship is not a vague, sentimental feeling. It is a response to specific truths about who God is and what He has done. David's confidence is not in his own righteousness, but in God's. His praise is not directed to a generic deity, but to the covenant God, Yahweh, who is also the sovereign ruler over all, the Most High. This is the bedrock that allows a believer to face slander and persecution, not with despair, but with a song.

Outline

Context In Psalms

Psalm 7 is what is called a shiggaion, which likely refers to a wild, passionate poem with rapid changes of rhythm and feeling. It is set against the backdrop of slander from a man named Cush the Benjaminite. The psalm is a powerful example of an individual lament that moves toward a declaration of trust and praise. David begins by taking refuge in God (vv. 1-2), then makes a conditional self-imprecation, declaring his innocence (vv. 3-5). He then appeals for God to arise and judge the wicked (vv. 6-9) and expresses his confidence in God as his shield and as a righteous judge who is angry with the wicked every day (vv. 10-13). He describes the self-destructive nature of evil, where the wicked fall into the pit they dug for others (vv. 14-16). Our final verse, verse 17, is the capstone. After this entire judicial proceeding, where David has been both the defendant and the prosecutor's assistant, the only right response is to praise the judge. This movement from lament to praise is a common pattern in the Psalter and teaches the people of God how to process injustice and suffering in a way that leads back to worship.

Key Issues

Justice Demands a Doxology

We live in an age that is squeamish about judgment. We want a God of love and mercy, but we are uncomfortable with a God of righteousness and wrath. But David, and the rest of Scripture, knows no such dichotomy. For David, the fact that God is a righteous judge is not a source of fear (because he has taken refuge in Him), but rather a source of profound comfort and, ultimately, of worship. When you have been slandered, when lies have been told about you, the most comforting thought in the world is that there is a Judge who knows the truth and who will not let lies have the final say. The world is not a chaotic mess of competing narratives where the most powerful liar wins. No, there is a throne, and a Judge sits on it, and His judgments are true.

Therefore, the conclusion of this prayer for vindication is not a fist pump, but a bowed head and a raised voice. David's response to the prospect of God's righteous verdict is to give thanks and sing praise. This teaches us that worship is the telos, the ultimate goal, of God's justice. God does not save us simply for our own sake, so we can be happy and comfortable. He saves us for His own sake, so that His righteousness, mercy, and glory might be put on display and praised. Justice is not complete until the Judge is praised for His verdict. Every answered prayer, every deliverance from evil, every act of divine justice in the world is a fresh occasion for doxology.

Verse by Verse Commentary

17 I will give thanks to Yahweh according to His righteousness

The verse begins with a personal resolution: "I will." This is not a suggestion or a vague sentiment; it is a determined commitment. Having laid out his case, David binds himself with a vow to respond appropriately. And the response is thanksgiving. This is not just being grateful for a good outcome, like getting a present. This is a formal, covenantal act of acknowledging God's character. He gives thanks to Yahweh, the personal, covenant-keeping God of Israel. And the standard by which this thanksgiving is measured is crucial: "according to His righteousness." David is not saying, "I will thank Him because I am righteous and He proved it." He is saying, "I will thank Him because He is righteous, and His actions flow from His character." God's righteousness is His unwavering commitment to what is right, His perfect justice. When God vindicates the innocent and judges the wicked, He is simply acting like Himself. Our thanksgiving, then, is our agreement with His character. We are saying, "Yes, Lord. That is right. That is just. You are righteous."

And will sing praise to the name of Yahweh Most High.

The second clause parallels and intensifies the first. Thanksgiving moves into song. The Hebrew word for "sing praise" is zamar, which often implies singing with instrumental accompaniment. This is not a quiet, internal feeling; it is a robust, audible, musical celebration. And the object of this praise is "the name of Yahweh." In Hebrew thought, a person's name represents their character, their reputation, their very being. To praise God's name is to declare who He is, to publish His excellencies. It is to praise Him for all that He has revealed Himself to be. David is not just praising a generic God, but Yahweh, the God who has made promises and keeps them.

He then adds the title "Most High" (Elyon). This name for God emphasizes His sovereignty, His supreme authority over everything. He is not just the God of Israel; He is the God who is high above all other gods, all rulers, all powers, and all slanderers. Cush the Benjaminite might be a big shot in his own circle, but he is nothing before Yahweh Most High. By combining the covenant name Yahweh with the universal title Most High, David is making a profound theological statement. The God who is my personal, covenant-keeping Lord is also the sovereign King of the entire cosmos. The one who cares about the slanders whispered against me is the same one who rules the nations. This is the God whose name is worthy of psalms and praise.

Application

This verse provides a clear roadmap for how Christians ought to handle injustice and slander. First, like David, we must lay our case before God in prayer. We should not immediately resort to revenge or despair. Our first move is vertical. We appeal to the righteous judge of all the earth. We ask Him to search our own hearts, as David did, to ensure we are not nursing some secret sin. We take refuge in Him.

Second, we must learn to rest in God's righteousness, not our own. Our ultimate confidence is not that we are flawless, but that He is just and that we are hidden in Christ. His righteousness has been imputed to us, and therefore we can stand confidently in His court. Our vindication is secure in Jesus, who was slandered and executed but was ultimately vindicated by the resurrection.

Finally, our ultimate goal must be worship. Whether God delivers us from slander swiftly in this life, or whether our final vindication awaits the last day, our resolve must be the same as David's: "I will give thanks... I will sing praise." We must learn to praise God for His justice, even when it is fearsome. We must celebrate His character. This means our church services should be filled with robust singing that declares the name and character of God. We sing, not just because it makes us feel good, but because Yahweh Most High is righteous, and praise is the only fitting response to who He is. When we are wronged, our hearts should not be plotting revenge, but rather composing a new song of praise to the righteous Judge who will, in His own time, make all things right.