I still find that the word ‘righteousness’ leaves me cowering.  In front of a self-righteous church and those individuals in the world who are brimming with the self-confidence that self-righteousness brings, I find that I am ashamed of my best efforts.  It is comforting to think that their views of themselves are distorted and that they think of themselves more highly than they ought.

However, I am not abandoned because of the corruption that I know I was born with.  I am not on my own in the face of such a destructive, self-assured world.  There is a righteousness that is available to me which is not my own.  Because, through Christ, I have a righteousness that is given to me I can enter God’s presence with worship and praise.  The attitude of having my head lifted up by God leads to thanksgiving, and thanksgiving leads to joy.

Constantly trying to drum up a sense of my own righteousness against the nagging doubts that reflect reality is exhausting.  Jesus bids those who are exhausted by trying to compete with the self-praise of teh age to sit at his feet and unload the burden.  It is at his feet we find rest.

Psalm 7

 A shiggaion^[b] of David, which he sang to the LORD concerning Cush, a Benjamite.

 ¹ LORD my God, I take refuge in you;
   save and deliver me from all who pursue me,
² or they will tear me apart like a lion
   and rip me to pieces with no one to rescue me.

 ³ LORD my God, if I have done this
   and there is guilt on my hands—
⁴ if I have repaid my ally with evil
   or without cause have robbed my foe—
⁵ then let my enemy pursue and overtake me;
   let him trample my life to the ground
   and make me sleep in the dust.^[c]

 ⁶ Arise, LORD, in your anger;
   rise up against the rage of my enemies.
   Awake, my God; decree justice.
⁷ Let the assembled peoples gather around you,
   while you sit enthroned over them on high.
 ⁸ Let the LORD judge the peoples.
Vindicate me, LORD, according to my righteousness,
   according to my integrity, O Most High.
⁹ Bring to an end the violence of the wicked
   and make the righteous secure—
you, the righteous God
   who probes minds and hearts.

 ¹⁰ My shield^[d] is God Most High,
   who saves the upright in heart.
¹¹ God is a righteous judge,
   a God who displays his wrath every day.
¹² If he does not relent,
   he^[e] will sharpen his sword;
   he will bend and string his bow.
¹³ He has prepared his deadly weapons;
   he makes ready his flaming arrows.

 ¹⁴ Whoever is pregnant with evil
   conceives trouble and gives birth to disillusionment.
¹⁵ Whoever digs a hole and scoops it out
   falls into the pit they have made.
¹⁶ The trouble they cause recoils on them;
   their violence comes down on their own heads.

 ¹⁷ I will give thanks to the LORD because of his righteousness;
   I will sing the praises of the name of the LORD Most High.

Questions

1. In what way does the psalmist request justice?
2. How does he describe violent acts using metaphor and simile?
3. How is the theme of righteousness conveyed?
4. How does the term ‘righteous’ make you feel?
5. How can you look more to God to fill you with his righteousness without becoming self-righteous?