Behold, the wicked brings forth iniquity; Yes, he conceives trouble and brings forth falsehood. He made a pit and dug it out, And has fallen into the ditch which he made. His trouble shall return upon his own head, And his violent dealing shall come down on his own crown. I will praise the LORD according to His righteousness, And will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.
From the title of this Psalm, we know that David wrote it in response to a man named Cush who was a near kinsman of King Saul. Cush had convinced King Saul that David had committed treason and was plotting to take over the kingdom of Israel. David has gone from being a hero, after killing the Philistine giant Goliath, to become a zero. David knows that Cush is spreading falsehoods about him to the king and others. As a result David spends the next number of years fleeing for his life from King Saul and others who are jealous of him and his accomplishments. (1 Samuel 12-31).
David turns the whole situation over to the Lord and writes this song of meditation reminding himself that God is the “LORD Most High” and He will surely vindicate him. This Psalm can be divided into four sections. In verses 1-2, David immediately cries out to Jehovah for help and deliverance from those who are trying to destroy him.
In verses 3-4, David tells the Lord if he is guilty of wrongdoing or has unconfessed sins in his heart, he will bear the punishment for them. He is basically reasoning with the Lord that he is innocence and acknowledging that God knows this.
In verses 6-13, David remembers how each morning as the people of Israel encamped around the tabernacle in the wilderness that Moses would cry out, “Arise, O LORD”, asking Jehovah to lead and protect his people. David is echoing that same cry as he reminds himself that God is a righteous and just judge Who always saves “the upright in heart” (v. 10).
Finally in verses 14-17, David knows that even our own sins can come back to judge and condemn us. When evil people dig a pit to trap or cause us to fall, they will eventually fall into it themselves (vv. 15-16). This is exactly what happened to King Saul and Cush (1 Sam. 31:3-4). Another good illustration of this is in the Book of Esther where Haman built gallows to hang Mordecai but ended up on them himself with all his family (Esther 7:9-10).
My friend, I trust you will read this Psalm often and remember that the Lord will sooner or later always vindicate and defend you Himself from the falsehoods of those who want to hurt you. Remember Romans 12:19: “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord.” And, “Be not overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).
God bless!
