CONFIDENCE IN ASKING

Psalm 7
CONFIDENCE IN ASKING
O LORD my God, if I have done this and there is guilt on my hands.... (v.3)

Some readers of the Psalms are disturbed by the apparent self-righteousness of the psalmists. They cry to God against their enemies, "Declare them guilty, O God!... Banish them for their many sins..." (Ps 5:10). How could they be so sure they are right, and their enemies wrong?

But we forget that the psalmists also do their own heart-searching. The prayer of Psalm 7 is an example. David says, "If I have done evil to him who is at peace with me..., then let my enemy pursue and overtake me" (vv.4,5). He even goes on to add, "...let him trample my life to the ground and make me sleep in the dust" (v.5), invoking a violent and ignominious death for himself should he be in the wrong.

Having said that, the psalmist calls on God to vindicate him. "Judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, according to my integrity, O Most High" (v.8). How many of us would dare pray such a prayer? Would I dare ask God to judge me according to my righteousness? We are tempted to conclude that David was simply self-righteous.

But if we think David self-righteous in making such a bold request, do we think ourselves righteous in not making such a request? Or could our hesitation be due, not to modesty, but to uncertainty about our own righteousness and integrity? If we know where we stand before God, that we are right with Him, perhaps our prayers will take on greater certainty and confidence.

As the apostle John puts it, "Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God, and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him" (1 Jn 3:21-22). Are our hearts at peace so that our prayers may be confident?

When we are right with God, we may ask anything.