Psalm 7 - Justification

Justification

Psalm 7:8. 17, “Let the Lord judge the peoples. Vindicate me, Lord, according to my righteousness. 17 I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness.”

“How many of you worry about doing the ‘right’ thing?” Most of the audience raised their hands. The speaker was a little surprised. This particular fear seemed the most popular. People want to be right, do the right thing, and they seem to worry about it.

Does that resonate with you? Expectations to meet. People to please. How do we know if we are doing things right? What if we’re wrong? Everyone wants to be the best parent, employer, or citizen, the healthiest, smartest, and kindest. The expectations can smother us. 

Then David says, “Vindicate me, Lord, according to my righteousness.” How can David pray like this? Is he arrogant? Is he that holy? David has figured out how to always be ‘right’ with God. What is it?

Justification. The most important word in the Bible. Look at v. 17. Where is David’s confidence? Not in his own righteousness! He trusts in God’s righteousness.

Justification says this: We are sinners. We can’t do the right thing. God ought to bang the gavel and condemn us. But in steps Jesus. His blood washes away our sins. His perfect life, his righteousness, covers us. Through faith in Jesus, God pronounces us innocent, holy, justified, right. We are right before God, at peace with him and with ourselves through faith in Jesus.