Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart:
Psalm 7 (NIV)
A shiggaion 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. 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 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 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.
Have you ever been falsely accused?
Lord, You are my protector, my defender, and my sustainer. You know my heart and my motives. You know how it hurts when I am accused of thinking, saying, or doing something that I did not do. Especially when I don’t have the ability to defend myself. My first response is to reflect on what I could have done to cause this reaction toward me. I pray that You show me ways to remedy the situation. When I see others falsely accused and their business, home, or careers are destroyed due to the injustice of false accusations, lies, and vindictive manipulation for intimidation and control it stirs anger in my heart. Lord help me to focus on You and trust that You see the hearts and actions of all people. Lord help me to continue to pray for victims of this vile behavior. I believe in Your just judgment. Expose the wickedness of those who intentionally attack the innocent. Lift up the honorable. Give strength to those who can provide peace and resolution. Make violent people stop now, but protect all who obey you. Help me not to be tempted to take revenge into my own hands. In the midst of trouble, I will praise you, Lord! You always do right. I will sing about you, the Lord Most High. You are my shield. Amen