Lessons for Life with James Long, Jr.

God Sees, God Shields: When You’ve Been Wronged (Psalm 7)

• James Long

Share episode

Send us a text

Episode Summary

Psalm 7 is a powerful guide for those who have been slandered, falsely accused, or deeply wounded by injustice. In this episode of Counseling Through the Psalms, James Long, Jr. helps us explore how David moves from protest to praise—not by denying the pain of injustice, but by entrusting it to God’s perfect justice.

When your name is attacked or your heart is weary, this psalm shows you how to search your conscience, cry out for truth, and rest in the righteousness of God. It is a psalm for those who need both refuge and reassurance in a world where justice often feels delayed or denied.

Key Takeaways

  • God is both the righteous judge and a personal refuge for the wounded.
  • Prayer can be a protest—not against God, but to Him.
  • True vindication starts with humility, not self-defense.
  • God's patience toward evildoers does not equal indifference.
  • We can move from protest to praise when we trust God's justice more than our own vindication.

Scripture Focus

  • Psalm 7:1–17
  • Deuteronomy 32:4
  • Psalm 18:2
  • Romans 2:4–6
  • Proverbs 10:9

Reflect and Respond

  • Have you ever been falsely accused or misrepresented? How did you respond?
  • What would it look like to entrust your situation to God as your righteous judge?
  • Are you trying to fight for justice in your own strength, or are you taking refuge in the Lord?
  • What area of your life needs honest examination like David models in verses 3–5?
  • What does it mean to you that God is your shield, even when others don’t defend you?
  • How can you begin to move from protest to praise before your situation is resolved?

Resources and Links

Subscribe and Follow

Listen to Lessons for Life with James Long, Jr. on your favorite podcast platform:

Connect and Share

  • Instagram: @drjameslongjr – https://jameslongjr.org/instagram
  • Facebook: https://jameslongjr.org/facebook
  • YouTube: https://jameslongjr.org/youtube
  • Hashtag: #LessonsForLifePodcast

ABOUT JAMES AND LESSONS FOR LIFE

Are you longing to find answers to the deeper issues of life? Join Dr. James Long, Jr., a pastor, counselor, and university professor with over 30 years of experience. Hear James as he tackles some of life’s biggest questions and helps us find God’s solutions to life’s struggles. Learn the power of living by God’s grace and for His glory. Experience the joy of forgiveness and freedom found in Jesus Christ alone. If you are in search of freedom, you will love being part of this conversation. Subscribe, and enjoy the show!

Links
Website – https://jameslongjr.org/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/drjameslongjr
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/drjameslongjr/
Apple Podcast – https://jameslongjr.org/applepodcast
Google Podcast – https://jameslongjr.org/googlepodcast

Speaker 1:

Welcome to Counseling Through the Psalms with James Long Jr, a special series from Lessons for Life. I'm James, and in each episode we will journey into the rich, honest and healing language of the Psalms to find hope, clarity and comfort for life's deepest struggles. Whether you're wrestling with anxiety, grief, anger or spiritual dryness, the Psalms offer us a path towards restoration and peace through God's Word. So, wherever you are right now, take a deep breath and let's enter into the heart of Scripture together. Well, welcome back everyone. It's James. Grab your Bible journal and pen and pencil. There we go and let's spend some time looking through Psalm 7.

Speaker 1:

Psalm 7 is our next step in our Lessons for Life Counseling through the Psalms series. We have entitled this Psalm Justice for the Wounded Trusting God's Righteousness when You've Been Wronged. Psalm 7 gives voice to those who have been falsely accused, misunderstood or mistreated, offers a path from anguish to assurance, guiding the wounded heart to take refuge in God's righteous judgments rather than taking revenge into their own hands when justice feels out of reach. There are few wounds deeper than being falsely accused or unjustly treated, whether it comes from betrayal in a relationship, slander in a workplace or conflict in the church, injustice creates a particular kind of soul weariness, a mix of fear, rage, confusion and helplessness. Psalm 7 is a lifeline for those moments. David begins not with retaliation but with refuge. Look what it says in verse 1. O Lord, my God, in you do I take refuge. Save me from all my pursuers and deliver me. He runs to the Lord not to vindicate himself in his own strength, but to seek protection and deliverance. David was likely facing a real threat from a man named Cush, a Benjamin Knight, possibly a supporter of Saul, who had slandered David's name. But the psalm is timeless. It is a model for how to respond when you are misrepresented and maligned.

Speaker 1:

The temptation in moments like these is to either lash out or to collapse. But David chose a better way. He pours out his heart to the Lord and invites God to examine his conscience. Watch what it says in verses 3-5. O Lord, my God, if I have done this, if there is wrong in my hands. And then a little bit later on it says let my enemies pursue my soul and overtake it. This is a remarkable act of vulnerability and humility.

Speaker 1:

David is not defensive. He is honest. He knows that vindication must be rooted in truth, not pride, bringing your case to the righteous judge. When the heart is bruised by injustice, prayer can become a protest, not against God, but to him. In verses 6-9, david appeals to God's righteous character. Arise, o Lord, in your anger. Lift yourself up against the fury of my enemies. Let the assembly of the people be gathered about you. Return on high.

Speaker 1:

David imagines God as a cosmic judge seated on his throne hearing the case and rendering a verdict. He's not calling for impulsive vengeance. He is appealing to divine justice. Watch what he says here in verse 8. The Lord judges the people. Judge me, o Lord, according to my righteousness and according to the integrity that is in me.

Speaker 1:

Many people who suffer injustice feel invisible or voiceless. Their pain is compounded by silence or indifference from others. Psalm 7 reminds us that God not only sees injustice, he judges it. He is not detached, he is not apathetic, he weighs motives, he exposes lies, he vindicates the upright. The psalm does not teach self-righteousness. David's plea is not that he is sinless in general, but that he is innocent in this specific situation. This distinction is vital for those who have been hurt but wonder if they brought it upon themselves. Psalm 7 encourages us to examine ourselves honestly, confess what might need to be confessed and to entrust the rest to God's hands, the Patient Power of God's Justice.

Speaker 1:

Verse 9 captures the cry of every person who has been wronged and wants to see resolution. It says O, let the evil of the wicked come to an end and may you establish the righteous. But it does not stop there. It says this you who test the minds and hearts, o righteous God. David's hope is not getting his story out. It is in the one who already knows the truth. For those navigating spiritual and relational traumas, verse 10 offers a balm. My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart. The world may not believe you, the accuser may twist your words, but the Lord shields those who walk in integrity. The word shield here invokes a protective surrounding presence. God is not just a defender. He is your safe place.

Speaker 1:

But Psalm 7 also issues a sobering warning. God's justice is not only for the victim. It warns the unrepentant. If a man does not repent, god will wet his sword. He has bent and ready his bow Verse 12. God's patience is real, but it is not permission In the counseling room. This reminds us to guide those who have sinned against others towards true repentance, and it reassures victims that silence is not the same as indifference. God is patient, but he is not passive.

Speaker 1:

From Protest to Praise, the final verses of Psalm 7 bring us a shift. David ends not with a demand for revenge, but with a doxology. He says in verse 17, I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High. How did he get there? David still bears the wounds of injustice. His circumstances have not changed, but his heart has. In entrusting his case to the Lord, david finds peace, not because he now controls the outcome, but because he knows who does. This is where many find rest, not in knowing when or how God will act, but in knowing that he will do so.

Speaker 1:

In seasons of betrayal, false accusations or injustice, psalm 7 teaches us how to cry out, search our hearts, trust God's justice and even sing again. This is not a naive optimism. It is the deep resilience grounded in the character of God. Well, let's look at some doctrinal insights that we find from this psalm. God's Righteousness. God is always just in His judgments. He does not overlook wickedness, nor does he condemn the innocent unjustly. You can see that in Deuteronomy 32.4. We also see God as refuge. The Lord is not only a righteous judge, but a personal protector for those who seek Him Psalm 18.2.

Speaker 1:

Repentance and Judgment God's justice calls for repentance. If there's no repentance, his judgment will come with precision and power. We see that in Romans, chapter 2, verses 4 through 6. The Integrity of the Upright Integrity is not perfection, but a life that is aligned with God's truth, which brings His sustaining presence. We see that in Proverbs 10.9.

Speaker 1:

Now let's make this practical. For counselors, it offers a framework to walk people through personal reflection, righteous lament and spiritual surrender. For leaders, it reminds us to search our own motives when criticism comes and to trust God to vindicate what is right when criticism comes, and to trust God to vindicate what is right. For victims of slander. It promises that God is not blind to falsehood and will act in his perfect time. For churches, it calls communities to be places where justice, not just unity, is valued, where truth is lovingly pursued.

Speaker 1:

Reflect and respond. Now let's look at some questions. Remember, grab your journal and work through it. If you have to stop the podcast here, please do, and then go through these questions. Question number one have you ever been wrongly accused or misunderstood? How did you respond?

Speaker 1:

Question number two what would it look like to entrust your situation to God as your righteous judge? Question number three are you seeking justice in your own strength or are you seeking refuge in the Lord? Question number four where might you need to honestly examine your own heart, as David did in verses three through five? Question number five what does it mean for you personally that God is your shield? Question number six how can you move from protest to praise even before the situation is resolved?

Speaker 1:

Let us pray Righteous and merciful Father, you see every wound that I carry, every word twisted against me and every injustice that I cannot make right. Search my heart and, if there is any fault in me, reveal it with grace. Defend me where I have been wronged. Be my refuge when I feel exposed. Let your justice roll down like water and let your mercy shape my heart. While I wait, teach me to trust your timing, to rest in your truth and to praise you even before the verdict comes. In your Son's righteous, holy and powerful name, we pray Amen.

Speaker 1:

Here's a call to action. If you've been hurt by injustice or overwhelmed by false accusations, do not carry this burden alone. Psalm 7 invites you to a God who hears, sees and acts with perfect justice. If you'd like to learn more about us, join our free navigator level of Lessons for Life community at communityjameslongjrorg for devotionals, meetups and training that can help you walk by faith, or you can explore one of our full memberships at jameslongjrorg slash. Sign up now for deeper coaching and content designed to help you grow in emotional, relational and spiritual wisdom. You do not have to win the battle alone. Let God be your righteous judge and your gracious shield. Be blessed everyone. Until next time, take care.

People on this episode

Head Shot

James Long, Jr.

Host