My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart.
The verse belongs in the first book of the Psalms, Psalms 1 to 41, among Psalms 1 to 11. It is precious scripture that meets every phase of human experience, helping the soul in discouragement, strengthening in trial, giving solid comfort in grief, and pointing out the danger of sin and warning against transgression.
It declares that God is the shield, defense, and deliverer who saves those who are upright in heart. It points to a God who is able and willing and eager to save, expressing triumph and confidence in Him as defense and salvation after a sense of great need. While He defends the upright, He stands as a righteous judge with daily indignation against the wicked, and if the wicked do not turn they bring death on themselves, for He will sharpen His sword, bend and ready His bow, prepare instruments of death and make His arrows fiery. The sinner who travails with iniquity, conceives mischief and brings forth falsehood, and digs a pit for others, will fall into his own ditch with his mischief returned on his own head and his violence on himself.
Therefore the upright need not fear the wicked who threaten them even when they are mocked, for God sees the upright and the wicked will ultimately face judgment. In connection with freedom from sin, it points to escape from the snare of sin in which the snare is broken, there is no condemnation, and sin no longer rules over those whose Master is Christ. Its appeal for protection and deliverance belongs to God alone and is wrongly redirected when the name of Mary is substituted for God's.
The verse belongs in the first book of the Psalms, Psalms 1 to 41, among Psalms 1 to 11. It is precious scripture that meets every phase of human experience, helping the soul in discouragement, strengthening in trial, giving solid comfort in grief, and pointing out the danger of sin and warning against transgression.
It declares that God is the shield, defense, and deliverer who saves those who are upright in heart. It points to a God who is able and willing and eager to save, expressing triumph and confidence in Him as defense and salvation after a sense of great need. While He defends the upright, He stands as a righteous judge with daily indignation against the wicked, and if the wicked do not turn they bring death on themselves, for He will sharpen His sword, bend and ready His bow, prepare instruments of death and make His arrows fiery. The sinner who travails with iniquity, conceives mischief and brings forth falsehood, and digs a pit for others, will fall into his own ditch with his mischief returned on his own head and his violence on himself.
Therefore the upright need not fear the wicked who threaten them even when they are mocked, for God sees the upright and the wicked will ultimately face judgment. In connection with freedom from sin, it points to escape from the snare of sin in which the snare is broken, there is no condemnation, and sin no longer rules over those whose Master is Christ. Its appeal for protection and deliverance belongs to God alone and is wrongly redirected when the name of Mary is substituted for God's.