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Psalm 7:6–9

Theme: The restored sinner boldly asks for judgment—not to escape it, but to pass it.

There are moments in Scripture that should make us stop, look up, and whisper, “Wait… did David really just pray that?”

This is one of them.

“Judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness

and according to my integrity within me.”

Psalm 7:8

This is the same David who sinned, repented, and was forgiven.

The same David whose past gave Cush ammunition.

The same David who knew exactly what it meant to stand guilty before a holy God.

And this David—restored, washed, made new—now stands before the Judge of all creation and says:

“Judge me. Examine me. Evaluate me.

You will find righteousness here.”

Not self-righteousness.

Not performance righteousness.

Not behavioral perfection.

Covenant righteousness.

Restored righteousness.

God-given righteousness.

The righteousness of the forgiven.

And David knows it.

This Is a Stunning Shift in Posture

In Sunday’s psalm David was pleading for refuge.

Yesterday he invited God to search him.

But today he does the unthinkable:

He welcomes judgment.

Why?

Because David has learned something most believers never fully absorb:

If God has forgiven you, then you are righteous—right now, in His sight.

That’s not poetry.

That’s not metaphor.

That’s not “aspirational Christian language.”

That is the legal, gospel fact of justification.

It is the core of righteousness by faith.

It is the reality that fills the New Testament with explosive joy (Rom. 5:1; Eph. 2:13–14).

Once you repent, your record is wiped clean (Isa. 43:25).

Once God forgives, He remembers your sin no more (Jer. 31:34).

Once He covers you, you stand clothed in Christ Himself (Phil. 3:9).

And when you stand in Christ, you can say—like David:

“Judge me.

Look at me.

Search me.

You’ll find righteousness here—Your own.”

This is not arrogance.

This is worship.

This Is Where the Christian Life Gets Electric

Most believers live like forgiven failures.

David lives like a restored son.

Most believers pray like trembling servants.

David prays like a beloved covenant partner.

Most believers approach God hoping He won’t look too closely.

David approaches God saying, “Look as closely as You want.”

This is what repentance does:

It restores innocence.

And innocence gives birth to confidence.

You don’t hide from God anymore.

You stand tall in His presence.

You reject the Accuser’s whispers.

You lift your head before the King.

Because the King has already lifted yours.

What This Means for US — Right Now

1. You can stop dreading God’s evaluation.

If you are in Christ:

His righteousness is your righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21).

His standing is your standing.

His obedience is your covering.

So when the enemy points backward, you point upward.

2. You can pray boldly again.

Not small prayers.

Not “safe” prayers.

Not hesitant, shame-laced prayers.

But confident—almost shocking—prayers like David’s:

“Judge me according to the righteousness You gave me.”

That is not pride.

That is faith.

3. You can finally stop seeing yourself as the sum of your worst moments.

If Cush had written David’s obituary, it would have been full of half-truths and pointed fingers.

If Satan writes yours, it will be the same.

But God writes your identity in the ink of mercy.

And when God says you are righteous, you are righteous.

4. You can face accusations without collapsing.

Some accusations are true.

Some are false.

Most are exaggerated.

But none of them have the power to define you.

Because Christ already has.

Reflection for Today

Am I living as someone who is forgiven—or someone who is still on trial? Do I believe God’s righteousness covers me completely right now? Would I dare pray the way David prayed, “Judge me according to my righteousness,” with the confidence of a restored child?

Prayer

“Father, thank You for covering me in the righteousness of Jesus. Give me the courage to pray boldly, the faith to stand confidently, and the joy of knowing I am forgiven, restored, and righteous in Your sight. Amen.”

Endnotes

Romans 5:1; Philippians 3:9; 2 Corinthians 5:21. Isaiah 43:25; Jeremiah 31:34. Commentary insights drawn from Ranko Stefanović, Revelation

George Knight, Exploring Romans

Ty Gibson, Seeing With New Eyes

John Stott, The Cross of Christ

N. T. Wright, Justification

C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Timothy Keller, The Meaning of Marriage & Romans 1–7 For You.