Psalm 7 - Rhetorical Flow as Ancient Hebrew Wisdom Literature
I. Introduction (Verse 1)
- The psalmist cries out to the Lord for deliverance from his enemies.
II. The psalmist's innocence asserted (Verses 3-5)
- The psalmist appeals to God, stating his integrity and righteousness.
- He confesses that if there is guilt in him, he is willing to bear the consequences.
- He implores God to judge him according to his righteousness.
III. The psalmist's plea for justice and vindication (Verses 6-9)
- The psalmist calls on God to arise in his anger and rebuke the wicked.
- He asks for the judgment of God to be brought forth and the wicked to be punished.
- The psalmist appeals to God's righteousness and His role as the righteous judge.
IV. The consequences of wickedness (Verses 10-16)
- The psalmist declares that God will bring judgment on the wicked and cut off their evil schemes.
- He describes the wicked's own devices being used against them, causing their downfall.
- The psalmist emphasizes the righteousness of God and His ability to judge the hearts and minds of men.
V. The psalmist's praise to God for His justice (Verses 17-19)
- The psalmist acknowledges God's righteous judgment and praises Him for His righteousness.
- He concludes by affirming his own righteousness and acknowledging God as his refuge and stronghold.
VI. Conclusion (Verse 21)
- The psalmist declares his innocence and calls on God to vindicate him.
- He affirms his trust in God's righteousness and commits himself to praise Him forever.
Note: The outline provided is a general overview of the rhetorical flow of Psalm 7 as ancient Hebrew wisdom literature. The actual content and arrangement of the psalm may vary in different translations and interpretations.