Psalms 7:9
Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.
Original Language Analysis
Cross References
Historical Context
Ancient Near Eastern societies struggled with the apparent prosperity of the wicked and suffering of the righteous—a theme explored extensively in Job, several psalms (37, 73), and Ecclesiastes. Without a fully developed theology of afterlife in the early Old Testament period, the tension was acute: if God is just and rewards righteousness, why do the wicked prosper?
Psalms like this one assert confidence in eventual divine justice even when current circumstances seem unjust. The refining imagery ("trieth") was familiar to ancient audiences. Metal workers heated ore to separate pure metal from impurities—a process requiring intense heat but producing valuable results. Similarly, God's testing of hearts reveals what is genuine and purges what is false.
The Hebrew concept of God examining "hearts and reins" reflects ancient physiology's understanding of these organs as centers of personality. Modern readers might speak of God knowing our thoughts, emotions, and motivations. The point remains: God's knowledge is comprehensive and penetrating, not superficial or easily deceived.
Jesus taught extensively about God's examination of the heart. He warned against external religiosity that masks internal corruption (Matthew 23:25-28) and insisted that evil comes from within (Mark 7:20-23). The book of Revelation depicts Christ as one whose "eyes are like a flame of fire" who "searches the minds and hearts" (Revelation 2:18, 23), directly echoing Old Testament imagery.
Questions for Reflection
- What does it mean practically to pray for 'the wickedness of the wicked to come to an end' in a fallen world where evil persists?
- How should the knowledge that God examines our 'hearts and reins' affect what we allow ourselves to think and desire in private?
- In what ways might God be 'testing' or 'trying' you currently, and how can you cooperate with His refining process?
- How do you reconcile praying for the end of wickedness with Jesus's command to love enemies and pray for persecutors (Matthew 5:44)?
- What comfort does God's omniscient examination provide when you are misunderstood or falsely judged by others?
Analysis & Commentary
Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins. This verse presents David's prayer for moral order in the world—that evil be stopped and righteousness be strengthened. The parallelism is striking: wickedness should end, justice should be established. This isn't vindictive prayer but a yearning for God's character to be reflected in human society.
"Come to an end" (yigmar, יִגְמַר) means to cease, complete, or finish. David prays for evil to run its course and be terminated, not to continue perpetually. "Establish" (token, תְּכוֹנֵן) means to make firm, secure, or stable—the opposite of evil's termination. Where wickedness is transient and ultimately futile, righteousness should be permanent and unshakeable.
The theological basis for this prayer follows: "for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins." The word "trieth" (bochen, בֹּחֵן) means to examine, test, or prove—like assaying precious metal. God doesn't judge superficially by appearances but penetrates to the core of human motivation and character. "Hearts and reins" (libboth u-kelayoth, לִבּוֹת וּכְלָיוֹת) is a Hebrew idiom for the innermost being. The "reins" (kidneys) were considered the seat of emotions and desires, while the "heart" represented mind, will, and moral character.
This divine examination is precisely what David invites in verse 8—he knows God sees the truth. Jeremiah 17:10 echoes this theme: "I the LORD search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways." For believers, this should produce both comfort (God knows our genuine faith even when others doubt) and sobriety (we cannot hide sin from omniscient examination).