What does Psalm 7:4 mean?

David's third "if" statement (Psalm 7:3) is in this verse. He writes: "if I have repaid my friend with evil or plundered my enemy without cause." Apparently, David's enemies had accused him of both treacherous actions. Perhaps those were "the words of Cush" mentioned earlier (Psalm 7:1). He knew those claims were false. This section (Psalm 7:3–5) is a declaration of David's innocence and his assurance that there is no truth in these attacks.

Not only was David innocent of harming a friend or taking advantage of an enemy, he often did the opposite. He could have taken revenge on Saul when he had the opportunity, but David refused to do so. First Samuel 24 recalls a time Saul entered a cave where David and his men were hiding. David's men tried to talk David into taking advantage of Saul. They even suggested that the Lord had given Saul into David's hand (1 Samuel 24:4). But David merely cut off a corner of Saul's robe because he viewed Saul as the Lord's anointed (1 Samuel 24:5–6). He then showed this to Saul, as proof that he had no intentions of seeking Saul's life (1 Samuel 24:11).