MEDITATIONS IN THE PSALMS (Psalm 17) A Prayer of David (Concerning Saul’s many attempts to kill him) David would not have been a man after God’s own heart if he had not been a man of prayer. Psalm 17 begins with a cry for justice (vs. 1-4). “Hear the right, O Lord” (Hear a just cause), attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer that goeth not out of feigned (deceitful) lips.” The godly have their oppressors and it is not abnormal that they crave justice, as it is natural to all men. David is most sincere in his appeal sending up three rapid ejaculations, “Hear the right”; “Attend my cry”; “Give ear to my prayer.” To enforce his need he makes known that this is no insincere prayer through counterfeit lips. We never take justice to ourselves, nevertheless we ever desire the great Judge to do justice for His oppressed (Heb.10:30). What a terrible state if our God could or would not hear us. “Hear the right” (the Just One); if not for my sake then do it for His in whom I trust. If my state is too marred by sin His is a perfect state; it is not me that the oppressor hates, but Him whom I love. He not only pleads for a court hearing, he weeps for a Fathers attention, “Attend my cry”: who can ignore a child’s cry; certainly not a loving father, give ear to my prayer.” “Let my sentence come forth from Thy presence” (v2); You are the Judge of all, who must do right; issue forth the verdict and sentence upon my case: our enemies would wish that we handle their malice and mischief against us. Judgment wheels turn slow, but they ever turn; “Let Thine eyes be equal,” I desire no other Judge but God. I’ll stand with any man before Him; a bold statement? I speak to you with the same boldness; I stand before Him in Christ. “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace.” How? We have a Great High Priest! How could I speak so boldly? I stand with a Great Advocate. Verse 3, look at Rev.14:1-5: there is no flaw where one has the Great Substitute! I am purposed, I may fall miserably, but I purpose. Lion taming is easier than tongue taming, but we must purpose. V.4, we who trust not our “work” but Him who worked for us will always be “concerned with the works of men. Men are not only prone to work for acceptance, but cast their works at us for inspection. By the words of Thy lips I have kept away from the destroyer; what highway do we travel? the highway of scripture; it is by His testimony that I am kept. By His atoning work He has destroyed the destroyer; we are no longer under his bondage (Rom.8:31-38). V’s 5-6: the hardest thing in this world for redeemed creatures is to wait God’s time. Our feet want to run ahead of our Great Keeper. Hold up my goings, as the careful driver brakes going down a hill. I have called on You, for You WILL hear me. V’s 7-12, a prayer for protection (Eph.6:10). V’s 13-15: the more furious the attack the more fervent our prayer “Arise, O LORD!” I’m in trouble, get up and help me (Mark 4:38). The power of control God has, “With Your hand,” men are but God’s instruments. David prays that God will keep him with care as the apple of his eye, with tenderness as the hen gathers her young. He prays, Lord keep me from the wicked, from being and doing like them, from walking in their counsel. ~~Terry Worthan, 1938-2022
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