Psalm 17 A Prayer of David.
Verse 1 Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.
The Hebrew word translated as “right” is “tsedeq” and it means justice, rightness, or righteousness. This Psalm is a prayer from King David for justice and protection from God. He states that his prayer is not coming from deceitful lips but is true and from his heart.
Verses 2-3 Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal. 3 Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.
David asks that any judgment against him come from the LORD as He sees all without bias, equally or rightly. God has examined or scrutinized (proved) David’s heart, has come to him (visited) in the night hours, and has tested (tried) him, so David is confident that there is nothing to be found by the LORD that can be attributed to unrighteousness. Why is David so confident? Because he has been sure not to transgress the moral bounds of God’s law. He has used his will to be obedient to the LORD.
Verses 4-5 Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer. 5 Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.
It is by the Word of the LORD that King David has been able to remain faithful to God and not become entangled in the sins of other men. He has stayed on a path that follows the LORD and has not chosen a path that would lead to destruction. He asks the LORD to continue to guide him and keep him from slipping from the righteous path to that of unrighteousness.
Verse 6 I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.
King David has called upon the LORD over and over again and he has always been assured that the LORD hears him. So he is sure that the LORD is hearing this prayer which eventually was written to music and was most likely sung in the Tabernacle.
Application: It is an awesome thing that the Creator of the world hears the speech of mankind and that each converted, Christian believer has His attention when praising or praying to Him.
Verse 7 Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.
Application: Right hand in Scripture means the source of power. It is Jesus Christ who saves those who trust Him. “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrew 12:2 “Who is gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.” 1 Peter 3:22 Since there is only ONE God who manifests in three ways as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and since God is a Spirit and therefore does not have hands, Jesus Christ is the physical manifestation of God Almighty and is therefore the right hand of God or the power of God. It is only through Jesus that mankind can be saved from sin, death, and Hell. It is also Jesus through His Holy Ghost who guides and directs His children through this life and protects them from harm. Devils cannot touch the children of the LORD although they can be annoying.
Verses 8-9 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings, 9 From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.
The Hebrew word translated as “keep” is “shamar” and it means to keep, guard, observe, give heed to, have charge of, keep watch, protect, and save life. The “apple of the eye” refers to the pupil of the eye or is metaphor for watching and seeing. The Hebrew word translated as “hide” is “cathar” and it means to hide, conceal, or to be hidden or concealed. The “shadow of thy wings” is metaphor for a place of protection. In the farmyard, mother hens will call to their chicks if a threat is perceived and they will come running and gather under her wings for protection. King David is using a word picture of how the LORD cares for His people. David is asking the LORD to guard and keep watch over him and to hide him from his enemies. These enemies are wicked oppressors and he is surrounded by them and feeling threatened or in danger.
Application: During both WW I and WW II soldiers who trusted in the LORD came back from battle with reports of how the enemy went right past them and never saw them even though they were clearly visible. Missionaries who have been in peril for their lives have also reported divine protection that is supernatural in nature. A pastor known to this writer was miraculously saved from death when driving in a snow storm and in direct line with a semi-truck coming in the opposite direction. When he called the name, Jesus, a power took control of the steering wheel and guided the car into a ditch out of harm’s way. This happened in seconds and there is no other explanation other than God did it. King David experienced divine protection during his lifetime and he knew what his LORD could and would do for him.
Verses 10-12 They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly. 11 They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth; 12 Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.
The Hebrew word translated as “inclosed” is “cagar” and it means to shut, close, deliver up, or imprison. The Hebrew word translated as “fat” is “cheleb” and it means the fat of men, the fat of beasts, the choicest or best part, or abundance. So these wicked enemies of King David are controlled by their abundance (wealth and possessions?) and are full of pride which is evident in their speech. These wicked people surround David and others in his circle of influence as he uses the pronoun “us” instead of “me”. They have their vision on the things of this earth and not on the things of Heaven. David likens them to a lion who is hiding and waiting to pounce on its prey.
Application: These verses can also be viewed as prophetic of the LORD Jesus Christ who was surrounded by prideful Jewish religious leaders who were only looking at the things of this earth and not at the spiritual things of Heaven. They saw Jesus as a threat to their power, control, and wealth, all things wicked people lust after in their earthly lives. They preyed upon Jesus, trying to assassinated Him over and over, no doubt at the behest of Satan who Scripture describes as a roaring lion. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:” 1 Peter 5:8
Verses 13-14 Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword: 14 From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.
King David implores the LORD to rise up and take action against his enemies and to deliver him. The Hebrew word translated as “disappoint” is “qadam” and it means to meet, come or be in front, confront, or go before. David wants the LORD to stand between him and his enemies.
Application: Notice that King David states that the wicked are God’s sword (weapon) and His hand (tool) so he understood that God uses the wicked for His own purposes, often to punish others such as bringing pagan armies against the Hebrews to cause them to repent and seek the LORD. But as he states at the beginning of this Psalm, he is righteous and does not need wicked men to come against him. King David knows that the wicked only have the things of this life as they will spend eternity in torment in Hell and everything they have amassed while alive on the Earth will be left behind for others such as their heirs as they cannot take anything with them in physical death.
Verse 15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
King David knows that no matter what happens to him in life, he will one day sleep (physically die) and then awaken in eternity where he will see the face of his God (the LORD Jesus Christ) and that he will be like Him. No more trials and tribulations, sorrows and battles, but just peace and joy with the One he served while in life on the Earth.