Psalms17
New King James Version
1 Hear a just cause, O Lord, Attend to my cry; Give ear to my prayer which is not from deceitful lips.
2 Let my vindication come from Your presence; Let Your eyes look on the things that are upright.
3 You have tested my heart; You have visited me in the night; You have tried me and have found nothing; I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.
4 Concerning the works of men, By the word of Your lips, I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer.
5 Uphold my steps in Your paths, That my footsteps may not slip.
6 I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God; Incline Your ear to me, and hear my speech.
7 Show Your marvelous lovingkindness by Your right hand, O You who save those who trust in You From those who rise up against them.
8 Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under the shadow of Your wings,
9 From the wicked who oppress me, From my deadly enemies who surround me.
10 They have closed up their fat hearts; With their mouths they speak proudly.
11 They have now surrounded us in our steps; They have set their eyes, crouching down to the earth,
12 As a lion is eager to tear his prey, And like a young lion lurking in secret places.
13 Arise, O Lord, Confront him, cast him down; Deliver my life from the wicked with Your sword,
14 With Your hand from men, O Lord, From men of the world who have their portion in this life, And whose belly You fill with Your hidden treasure. They are satisfied with children, And leave the rest of their possession for their babes.
15 As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.
Study
Psalms 17Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Psalms 17. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.
Chapter Summary
In this chapter: David's integrity. (1–7). The character of his enemies. His hope of happiness. (8–15).
vv1-7
This psalm is a prayer. Feigned prayers are fruitless; but if our hearts lead our prayers, God will meet them with his favour. The psalmist had been used to pray, so that it was not his distress and danger that now first brought him to his duty. And he was encouraged by his faith to expect God would notice his prayers. Constant resolution and watchfulness against sins of the tongue, will be a good evidence of our integrity. Aware of man's propensity to wicked works, and of his own peculiar temptations, David had made God's word his preservative from the paths of Satan, which lead to destruction. If we carefully avoid the paths of sin, it will be very lead to destruction. If we carefully avoid the paths of sin, it will be very comfortable in the reflection, when we are in trouble. Those that are, through grace, going in God's paths, should pray that their goings may be held up in those paths. David prays, Lord, still hold me up. Those who would proceed and persevere in the ways of God, must, by faith prayer, get daily fresh supplies of grace and strength from him. Show thy marvellous loving-kindness, distinguishing favours, not common mercies, but be gracious to me; do as thou usest to do to those who love thy name.
vv8-15
Being compassed with enemies, David prays to God to keep him in safety. This prayer is a prediction that Christ would be preserved, through all the hardships and difficulties of his humiliation, to the glories and joys of his exalted state, and is a pattern to Christians to commit the keeping of their souls to God, trusting him to preserve them to his heavenly kingdom. Those are our worst enemies, that are enemies to our souls. They are God's sword, which cannot move without him, and which he will sheathe when he has done his work with it. They are his hand, by which he chastises his people. There is no fleeing from God's hand, but by fleeing to it. It is very comfortable, when we are in fear of the power of man, to see it dependent upon, and in subjection to the power of God. Most men look on the things of this world as the best things; and they look no further, nor show any care to provide for another life. The things of this world are called treasures, they are so accounted; but to the soul, and when compared with eternal blessings, they are trash. The most afflicted Christian need not envy the most prosperous men of the world, who have their portion in this life. Clothed with Christ's righteousness, having through his grace a good heart and a good life, may we by faith behold God's face, and set him always before us. When we awake every morning, may we be satisfied with his likeness set before us in his word, and with his likeness stamped upon us by his renewing grace. Happiness in the other world is prepared only for those that are justified and sanctified: they shall be put in possession of it when the soul awakes, at death, out of its slumber in the body, and when the body awakes, at the resurrection, out of its slumber in the grave. There is no satisfaction for a soul but in God, and in his good will towards us, and his good work in us; yet that satisfaction will not be perfect till we come to heaven.
Key Words
תְּפִלָּה: intercession, supplication; by implication, a hymn
דָּוִד: David, the youngest son of Jesse
שָׁמַע: to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
צֶדֶק: the right (natural, moral or legal); also (abstractly) equity or (figuratively) prosperity
קָשַׁב: to prick up the ears, i.e. hearken
רִנָּה: properly, a creaking (or shrill sound), i.e. shout (of joy or grief)
אָזַן: to broaden out the ear (with the hand), i.e. (by implication) to listen
שָׂפָה: the lip (as a natural boundary); by implication, language; by analogy, a margin (of a vessel, water, cloth, etc.)
לֹא: not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
מִרְמָה: fraud
Cross References
Psalms 17Direct textual link to 'the apple of the eye' as a figure of God's tender care.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Echoes the protective image of God keeping His people as the apple of His eye.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Thematic link of being enclosed in fat representing proud prosperity and rebellion against God.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB
Using God's word (word of thy lips) as the primary preservative against path of sin.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole, JFB
The maternal bird imagery of finding shelter under the shadow of God's wings.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Historical context where Saul and his men compassed David and his men round about.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Contrasts those who have their portion in this life with eternal satisfaction in God.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Parallels God trying the heart like gold in the furnace and finding nothing false.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
David's appeal to God to examine, prove, and try his reins and heart.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Wicked men as God's instrument ('rod' or 'sword') to execute His sovereign will.
Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole
Praising God for showing His marvelous kindness in a strong city.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin
Believers being changed into the same image or likeness from glory to glory.
Supported by Matthew Henry