Knowing The Word in Psalm 17

In the Shadow of Your Wings

A Prayer of David.

1 Hear a just cause, O Lord; attend to my cry! Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit! 2 From your presence let my vindication come! Let your eyes behold the right!

3 You have tried my heart, you have visited me by night, you have tested me, and you will find nothing; I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress. 4 With regard to the works of man, by the word of your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent. 5 My steps have held fast to your paths; my feet have not slipped.

6 I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me; hear my words. 7 Wondrously show your steadfast love, O Savior of those who seek refuge from their adversaries at your right hand.

8 Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings, 9 from the wicked who do me violence, my deadly enemies who surround me.

10 They close their hearts to pity; with their mouths they speak arrogantly. 11 They have now surrounded our steps; they set their eyes to cast us to the ground. 12 He is like a lion eager to tear, as a young lion lurking in ambush.

13 Arise, O Lord! Confront him, subdue him! Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword, 14 from men by your hand, O Lord, from men of the world whose portion is in this life. You fill their womb with treasure; they are satisfied with children, and they leave their abundance to their infants.

15 As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness.

Comments

Psalm 17 is a prayer for God’s justice. David knows that God will ultimately conform the wick in judgment, but the godly will see his face. Verse 15 speaks to what will happen to those who are the apple of God’s eye. They will live in victory and joy with the Lord. That they “shall be satisfied with your likeness” strongly suggests they will have a greater experience with God that can only be part of a post-resurrection world.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, when we rise up from all our distresses and despairs, you promise we will see Jesus, the companion of our souls, face to face and experience his likeness. We will be restored to the divine image in which you created us. Our faith has its own reward because he came to seek and to save the lost and to take us to be with him forever, for the glory of his Name.