Psalms 17

Psalms 17:1

Psalm 17: The Perennial PuzzleWhen we do wrong and suffer for it, our own consciences tell us that our punishment is just. But it’s another story when our suffering is unrelated to any wrong we have done! This kind of sufferingthe “suffering for righteousness sake,” as Peter calls itis a perennial puzzle to the child of God. David knew his share of it. But he also knew what to do about it. He took his case to the Righteous Judge. There he was confident of a fair trial. At times David seems to be defending himself in a giant ego-trip. He loudly protests his righteousness, integrity and obedience. It almost sounds as if he has reached a state of sinless perfection. But this is really not the case at all. David is not claiming guiltlessness in all areas of his life, but simply in the present circumstances. He is saying that he did not do anything to provoke the current hostility of his foes. We might paraphrase David’s case as follows: 17:1, 2 “LORD, I ask you to hear my cause because it is a just one. Listen attentively to what I say, for I am being unjustly persecuted. In my plea for justice I am ’telling it like it is’no deceit or shading of the truth. Before your tribunal I seek acquittal. Let your eyes see every aspect of the case and then decide in favor of the right. 17:3-5 “If You test my heart, if You check me out in the darkness as well as in the lightno matter how thoroughly you examine meyou will find that the opposition has no valid reason for harassing me the way they do. HonestlyI am telling the truth. As far as the usual wickedness of men is concerned, I have been able to steer clear of violence by staying close to Your word, the Bible. Not by depending on my own strength but by Your commands and promises, I have walked in paths of obedience to You. My footsteps haven’t slipped; I haven’t resorted to violence against my enemies when I had plenty of chance to do so. 17:6, 7 “Now I’m committing my cause to You. I appeal to You for justice, confident that You’ll hear and answer me. You are the Savior of those who seek sanctuary from their enemies at Your right hand. As I come running to You now, show Your marvelous lovingkindness to me in a spectacular way. 17:8-12 “Protect me as the apple of Your eyeI’m thinking of the pupil of the eye and how it is ‘protected by the eyelash, lid, brow, bony socket and the swiftly uplifted hand’ (F. B. Meyer). Hide me in the protective and affectionate shadow of Your wings. Then I will be safe from the wicked who rob me of everything I have and seek to take my life itself. As You know so well, their fat hearts are incapable of pity, and their mouths spew out the most frightening boasts of what they are going to do to me. They stealthily track me down. They have now hemmed me in. Their eyes are intent on the final knockout blow. Savage as a lion that is ravenously hungry, and sly as a young lion lurking in the bush, they are ready to tear me to shreds. 17:13, 14 “LORD, You simply must come to my defense. Meet them head on and topple them. With Your sword rescue me from the clutches of these wicked men who are only concerned with what they can get in this life. You have given them more than enough of material things. Even their children have an oversupplyenough to leave to their babes. 17:15 “Well, they can have it all as far as I’m concerned. My interest lies in spiritual rather than material treasures. It is enough for me that I will look upon Your face as one who has been declared righteous and not as a guilty sinner. I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.” E. Bendor Samuel has pointed out that verse 15 contains every element of 1Jo_3:2 :

Supreme satisfaction:1 Jn.It has not yet been revealed . . . butPs.I shall be satisfied.A great transformation:1 Jn.We shall be like Him.Ps.I shall awake in Your likeness.An enlarged vision:1 Jn.We shall see Him as He is.Ps.I will see Your face.See also 1Co_15:51-55 and Rev_22:4.