Heart of a Psalmist - Worshipping Christ Through The Psalms

PSALM 17: THE APPLE OF YOUR EYE The Believer’s Resurrection

Psalm 17 is a prayer for deliverance and preservation as David’s enemy is pursuing him. Psalm 16 was written in a time of peace and ends with the prophecy of the resurrection of the Messiah while this poem is written in a time of distress and ends with the hope of the future resurrection of the believer. David’s escape from Saul in the wilderness of Maon is a possible occasion for the writing of the psalm 1 . “ When David heard that Saul and his men were searching for him, he went even farther into the wilderness to the great rock, and he remained there in the wilderness of Maon. But Saul kept after him. He and David were now on opposite sides of a mountain. Just as Saul and his men began to close in on David and his men, an urgent message reached Saul that the Philistines were raiding Israel again. So Saul quit the chase and returned to fight the Philistines.”(1 Sam. 23:25-28) It is good to read the psalm in this context as it expresses the urgency of the situation.

The Prayers of the Psalm are categorized in the outline:

I HAVE NOT WAVERED - The Prayer of Examination- 1-5 II SHADOW OF YOUR WINGS - The Prayer of Escape- 6-9 III WITHOUT PITY - The Prayer Against the Enemy- 10-14 IV WHEN I AWAKE - The Prayer of Eternal Life- 15

INTRODUCTION :

“ A Prayer of David ”

“ Prayer ” is the oldest and most comprehensive name for the Book of Psalms. David’s psalms were titled this way: “ This ends the prayers of David son of Jesse.”(Ps. 72:20) It shows us that prayer and wor- ship, though separate, were to be practiced together. Five of the psalms are titled this way: Psalms 17, 86, 90, 102, 142 as well as the third chapter of Habakkuk where he leaves the instructions: “ For the choir director: this prayer is to be accompanied by stringed instruments.”(Hab. 3:19) Prayer is to be mixed with worship and worship is to be mixed with prayer!

I I HAVE NOT WAVERED - The Prayer of Examination- 1-5

“ O Lord, hear my plea for justice. Listen to my cry for help. Pay attention to my prayer, for it comes from an honest heart.” (1)

This prayer has three essential elements. It is a petition for justice that is always acceptable with God as he is totally just. It is a cry for help that is always heard, as he is the God of the helpless. It comes from a sincere heart that is always received as God searches all hearts.

“ Declare me innocent, for you know those who do right.” (2) “Let my vindication come from your presence…” (NKJ)

This prayer begins from the standpoint of ‘faith righteousness’ which is God declaring us innocent because of our faith in what Christ has done for us. The guilty person can be declared ‘innocent’ upon receiving Christ’s forgiveness through faith. This is meant to generate ‘life righteousness’, a person who lives conscientiously before God. The danger is to attempt to be justified by ‘self-righteousness’, a life of self-effort devoid of grace, love and dependency on God.

The thoughts and heart-

“ You have tested my thoughts and examined my heart in the night. You have scrutinized me and found nothing amiss,”(3)

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