A Shield from the Wicked and a Promise for the Future
1 Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.
2 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.
4 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.
6 I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.
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.
8 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.
10 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.
13 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.
15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
--Psalm 17 KJV Bible
Psalm 17 is a lament psalm of David. Here David presents proof of his uprightness and asks the Lord for protection from the wicked in view of David's hope for the future.
Many of the psalms are prayers, but only five are actually described as such. These include Psalm 17, 86, 90, 102, and 142.
In verse 1, David asks God to "hear the right," or to hear David's righteous cause. In verse 3 David does not claim to be sinless. He instead is comparing his heart and his actions to those of the wicked. In verse 4 David notes that though he has faltered on occasions, David tries to keep away from the path of the wicked.
In verse 8 the "apple of the eye" refers to the pupil of the eye, or rather what the pupil of the eye is gazing upon. This suggests the watcher is gazing on something or someone most tender and most dear to them. The "wings" reference is an often used symbol of protection.
In verses 10 through 12 David uses the imagery of a predator. This is implies the scheming heartlessness of David's wicked enemies.
In verses 13 through 15 David notes that God does permit the wicked treasures. David then goes on to explain that these treasures are transitory when compared to the resurrection--awaking in God's eternal presence.
Lord God, I know that I am far from perfect, but I do so desire to walk Your path of righteousness. Please guard me from the schemes of the wicked. And in Your time, awaken me to Your eternal treasure.
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2 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.
4 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.
6 I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.
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.
8 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.
10 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.
13 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.
15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
--Psalm 17 KJV Bible
Psalm 17 is a lament psalm of David. Here David presents proof of his uprightness and asks the Lord for protection from the wicked in view of David's hope for the future.
Many of the psalms are prayers, but only five are actually described as such. These include Psalm 17, 86, 90, 102, and 142.
In verse 1, David asks God to "hear the right," or to hear David's righteous cause. In verse 3 David does not claim to be sinless. He instead is comparing his heart and his actions to those of the wicked. In verse 4 David notes that though he has faltered on occasions, David tries to keep away from the path of the wicked.
In verse 8 the "apple of the eye" refers to the pupil of the eye, or rather what the pupil of the eye is gazing upon. This suggests the watcher is gazing on something or someone most tender and most dear to them. The "wings" reference is an often used symbol of protection.
In verses 10 through 12 David uses the imagery of a predator. This is implies the scheming heartlessness of David's wicked enemies.
In verses 13 through 15 David notes that God does permit the wicked treasures. David then goes on to explain that these treasures are transitory when compared to the resurrection--awaking in God's eternal presence.
Lord God, I know that I am far from perfect, but I do so desire to walk Your path of righteousness. Please guard me from the schemes of the wicked. And in Your time, awaken me to Your eternal treasure.
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