Psalms 17
McGeePsalms 17THEME: A prayer of David when in great dangerPsalm 17 is entitled, “A Prayer of David.” The question is, When was it written? It seems to be a prayer that came out of his wilderness experience. It probably concerns the time when Saul and his men were almost upon him and came close to taking him. This psalm reveals David’s trust in God, but in the final analysis it speaks primarily of the Lord Jesus Christ. This psalm can also be a prayer for us today when we find ourselves in similar situations of trial, anxiety, or danger. As we study this psalm, keep in mind that we are in a new series that speaks of Christ in prophecy. After all, this is a HIM book; it is all about Him.
Psalms 17:1
This is a prayer of Davidprobably when he is being pursued by Sauland his life is in danger. This prayer comes from his heart, and he says what he is really thinking. There will be no “put-on” in it; he is not going to speak with “feigned lips.” In other words, there will be no insincerity in what he is saying.
Psalms 17:2
He is willing for the Lord to balance things off. “Let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.” I don’t know about you, but I am not asking for justice from God; I am asking for mercy. What most of us need from Him is mercy.
Psalms 17:3
It is interesting to note that when God tested David, He did find something and, when He tested me, He also found something. I have a notion that when He tested you, He found something also. These words must first of all be applied to Christ. When the psalmist speaks in verse Psa_17:1 of the prayer that did not go out of “feigned lips,” it is a perfect picture of our perfect Lord. Peter says of the Lord, “Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth” (1Pe_2:22). Peter goes on to say about Him, “Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously” (1Pe_2:23).
Psalms 17:4
The “destroyer” is none other than Satan. Because of his presence in the world, every child of God should be alert. David was in enemy territory, and he was aware of that when he was hiding from Saul. And we are in enemy territorythe earth is Satan’s bailiwick. To the church in Pergamos the Lord said, “I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat [Satan’s throne] is …” (Rev_2:13). I don’t know where you live today, but some of us think that Satan’s throne is very close to Los Angeles. Our Lord didn’t fall into Satan’s trap as we often do.
Psalms 17:5
Delitzsch translates verse Psa_17:6 like this: “As such an one I call upon thee, and thou hearest me.” David knew he was heard. The Lord Jesus Christ identified Himself with His own. When He prayed, God heard Him. We can be sure, my friend, that He hears and answers our prayers when we are in trouble.
Psalms 17:7
Years before God had used a similar expression when He said to Israel, “Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagles’ wings, and brought you unto myself” (Exo_19:4). This is a picture of where we are placedin the shadow of His wings. Years later the Lord Jesus said of Jerusalem: “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” (Mat_23:37). Notice it is “under her wings"this is also the picture David is giving us.
Psalms 17:9
David is crying out to God. He knew that God had heard his prayer.
Psalms 17:13
Here is David, hiding in a cave, and he calls out to God to deliver him. David knows that God is going to deliver him and that one day he will be in His presence. At the moment, however, the enemy seems to be so strong and powerful. You and I as God’s children look out on a world that is against us. We are like the little boy playing in a vacant lot who saw a big old weed growing there and decided to pull it out of the ground. As he was pulling, a man happened by, stopped, and watched him. The little fellow would pull on one side and grunt, then get on the other side and pull. Finally, with one great supreme effort the little fellow pulled, the roots of the weed gave way, and he fell back with a bump. For a few moments he sat there shocked.
The man who had been watching him said, “Son, that was a mighty big pull.” The boy replied, “It sure was ‘cause the whole world was pulling against me.” My friend, that is the position of the child of God today, but we have a resource and a recourse by coming to our Heavenly Father. This is what our Lord did when He was on earth, and so did David when he was in real danger. What a psalm to help those who are in trouble todayespecially when we find we have enemies who are against us. Most of us who stand for God have enemieswe have enemies just like a dog has fleas! They seem to be a part of the Christian’s life.