Psalm 17
1Hear a just cause, O Lord; attend to my cry;
give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit.
2From you let my vindication come;
let your eyes see the right.
3If you try my heart, if you visit me by night,
if you test me, you will find no wickedness in me;
my mouth does not transgress.
4As for what others do, by the word of your lips
I have avoided the ways of the violent.
5My steps have held fast to your paths;
my feet have not slipped.
6I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
incline your ear to me, hear my words.
7Wondrously show your steadfast love,
O savior of those who seek refuge
from their adversaries at your right hand.
8Guard me as the apple of the eye;
hide me in the shadow of your wings,
9from the wicked who despoil me,
my deadly enemies who surround me.
10They close their hearts to pity;
with their mouths they speak arrogantly.
11They track me down; now they surround me;
they set their eyes to cast me to the ground.
12They are like a lion eager to tear,
like a young lion lurking in ambush.
13Rise up, O Lord, confront them, overthrow them!
By your sword deliver my life from the wicked,
14from mortals—by your hand, O Lord—
from mortals whose portion in life is in this world.
May their bellies be filled with what you have stored up for them;
may their children have more than enough;
may they leave something over to their little ones.
15As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness;
when I awake I shall be satisfied, beholding your likeness.
It's all about perspective. What scares you? What frightens you? I am drawn to the image of the lion as the enemy. I grew up reading the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. The main hero with Christ-like imagery is a lion, Aslan. I also really like the movie, The Lion King. It was one of my favorite Disney movies when I was young. Yet in this psalm, the lion is the enemy. It's all about perspective.
We must remember the context. David, the supposed author of the psalm was a shepherd. He was given charge over the sheep and nothing would have been more terrifying than a lion attacking his family's flock. It's all about perspective.
As the psalmist is asking for God's help, he is acknowledging that he has no wickedness within him. How often we pray for deliverance, but do not bear ourselves before God almighty. When you pray this psalm, remember the perspective. God is the one who searches and we must make ourselves available to the searching of the spirit. Do that as you pray the psalm.
Pray Psalm 17.
G. Thomas Martin
