THE STRUCTURE OF DAVID'S POEM FROM HIS DIARY OF MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES.
1) An initial plea is backed up by the psalmist’s claim of innocence. (17:1-5)
2) A second plea supported by a description of a virulent attack by the enemies (17:6-12)
3) A third plea accompanied by David’s confidence in God’s good intent for those whom he “cherishes” (17:13-15)
Verse 1-5 A plea and claim of innocence.
Verse 1 Hear me, Lord, my plea is just;
listen to my cry.
Hear my prayer—
it does not rise from deceitful lips.
Verse 2 Let my vindication come from you;
may your eyes see what is right.
listen to my cry.
Hear my prayer—
it does not rise from deceitful lips.
Verse 2 Let my vindication come from you;
may your eyes see what is right.
Verse 3 hough you probe my heart,
though you examine me at night and test me,
you will find that I have planned no evil;
my mouth has not transgressed.
I have kept myself from the ways of the violent
through what your lips have commanded.
though you examine me at night and test me,
you will find that I have planned no evil;
my mouth has not transgressed.
Verse 4
Though people tried to bribe me,I have kept myself from the ways of the violent
through what your lips have commanded.
What your lips have commanded:
- I am kept from sin and violence by following what your lips have commanded.
- What your lips have commanded is my criterion of divine examination - see verses 2 and 3.
- God’s paths is what He has made known to us by His commanding lips.
- Are my ideas and knowledge of the path of life, sketchy and skimpy?
- How else can live a life of faith if I don’t know have information?
- Am I in a place where I hear the commands from God’s lips?
Verse 5
My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not stumbled.
Verse 4 and 5: David understands the words of Yahweh’s lips as the essential guide for life that avoids the path of violence. and keeps firmly to Yahweh’s ways..
As in the previous psalm it is Yahweh who provides the psalmist with the accurate roadmap to life and joy (Psalm 16:11
EXAMINE ME
- The psalmist invites divine scrutiny and examination confident that God will find no fault.
- The psalmist expects to survive God’s close inspection and critique for there is no condemning evil to be found.
- He has been careful about a mouth, that it will not sin.
- The examination moves from the heart to the mouth (17:3c) and then to the outward actions (17:4).
- In all these the psalmist has claimed to avoid sin in thought, word and deed.
- The psalmist confidently expects to pass the test.
The best comparison I can think of now are the evidences of new birth as found in 1 John.
The person who passes the test here is most definitely not without sin!!
The Enemy Attack in verses 6-12
Verse 6 I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer.
The psalmist makes an audible cry to God. - confident that God will answer.
Verse 7 Show me the wonders of your great love,
God is the one who makes known the wonder of his loyal love and concern.
Verse 9
you who save by your right hand
those who take refuge in you from their foes.
Verse 8 Keep me as the apple of your eye;
those who take refuge in you from their foes.
Verse 8 Keep me as the apple of your eye;
The pupil of the eye needs to be carefully guarded against injury. God exercises zealous care to protect us.
hide me in the shadow of your wings
from the wicked who are out to destroy me,
from my mortal enemies who surround me.
from the wicked who are out to destroy me,
from my mortal enemies who surround me.
Luke 13:34 “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.
Verse 10 they close up their callous hearts,
and their mouths speak with arrogance.
and their mouths speak with arrogance.
Their hearts are unfeeling and uncaring.
Verse 11 They have tracked me down, they now surround me,
with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground.
Verse 12 They are like a lion hungry for prey,
like a fierce lion crouching in cover.
The enemy is like a lion passionately eager to tear and lurking, croaching in ambush, next to move in for the kill.
Verses 9-12 is most probably how Jesus, God’s anointed King felt at the time of His crucifixion.
The Final Pleas - Verses 13-15
Verse 13: Rise up, Lord, confront them, bring them down; with your sword rescue me from the wicked.
Yahweh is called to action.
Verse 14 By your hand save me from such people,Lord,
from those of this world whose reward is in this life.
The enemy’s rewards only apply to this life, for example an immaculate lawn, impressive children, beautiful home, successful business.
May what you have stored up for the wicked fill their bellies;
may their children gorge themselves on it,
and may there be leftovers for their little ones.
may their children gorge themselves on it,
and may there be leftovers for their little ones.
A stark contrast, “As for me,”
15 As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face;
There’s a great sense of confidence here.
when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.
Questions:
Am I going to be more attracted to the rewards in this life than to seeing God’s face?
Where do I look for my satisfaction?
What is the only source to continuing satisfaction?
1) Ecclesiastes:
The author of Ecclesiastes has researched this topic far and wide and discovered the futility of human endeavour and reliance on wealth, status and power.
The rewards of this world is short-lived. Respect and reputation are fleeting.
If I only look to rewards in this life, I’m doomed to frustration and disillusionment.
“The fear of God: we are completely and utterly dependent on the gracious mercy of God - (the author of Ecclesiastes.
Ecclesiastes 12:13 Here is my final conclusion: fear God and obey his commandments, for this is the entire duty of man.Job lays down his demands and defences when he is confronted at last by the undeniable presence of the Almighty:
2) Job lays down his demands and defences when confronted at last by the undeniable presence of the Almighty. Job 42:5; My ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you.
3) Psalm 17:15 David’s hope is that the righteous will see God’s face and find satisfaction there.
NOTES ON SEEING GOD’S FACE:
- Psalm 11:7 - only the upright will see God’s face.
- I’m going to see God’s face, by His grace - I’m going to be so satisfied with my Treasure’s likeness!
- 1 John 3: 2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.
3 All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.
ABOUT SEEING GOD IN JESUS’ FACE:
While still on earth, we are allowed to see as much of God as is humanly possible without destruction.
- Jesus is the very image of the Father. John 10:30: I and the Father are one.”
- 2 Corinthians 4:4 ….to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
- Colossians 1:15 “…. The Son is the image of the invisible God”.
- John 14:9 Jesus replied, “Don’t you even yet know who I am, Philip, even after all this time I have been with you? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father! So why are you asking to see him?
- 2 Corinthians 4:6: ‘….. the brightness of his glory that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.
THE FACE OF GOD HAS A FEARFUL POTENTIAL FOR JUDGMENT:
- 1 Peter 3:12; “For the Lord is watching his children, listening to their prayers; but the Lord’s face is hard against those who do evil.
- Revelation 6:16 “……and cried to the mountains to crush them. “Fall on us,” they pleaded, “and hide us from the face of the one sitting on the throne, and from the anger of the Lamb….”
BY CONTRAST HEAVEN IS WHERE GOD’S FACE SHINES ON US
- Revelation 22:3,4 “No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.”
