Reflection on Psalm 17

PSALM 17

1 O Lord, hear my plea for justice. Listen to my cry for help …

3 You have tested my thoughts and examined my heart in the night. You have scrutinised me and found nothing wrong. I am determined not to sin in what I say. 4 I have followed your commands, which keep me from following cruel and evil people.

David’s cry for justice is a fundamental human cry and starts in early childhood.  We want justice in our world and we believe that almighty God should also be concerned with justice, which he is.  So David cries out to God, but he was wise enough to know that he needed to look at himself first.  What was he like?  Had he acted justly to others, or, in God’s eyes, was he receiving his just deserts?

6 I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God. … 7 Show me your unfailing love in wonderful ways. By your mighty power you rescue those who seek refuge from their enemies. … 8 Guard me as you would guard your own eyes. Hide me in the shadow of your wings.

This psalm written some three millennia ago (before he was appointed King) reflects a very modern faith in God’s great graciousness and love not so much for the proud and self-righteous as for the penitent and those without pretence.

And David pleads for God to see and protect him from his unjust enemies who want to attack him (v.8 to 12). David uses the metaphor of our eyes (which we protect most diligently) and the metaphor of an eagle watching over its young as they learn to fly, to describe God’s protection of him. David doesn’t claim he has the power or desire to destroy his enemies (he could have killed his oppressor King Saul several times), rather he believes that God will protect him from persecution as he is innocent.  We will not necessarily be protected from persecution however much faith we have, but we can be assured that God will give us strength to endure despite persecution.  Nor does this mean that God is indifferent to those who persecute others, rather God is patient waiting for the proud to come to repentance.

14 By the power of your hand, O Lord, destroy those who look to this world for their reward. But satisfy the hunger of your treasured ones. … 15 When I awake, I will see you face to face and be satisfied.

David here looks to eternity.  When he awakes from the dream of this world after his death, he has confidence that he will be satisfied with all God’s graciousness towards him in the here and now, and that God will reward those who have faith and bring to judgment those who care only for themselves in this life.