A Prayer of David. Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.
Let my sentence come forth from thy presence;
let thine eyes behold the things that are equal. Psa 17:1-2
Let my sentence come forth from thy presence;
let thine eyes behold the things that are equal. Psa 17:1-2
David pours forth to God in this psalm an earnest prayer for deliverance from his inveterate enemies, who were bent on taking away his life. We find in it his opinion of the character of his oppressors, who were obviously persons of consideration and influence, and who were disposed to exercise all the power which their station enabled them to command, to gratify their hatred and malice against him. He affirms his own innocence, and expresses his full conviction that the time would come when the relative conditions of himself and his opponents would be changed. Many persons think, and with some reason, that the psalm was written on the occasion when Saul and his men pursued David in the wilderness of Engedi.”
[Phillips]
[Phillips]
Conscious Sincerity
The Psalmist is quite sure that he himself is sincere. The verses which follow seem to be a kind of anticipation of the Pharisee’s self-satisfied prayer; but they are nothing of the kind. The reference is not to sinlessness, but to sincerity. The Psalmist does not say, I am a pure man, without a stain upon the heart or hand. He says, I am a sincere man, the general purpose I have had in view is a purpose marked by honesty. He does not represent himself as pure snow in the face of heaven, but as a man whose supreme motive has been a motive of honesty and general truthfulness. Sincerity can appeal to the right. We draw our prayer out of our own character. This suppliant is so sure of his own honesty that he says, Let the whole case be settled honestly. At other times, when he knows there is not a clean spot upon his whole constitution—one sound healthy spot—he falls right down before God and weeps out his soul ill penitence . . . We should be sure of our motive before we invoke the doing of right. It is better for us to invoke the exercise of mercy. Most men will get more from pity than they ever can get from righteousness. [Joseph Parker, D. D.]
Justice, Mercy, and Perfection
A Cry for Justice- Things in the Mind of David
A Cry for Justice- Things in the Mind of David
1. A sense of truthfulness. He was conscious that there was no discrepancy between his speech and his spirit. The man, unless he feels that he is sincere, will never dare to appeal to heaven for justice. Virtuous sincerity requires that there should be not only an exact correspondence between the speech and spirit, but also between the spirit and eternal realities.
2. A desire for the Divine verdict. “Let my sentence come forth from Thy presence.” The human soul everywhere holds that there is justice at the head of the universe, and that it will sooner or later vindicate the right.
Going on to verses 3-7:
Psa 17:3 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.
Psa 17:4 Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.
Psa 17:5 Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.
Psa 17:6 I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.
Psa 17:7 Shew thy marvelous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.
3. A consciousness of a Divine searching. “Thou hast proved mine heart.” A man may be deeply conscious of his imperfection before God, analyst conscious of his innocence of the charges brought against him by man.
4. A determination to be blameless in his speech. “I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.” What he means is, I will utter nothing wrong concerning mine enemies, nothing that can justify their harsh and cruel conduct.
5. An assurance of Divine protection. He was protected from ruin. Protected by God. And protected in connection with his own agency. God’s agency in connection with man’s deliverance neither supersedes the necessity nor interferes with the freedom of human effort.
6. A dread of falling from rectitude. “Hold up my goings in Thy paths”. This means—I am right as far as mine enemies are concerned at present. I am conscious of no wrong. I am anxious to retain my blamelessness. To retain my blamelessness I need Divine help.
7. A confidence that God will attend to his prayer. The meaning is—I have invoked Thee heretofore, and do so still, because I know that Thou wilt hear.
II. Here is a cry for mercy. “Show Thy marvelous loving kindness.” A prayer for protection from enemies. Note the character in which he appeals to God for protection. He appeals to Him as a mighty Savior. The manner in which he desired protection. The enemies from whom he sought protection. The cry for mercy is as deep and universal as that for justice.
III. Here is a cry for perfection. Three facts deduce from the words.
1. That the death of a good man is an awaking from sleep. There is much spiritual torpor and spiritual dreaming even in the best.
2. In this awaking at death there will be the complete assimilation of the soul to God.
3. In this assimilation will consist the everlasting satisfaction of our nature. There is no satisfaction without this. The spiritual powers will not work harmoniously under the dominion of any other disposition. The conscience will frown upon any other state of mind. The Great One will not bless with His friendship any other state of mind in His creatures. Likeness to God is likeness to His controlling disposition. His controlling disposition is disinterested love, and this is that well which springs up to everlasting life. (Homilist.)
2. A desire for the Divine verdict. “Let my sentence come forth from Thy presence.” The human soul everywhere holds that there is justice at the head of the universe, and that it will sooner or later vindicate the right.
Going on to verses 3-7:
Psa 17:3 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.
Psa 17:4 Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.
Psa 17:5 Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.
Psa 17:6 I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.
Psa 17:7 Shew thy marvelous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.
3. A consciousness of a Divine searching. “Thou hast proved mine heart.” A man may be deeply conscious of his imperfection before God, analyst conscious of his innocence of the charges brought against him by man.
4. A determination to be blameless in his speech. “I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.” What he means is, I will utter nothing wrong concerning mine enemies, nothing that can justify their harsh and cruel conduct.
5. An assurance of Divine protection. He was protected from ruin. Protected by God. And protected in connection with his own agency. God’s agency in connection with man’s deliverance neither supersedes the necessity nor interferes with the freedom of human effort.
6. A dread of falling from rectitude. “Hold up my goings in Thy paths”. This means—I am right as far as mine enemies are concerned at present. I am conscious of no wrong. I am anxious to retain my blamelessness. To retain my blamelessness I need Divine help.
7. A confidence that God will attend to his prayer. The meaning is—I have invoked Thee heretofore, and do so still, because I know that Thou wilt hear.
II. Here is a cry for mercy. “Show Thy marvelous loving kindness.” A prayer for protection from enemies. Note the character in which he appeals to God for protection. He appeals to Him as a mighty Savior. The manner in which he desired protection. The enemies from whom he sought protection. The cry for mercy is as deep and universal as that for justice.
III. Here is a cry for perfection. Three facts deduce from the words.
1. That the death of a good man is an awaking from sleep. There is much spiritual torpor and spiritual dreaming even in the best.
2. In this awaking at death there will be the complete assimilation of the soul to God.
3. In this assimilation will consist the everlasting satisfaction of our nature. There is no satisfaction without this. The spiritual powers will not work harmoniously under the dominion of any other disposition. The conscience will frown upon any other state of mind. The Great One will not bless with His friendship any other state of mind in His creatures. Likeness to God is likeness to His controlling disposition. His controlling disposition is disinterested love, and this is that well which springs up to everlasting life. (Homilist.)
The Source of True Satisfaction
As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when
I awake, with thy likeness. Psa 17:15
As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when
I awake, with thy likeness. Psa 17:15
The vision of God.
1. “As for me—in righteousness let me behold Thy face.”—Perowne. The knowledge of God—the perception of His goodness, wisdom, beauty. The secret of all our discontents is our misapprehension of the Divine nature, law, government, purpose. If we could see the Throne, and Him that sits thereupon, with unclouded face—for really the cloud is on our face, not on God’s—our soul would be filled with ecstasy. To know that God is all beauty, and His law all love, and His government all wise, and His kingdom and eternity all joy—to know this, is overflowing and everlasting gladness. To have a clear, full vision of Jesus, Who is the brightness of the Father’s glory, is the secret of satisfaction. Observe, it is through righteousness that we gain this vision. “In righteousness let me behold Thy face.” “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
2. The likeness of God. “When I awake with Thy likeness.” “When Thy likeness is awakened.”—Horsley. As we become pure we get the clearer vision of God, and as we get the clearer vision of God, the Divine image is inwrought once more in our deepest nature. “We all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord.”
2 Co 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
1. “As for me—in righteousness let me behold Thy face.”—Perowne. The knowledge of God—the perception of His goodness, wisdom, beauty. The secret of all our discontents is our misapprehension of the Divine nature, law, government, purpose. If we could see the Throne, and Him that sits thereupon, with unclouded face—for really the cloud is on our face, not on God’s—our soul would be filled with ecstasy. To know that God is all beauty, and His law all love, and His government all wise, and His kingdom and eternity all joy—to know this, is overflowing and everlasting gladness. To have a clear, full vision of Jesus, Who is the brightness of the Father’s glory, is the secret of satisfaction. Observe, it is through righteousness that we gain this vision. “In righteousness let me behold Thy face.” “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”
2. The likeness of God. “When I awake with Thy likeness.” “When Thy likeness is awakened.”—Horsley. As we become pure we get the clearer vision of God, and as we get the clearer vision of God, the Divine image is inwrought once more in our deepest nature. “We all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord.”
2 Co 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
“Unlike my God I cannot rest,
For sin is perfect misery:
But stamp Thine image on my breast,
Conform my hallowed soul to Thee.
“Partaker of Thine utmost grace,
My soul would then be satisfied;
As Moses, when he saw Thy face,
And sank into Thine arms and died.”
[Anonymous]
For sin is perfect misery:
But stamp Thine image on my breast,
Conform my hallowed soul to Thee.
“Partaker of Thine utmost grace,
My soul would then be satisfied;
As Moses, when he saw Thy face,
And sank into Thine arms and died.”
[Anonymous]
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Treasury of David-Psa 17:15
Treasury of David-Psa 17:15
As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness. I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
“As for me.” “I neither envy nor covet these men's happiness, but partly have and partly hope for a far better.” To behold God's face and to be changed by that vision into his image, so as to partake in his righteousness, this is my noble ambition; and in the prospect of this I cheerfully waive all my present enjoyments. My satisfaction is to come; I do not look for it as yet. I shall sleep awhile, but I shall wake at the sound of the trumpet; wake to everlasting joy, because I arise in thy likeness, O my God and King! Glimpses of glory good men have here below to stay their sacred hunger, but the full feast awaits them in the upper skies. Compared with this deep, ineffable, eternal fulness of delight, the joys of the worldling are as a glowworm to the sun, or the drop of a bucket to the ocean.
“As for me.” “I neither envy nor covet these men's happiness, but partly have and partly hope for a far better.” To behold God's face and to be changed by that vision into his image, so as to partake in his righteousness, this is my noble ambition; and in the prospect of this I cheerfully waive all my present enjoyments. My satisfaction is to come; I do not look for it as yet. I shall sleep awhile, but I shall wake at the sound of the trumpet; wake to everlasting joy, because I arise in thy likeness, O my God and King! Glimpses of glory good men have here below to stay their sacred hunger, but the full feast awaits them in the upper skies. Compared with this deep, ineffable, eternal fulness of delight, the joys of the worldling are as a glowworm to the sun, or the drop of a bucket to the ocean.
In His Image
We become like those with whom we associate. A man’s ideals mold him. Living with Jesus makes us look like Himself. We are familiar with the work that has been done in restoring old fine paintings. A painting by one of the rare old master painters is found covered with the dust of decades. Time has faded out much of the fine coloring and clearly marked outlines. With great patience and skill it is worked over and over. And something of the original beauty, coming to view again, fully repays the workman for all his pains. The original image in which we were made has been badly obscured and has faded out. But if we give our great Master a chance He will restore it through our eyes. It will take much patience and skill nothing less than Divine. But the original will surely come out more and more till we shall again be like the original, for we shall see Him as He is.
[Note: S. D. Gordon, Quiet Talks on Service, 19.]
[Note: S. D. Gordon, Quiet Talks on Service, 19.]
