PSALM 17 TURNING TO GOD

Written by , Rector of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, Richmond, Virginia
 
¹ Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea; listen to my cry. Give ear to my prayer—it does not rise from deceitful lips.
² May my vindication come from you; may your eyes see what is right.
³ Though you probe my heart and examine me at night, though you test me, you will find nothing; I have resolved that my mouth will not sin.
⁴ As for the deeds of men—by the word of your lips I have kept myself from the ways of the violent.
⁵ My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not slipped.
⁶ I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer.
⁷ Show the wonder of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes.
⁸ Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings
⁹ from the wicked who assail me, from my mortal enemies who surround me.
¹⁰ They close up their callous hearts, and their mouths speak with arrogance.
¹¹ They have tracked me down, they now surround me, with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground.
¹² They are like a lion hungry for prey, like a great lion crouching in cover.
¹³ Rise up, O LORD, confront them, bring them down; rescue me from the wicked by your sword.
¹⁴ O LORD, by your hand save me from such men, from men of this world whose reward is in this life.
You still the hunger of those you cherish; their sons have plenty, and they store up wealth for their children.
¹⁵ And I—in righteousness I will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.

A prayer in the midst of trouble places the present situation in the context of our relationship with God. As a living relationship it has a past, a present and a future. God will vindicate (future) those who obey him (present) as he has done in the past. By not being specific about the particular circumstances in which David uttered this prayer, he directs our attention to God and universalizes its application.

Once again his claim is not to absolute righteousness, but that he has done what is right under the circumstances (“held to your paths”) and is innocent of the charges against him. Through God’s guidance he has reacted according to God’s way and not the way of the world (“ways of the violent”). And he is seeking to continue to depend upon God for his protection (“rescue me”) as well as his vindication. In doing so he also acknowledges that God is the source of provision for the needs of those who follow him (“You still the hunger of those you cherish”).

Psalms such as this are a great antidote to the “woe is me syndrome.” After the acknowledgment of the personal problem, the psalmist places his petition in the framework of the people of God, the community of believers. “As you have done for your people in the past, do also for me.” When we are able to move beyond our natural self-centered reaction to pain and suffering, we open our eyes to the magnificent grace God has bestowed on his people in the past and our faith is encouraged so that we can endure the present trial.

Heavenly Father, thank you for calling me into your family and thereby giving me access to your promises and provision. Deliver me from the temptation to focus on myself and the immediate crisis rather than your faithfulness and the perfection of your will. May my life always be informed by the history of your people so that I might learn about you both from their successes and failures. Amen.