Psalm 17 Continued…
Psalms 17:1-5 Hear, O Lord, my righteous plea; listen to my cry. Give ear to my prayer — it does not rise from deceitful lips. May my vindication come from you; may your eyes see what is right. 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. As for the deeds of men — by the word of your lips I have kept myself from the ways of the violent. My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not slipped.
David was used to praying; prayer for him was like breathing, something he couldn’t keep from doing, so it was not his distress and danger that brought him to do his duty. His current dangerous situation was only one part of his prayer, which included bold statements of his confidence in the Lord’s faithfulness, strength, lovingkindness, guidance, and care. This prayer of David—probably when he is being pursued by Saul—and his life is in danger is a great example for us as believers. This prayer comes from the heart, and he says what he is really thinking. There will be no “put on” in it; He is not going to speak with “deceitful lips.” In other words, there will be no insincerity in what he is saying. This is the first indispensable condition of real prayer—a good conscience. We cannot hope to get anywhere with God if we come to Him “tongue in cheek,” as it were, simply putting on a show. He knows us too well. If we come to God with unconfessed sin in our heart or with the deliberate intention of doing something contrary to His mind and will, we might as well save our breath.
David begins his prayer with an appeal (v.1) and a petition (v. 2). The urgency of his need is seen in his threefold petition: Hear, listen, and give ear. This prayer was not a silent one; it is a loud cry and a fervent prayer. Through it the right or a just cause will be set forth, for he speaks with lips free of deceit. False accusations have been made against him by his enemies and he is bringing his cause before the Lord for His decision, because his truthfulness has been challenged. He saw God as a righteous judge who would give him a fair trial. King Saul and his leaders believed and circulated all kinds of lies about David, but the Lord and David knew the truth. David asked God to hear his plea, examine his life, and declare his integrity by giving him victory over the forces of Saul. Then everyone would know that God was with David, the man He has chosen to be Israel’s king. God knew that David’s prayer was sincere, and that his life, though not sinless, was blameless.
The word for “cry” denotes a shrill, piercing cry that rends the night like when an animal falls prey to a predator. His cry is only for justice from the One who knows his innocence.
He is willing for the Lord to inspect his life and pass judgment, because he believes he will be exonerated and reckoned righteous by the Lord’s discoveries. His prayer is that God would vindicate him from the false charges made against him. I don’t know about you, but I am not asking God for justice; what I need is mercy. What most of us need from Him is mercy.
“May your eyes see what is right” expresses both David’s confidence that he is innocent of all charges and that God’s judgment would exonerate him. What a comfort it is to appeal from the accusations of men to the judgment bar of God. Even if there has been unwise behavior, God will judge our intentions and motives.
In verses 3-5, David continues to declare his innocence and call on God to grant his petition. “Though you probe my heart…and examine me…though you test me…” Let the search be extremely thorough; David is sure of a favorable result, for “my mouth will not sin” (that is, by false witness or oath or worship).
PRAY
Father, examine my heart. Show me any undesirable thing. Help me to be holy.