April 28, 2023 — Psalm 17

“Hear a just cause, O Lord; attend to my cry; give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit. From you let my vindication come; let your eyes see the right. If you try my heart, if you visit me by night, if you test me, you will find no wickedness in me; my mouth does not transgress. As for what others do, by the word of your lips I have avoided the ways of the violent. My steps have held fast to your paths; my feet have not slipped. I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God; incline your ear to me, hear my words. Wondrously show your steadfast love, O savior of those who seek refuge  from their adversaries at your right hand. Guard me as the apple of the eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings, from the wicked who despoil me, my deadly enemies who surround me. They close their hearts to pity; with their mouths they speak arrogantly. They track me down; now they surround me; they set their eyes to cast me to the ground. They are like a lion eager to tear, like a young lion lurking in ambush. Rise up, O Lord, confront them, overthrow them! By your sword deliver my life from the wicked, from mortals—by your hand, O Lord—from mortals whose portion in life is in this world. May their bellies be filled with what you have stored up for them; may their children have more than enough; may they leave something over to their little ones. As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake I shall be satisfied, beholding your likeness.” Psalm 17

“The 17th psalm is a psalm of prayer. It laments over the false teachers and the scrupulous saints who, by human doctrines and works, lead people away from God’s Word. They persecute the true doctrine and hate the cross of Christ. With their doctrines and works, they seek only that they might have good things, praise, and freedom here on earth, and that they might not have to suffer want.” (Martin Luther, Reading the Psalms with Luther)

Psalm 17 suggests a relationship with the Lord that is rooted in vulnerability and honest communication. How we wish all of our relationships were rooted in honest communication. The Psalmist says “My steps hold fast to your paths” — he is certain that he has not wavered from following the Lord’s expectations. But he also is firm about the fact that his paths have been anything but fortunate. But the writer of this Psalm holds fast to his faith — even as his enemies surround him: “Guard me as the apple of the eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings, from the wicked who despoil me, my deadly enemies who surround me.”

Just as the Psalmist requests that the Lord “hear” his pleas, we too hope that our prayers are answered — or at least heard. And they are heard — and that is the trust we need to live our lives with — asking the Lord to guard us as the apple of the Lord’s eye. We will not find any “formulas” to ensure G-d answers prayer the way we want, but instead our prayer should reflect our desire to have the Lord guide us in the ways we should live.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, true Shepherd and Defender of Your people, grant us wisdom, strength, and patience—wisdom to know and to walk in the way everlasting; strength to resist all temptations of error and sin, and to boldly confess Your truth before men; patience to bear the cross without murmuring, and gladly to suffer with You that we may also rule with You. Amen.

Pastor Dave