Psalm 17

1 Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.
2 Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.
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.
4 Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.
5 Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.
6 I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.
7 Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.
8 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,
9 From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.
10 They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.
11 They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;
12 Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.
13 Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:
14 From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.
15 As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

Key Verse:
7 Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.

Key Outline:
v. 1-12 Plea for God to listen to those who “put their trust in thee”
v. 13-14 Petition for deliverance
v. 15 Thanksgiving “I shall be satisfied”

Key Observation:
David, fighting evil men once more, asks God to hear those who “put their trust in thee”.

Memory Verse:
6 I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.

Devotion:
David is pleading to God on the basis of his integrity; again I do think David understands the basis of his integrity: his faith. Continually he asks God to help those who trust in him, and it is on this basis that I can approach God with freedom and confidence.

Reading the news today I found a surprising quote from Walter Williams, not a known theologian but an eminent economist: “I've always argued that if we depart this world and see anything resembling the Bill of Rights at our next destination, we'll know we're in hell. A bill of rights in heaven would be an affront to God.” I agree totally. We cannot come to God on the basis of deserved rights; all that we receive from God is by grace, and we need to receive it with devotion and thanksgiving. Lewis Sperry Chafer describes grace this way: “Grace is neither treating a person as he deserves, nor treating a person better than he deserves. It is treating a person graciously without the slightest reference to his deserts.”

I never come to God on the basis of integrity; Christ died for my “integrity” which amounts to filthy rags in his sight. But, like David, I can rest assured that God will hear my prayers on the basis of my faith. Hebrews tells me that without faith it is impossible to please God. But with faith, simple trust in what God has done, is doing, and will do in the future, it is possible to please God. Not by works of righteousness, but according to His mercy. Think of it! For all eternity God has made me righteous. He has forgiven my sins, past and future. When I come to Him with my prayers I can come with freedom and confidence because of what Jesus accomplished for me. Let me pray with vigilance and anticipation, knowing that God will hear me.