Psalm 17: 1Hear me, Lord, my plea is just; listen to my cry. Hear my prayer— it does not rise from deceitful lips. 2Let my vindication come from you; may your eyes see what is right. 3Though you probe my heart, though you examine me at night and test me, you will find that I have planned no evil; my mouth has not transgressed. 4Though people tried to bribe me, I have kept myself from the ways of the violent through what your lips have commanded. 5My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not stumbled. 6I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer. 7Show me the wonders of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes. 8Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings 9from the wicked who are out to destroy me, from my mortal enemies who surround me. 10They close up their callous hearts, and their mouths speak with arrogance. 11They have tracked me down, they now surround me, with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground. 12They are like a lion hungry for prey, like a fierce lion crouching in cover. 13Rise up, Lord, confront them, bring them down; with your sword rescue me from the wicked. 14By your hand save me from such people, Lord, from those of this world whose reward is in this life. May what you have stored up for the wicked fill their bellies; may their children gorge themselves on it, and may there be leftovers for their little ones. 15As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.
Today’s Three Pearls
- My plea is honest, it does not come from deceitful lips that call on you while having hearts (and actions) that are far from you; probe me at night to check, I have been tempted like everyone else but I followed the example of Jesus in His wilderness temptation and used your Word which was kept in my heart to avoid stumbling; now vindicate my trust in Jesus who is The Word made Flesh and in whose cleft I am hidden by showing me your loving kindness – v. 1-7 paraphrased. If our consciences do not condemn us when the all-seeing and all-knowing God examines us as we are trying to fall asleep at night in a period of trial, then we are bound to have a renewed confidence in God’s impending marvelous kindness. 1Jn.3:21.
- Keep me as the apple of your eye – v.8: Not only is the apple of the eye secure and well protected by multiple structures (lids, lashes, brows, orbital bones/socket), it is the organ with the greatest apprehension to impending danger with an immediate reflex to avoid the danger. Despite the confident, secure environment, it does not linger or entertain the danger or temptation for a second, it shuts down right away even if only for the moment. Resist the devil, (do not flirt) and he shall flee… Resist over and over and over again….
- Confront them, save me from the worldly and their filled bellies, whose reward is in this life – v.13-14 paraphrased:Those who do not believe in anything to hope for after the present life are at liberty to be wicked and indulgent in sin. As created children but not adopted children of God, they are also entitled to enjoy the earth and accumulate all the commodities it offers. More often than not, they accumulate to their hearts content, but that is all they wish for and it all ends in this world, they depart from their goods and that is all the good they will ever have. Their prosperity is inevitably accompanied by anxiety. On the other hand, whatever prosperity God allows the godly is accompanied by the joy of the Spirit and peace, a taste of what is available in the world they look forward to. They live by faith and have learned not to dwell upon or be fixated by the things that are seen here on earth.
Ref: Treasury of David
Hilltop Thoughts, Valley Strengths 