Welcome to week four!

Hey friends, welcome back to the Summer in the Psalms series! I’m so glad you are here 🙂 If you missed any of the previous weeks, you can find them HERE.https://jenniferdungey.com/category/summer-in-the-psalms/

This week, we are looking at Psalm 17- a psalm of prayer.

Psalm 17

If I had to choose my favorite genre of psalm it would be the prayers. There really aren’t as many as you’d think, but in Psalm 17 we read a true prayer from David. There is a clear outline to his prayer, so I’m going to break it up by section. Let’s take a look.

See Me!

Hear me, LORD, my plea is just; listen to my cry. Hear my prayer-it does not rise from deceitful lips. Let my vindication come from you; may your eyes see what is right. (v. 1-2)

David begins his prayer asking the Lord to see and hear him. He was in a time of crisis so he believes that he has just reason to call out to the Lord and have God hear him. And he’s not only asking, he’s crying out. Isn’t there just something about a child’s cry to his parent’s ear? As a mom, if I hear my son’s cry, my ears immediately perk up. I’ve learned to decipher the type of cry (hurt, hunger, boredom) and spring to action if I need to. This is the type of plea David is honestly bringing to the Lord- a cry from a child to his Father.

Search Me!

Though 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. Though people tried to bribe me, I have kept myself from the ways of the violent through what your lips have commanded. My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not stumbled. (v. 3-5)

David is giving God evidence for his own innocence. He’s essentially saying, “Dad, I didn’t do anything wrong!” He knew that God would find that he had passed the test. This is a powerful call for us as well. We should follow David’s example and search our own hearts before we come to the Lord.

Show Me!

I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer. Show me the wonders of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes.” (v. 6-7)

What a great prayer: “Show me the wonders of your great love.” This can be translated to “lovingkindness,” the covenant love that God displays to His people. David has confidence that God will hear and answer him and reveal Himself.

Shield Me!

Keep me as the apple of your eye, hide me in the shadow of your wings from the wicked who are out to destroy me, from my mortal enemies who surround me. They close up their callous hearts, and their mouths speak with arrogance. They have tracked me down, they now surround me, with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground. They are like a lion hungry for prey, like a fierce lion crouching in cover.” (v. 8-12)

There is some real terror happening! David asks for the same kind of provision and protection that parental love gives: “hide me in the shadow of your wings.” We get that great word picture of a mother bird protecting her babies under her wings. Think of that closeness; the safety that would be felt snuggled up there, protected from true danger.

Save Me!

Rise up, LORD, confront them, bring them down; with your sword rescue me from the wicked. By 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. (v. 13-14)

Not only is he asking God to shield him, but to save him, as well. He asks the Lord to “confront them” or to meet them in battle. He is handing it all off to the Lord. He asks God to let them get full of what they crave. These enemies desire what the world has, wickedness and evil, so let them receive it back to themselves.

Satisfy Me!

As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness. (v. 15)

David contrasts himself with his enemies. He has the expectation and hope of life after death and being fully satisfied with fellowship with God. He can awake from this life and enter into Heaven and see the Lord.

What a great prayer model we see in this psalm! I love the transparency David shows in this psalm. There is such beautiful imagery and the feeling of God’s parental love and protection. How wonderful is it to know that we can always go to our Father in prayer!

Reflection Question

What are your thoughts on the outline that David uses in his prayer? Do you like it? Is it different than what you’re used to when praying to the Lord?

Challenge

Write out a prayer to the Lord. Spend time going through the outline we looked at in Psalm 17. Or use the summarized version I created as a printable prayer journal page. It can be used as a daily morning prayer during your quiet time (or anytime)!

**Don’t forget to grab your FREE printable prayer journal page HERE!**