Psalm 17:2

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 17:1-7

This psalm is a prayer. As there is a time to weep and a time to rejoice, so there is a time for praise and a time for prayer. David was now persecuted, probably by Saul, who hunted him like a partridge on the mountains; without were fightings, within were fears, and both urged him as a suppliant to the throne of mercy. He addresses himself to God in these verses both by way of appeal (Hear the right, O Lord! let my righteous cause have a hearing before thy tribunal, and give judgment upon it)... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 17:2

Let my sentence come forth from thy presence ,.... Not of condemnation, such as came forth from God and passed on Adam and all his posterity, Romans 5:12 ; though such an one was executed on Christ, as he was the surety and representative of his people; but of justification, which came forth from God and passed on Christ, when he rose from the dead, and upon his people in him, 1 Timothy 3:16 . Here it chiefly designs the vindication of the innocence of the psalmist before men; and his... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 17:2

My sentence come forth from thy presence - Thou knowest my heart, and my ways; judge me as thou shalt find; let me not fall under the judgment of man. Let thine eyes behold the things that are equal - Thou knowest whether I render to all their due, and whether others act justly by me. Thou canst not be deceived: do justice between me and my adversaries. read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 17:2

Verse 2 2.From the presence of thy countenance. Literally it is, from before thy face, or, before thy face. By these words David intimates that if God does not rise up as the vindicator of his cause, he will be overwhelmed with calumnies though innocent, and will be looked upon as a guilty and condemned person. The cognisance which God will take of his cause is tacitly set in opposition to the dark inventions of falsehood which were spread against him. (341) His language is as if he had said, I... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 17:1-5

The prayer of the righteous. "In this psalm a servant of God, conscious of his own uprightness, and surrounded by enemies, prays to be kept from the evil world and from the evil men who persecute him, and then from the dark present looks forward with joy to the bright future." The first five verses are as the porch to the temple—the introduction to the main prayer of the psalm. The psalmist pleads with God— I. FOR THE RIGHTEOUS CAUSE . ( Psalms 17:1 , Psalms 17:2 .) God is... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 17:1-15

The metrical arrangement is somewhat doubtful. Perhaps the best division is that of Dr. Kay, who makes the poem one of four stanzas—the first of five verses ( Psalms 17:1-5 ); the second of four ( Psalms 17:6-9 ); the third of three ( Psalms 17:10-12 ); and the fourth also of three ( Psalms 17:13-15 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 17:1-15

The saint's appeal from the wrongs of earth to the Righteous One on the throne. The title of our homily on this psalm is in some respects similar to that on the seventh psalm. There, however, the psalm is an appeal to the great Vindicator of one unjustly accused; here, it is the appeal of one beset with persecutors to the great Judge of all. Whenever or by whomsoever the words of this psalm were penned, it may not be easy to say. The probability is that it is one of David's. £ If so,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 17:1-15

The righteousness of God's dealing. It is a common saying that "the pillow is a good counsellor;" and there is much truth in this. In the quietness and retirement of night we are able to collect our thoughts and to commune with our own hearts, as to the past, the present, and the future. And if we do this in the spirit of the psalmist, realizing God's presence and relying upon him for counsel and guidance, it will be well. Whether this psalm was written at night or not, we cannot tell; but... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Psalms 17:2

Let my sentence come forth from thy presence . David does not doubt, any more than Job ( Job 13:18 ), what the sentence will be. As right is on his side (verse 1), it must be in his favour. Let thine eyes behold the things that are equal ; literally, Let thine eyes behold equities. read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Psalms 17:2

Let my sentence - Hebrew, “my judgment.” The allusion is to a judgment or sentence as coming from God in regard to the matter referred to in the psalm, to wit, the injuries which he had received from his enemies. He felt that they had done him injustice and wrong; he felt assured that a sentence or judgment from God in the case would be in his favor. So Job often felt that if he could bring his case directly before God, God would decide in his favor. Compare Job 23:1-6.Come forth from thy... read more

Group of Brands