Psalm 17:6-8 NIV

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

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 17:8-15

We may observe, in these verses, I. What David prays for. Being compassed about with enemies that sought his life, he prays to God to preserve him safely through all their attempts against him, to the crown to which he was anointed. This prayer is both a prediction of the preservation of Christ through all the hardships and difficulties of his humiliation, to the glories and joys of his exalted state, and a pattern to Christians to commit the keeping of their souls to God, trusting him to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 17:6

I have called upon thee ,.... In prayer. This had been the constant practice of the psalmist, and he still continued in it; for thou wilt hear me, O God ; God is a God hearing prayer; he is used to hear his people, and they have frequent experience of it, and they may be assured that whatsoever they ask according to his will, and in the name of Christ, he will hear; and such an assurance is a reason engaging the saints to a constant calling upon God, Psalm 116:2 ; and such confidence... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 17:7

Show thy marvellous loving kindness ,.... Such is the lovingkindness of God to his people in Christ; which is sovereign, free, special, distinguishing, everlasting, and unchangeable; it is better than life, and passes knowledge; and which is set upon men and not angels, some and not all, and these many of them the worst and vilest of men, and all of them by nature children of wrath as others; and which has appeared in choosing them in Christ, putting them into his hand, and making a covenant... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 17:8

Keep me as the apple of the eye ,.... Which is weak and tender, and is hurt and put to pain, and made uneasy by every little thing that annoys it, and than which nothing is more dear to a man, or he is more careful of preserving from being hurt; and fitly represents the weak estate and condition of God's people, his affection for them, and tender care of them; who as he has provided tunics for the eye, and guarded it with eyebrows, so he has taken care for the safety of his dear children, ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 17:6

Incline thine ear unto me - David prayed from a conviction that God would hear: but he could not be satisfied unless he received an answer. In a believer's mind the petition and the answer should not be separated. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 17:7

Show thy marvellous lovingkindness - David was now exposed to imminent danger; common interpositions of Providence could not save him; if God did not work miracles for him, he must fall by the hand of Saul. Yet he lays no claim to such miraculous interpositions; he expects all from God's lovingkindness. The common reading here is חסדיך הפלה haphleh chasadeycha , "distinguish thy holy ones;" but הפלא haple , "do wonders," is the reading of about seventy MSS., some ancient editions,... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 17:8

Keep me as the apple of the eye - Or, as the black of the daughter of eye. Take as much care to preserve me now by Divine influence, as thou hast to preserve my eye by thy good providence. Thou hast entrenched it deeply in the skull; hast ramparted it with the forehead and cheek-bones; defended it by the eyebrow, eyelids, and eyelashes; and placed it in that situation where the hands can best protect it. Hide me under the shadow of thy wings - This is a metaphor taken from the hen and... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 17:6

Verse 6 6.I have called upon thee, etc. This verb being put in the past tense denotes a continued act; and, therefore, it includes the present time. The Hebrew word כי, ki, which we translate surely, often signifies because, and if it is so understood in this passage, the meaning will be, that David took encouragement to pray, because, depending upon the promise of God, he hoped that his prayers would not be in vain. But, perhaps, it may be thought preferable to change the tense of the verb as... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 17:7

Verse 7 7.Make marvellous thy mercies. As the word הפלה,haphleh, signifies sometimes to make wonderful, or remarkable, and sometimes to separate and set apart, both these senses will be very suitable to this passage. In Psalms 31:19, the “goodness” of God is said to be “laid up” in store as a peculiar treasure “for them that fear him,” that he may bring it forth at the proper season, even when they are brought to an extremity, and when all things seem to be desperate. If, then, the translation,... read more

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

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 17:8-15

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 17:6

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 17:7

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 17:8

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 17:6

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 17:7

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 17:8

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 17:6

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Psalms 17:7

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