Psalms 17:6-15 - Homilies By C. Short

Confidence in God.

From the first to the fifth verse the prayer bases his confidence in God on four pleas.

1 . He prays for the righteous cause.

2 . In a righteous spirit.

3 . On the ground of a righteous character.

4 . On the ground of righteous conduct.

Now we come to other grounds upon which he urges God to save him.

I. THE COMPASSION OF GOD for THOSE WHO URGENTLY CRY TO HIM . ( Psalms 17:6 , Psalms 17:7 .) He calls, because God answers him; and now he calls for a special exercise of mercy, because God saves those who find their refuge or safety in him. He was pleading according to the law of God's nature, and had, therefore, a Divine warrant for his prayer: "If we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us."

II. HIS IMMINENT DANGER . ( Psalms 17:7 , Psalms 17:9 , Psalms 17:11 , Psalms 17:12 .) His enemies were the enemies of God ( Psalms 17:7 ). They would destroy him ( Psalms 17:9 ). They haunted his footsteps everywhere ( Psalms 17:11 ). He prays, therefore, to be protected as the pupil of the eye is protected, as if he could not be kept secure enough; and to be hidden under the shadow of the Divine wings, where no danger could reach him ( Deuteronomy 32:10 , Deuteronomy 32:11 ).

III. THE WICKEDNESS OF HIS ADVERSARIES .

1 . Their want of sympathy and their hard pride. ( Psalms 17:10 .) "Enclosed in fat" is equivalent to "have become gross and unfeeling."

2 . They were bent on the ruin of others as well as themselves. ( Psalms 17:11 .)

3 . They were fierce and furious in their wicked efforts. ( Psalms 17:12 .) Like a greedy lion, like a young vigorous lion lurking in his lair.

IV. THEY WERE MEN WHO SOUGHT THEIR PORTION IN THIS PASSING LIFE ; WHILE HE SOUGHT HIS IN GOD . ( Psalms 17:13-15 .)

1 . They were satisfied with the treasures of this world. With children and worldly substance, and were not worthy, therefore, to triumph over the righteous cause and the righteous persons. Deliver me from such worldlings.

2 . He was seeking after the highest good. ( Psalms 17:15 .) "In righteousness let me behold thy face; let me be satisfied, when I awake, with thine image." An echo of the eleventh verse of the previous psalm, which reveals his trust in a future life. "There is an allusion probably to such a manifestation of God as that made to Moses ( Numbers 12:8 ), where God declares that with Moses he will speak "mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches, and the similitude [rather, 'form,' the same word as here] of Jehovah shall he behold."—S.