Psalms 17

A Prayer of David.

Like Psalms 16:0, this ends with a blessed vision of future happiness. In various other points, also. there is a similarity, as in the expression “preserve” or “keep me,” (Psalms 16:1; Psalms 17:8;) the nightly retrospection, (Psalms 16:7; Psalms 17:3;) the verbs “hold up,” and “maintainest,” (Psalms 16:5; Psalms 17:5;) but the circumstances of the author are very different on the two occasions of writing. On the former, there is an absence of danger, a state of joyful prosperity, and of calm and triumphant faith: in the latter, perils beset him on every hand. In the former, there stands out an abhorrence of idol worship, (Psalms 17:4,) as the dark background of his joyful communion with God: in this, the terror of personal enemies impends, and rescue is the burden of his song. The psalm is usually assigned to the period of Saul’s persecutions, and may fitly apply to 1 Samuel 22:0.The strophic divisions may be given in three general heads, subject to several subdivisions. Psalms 17:1-9 give the author’s confidence in his appeal and prayer to God; Psalms 17:10-14, a description of the bitterness, selfishness, and cruelty of his enemies; Psalms 17:15, his calm trust in being able to stand approved before God, and the ultimate satisfaction of his hope.

TITLE:

Prayer of David That is, a prayer -psalm of David, as the word denotes, to distinguish it from a praise. psalm. It is rendered prayer, Psalms 17:1. Compare titles of Psalms 86, 90; and Psalms 95:2; Psalms 81:2