Sunday, July 24, 2016

Psalm 17


Psalm 17 
King James 2000
A prayer of David.
The LORD Will Deliver
1Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goes not out of feigned lips.
2Let my vindication come forth from your presence; let your eyes behold the things that are right.
3You have proved my heart; you have visited me in the night; you have tested me, and shall find nothing; I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.
4Concerning the works of men, by the word of your lips I have kept myself from the paths of the destroyer.
5Hold up my steps in your paths, that my feet slip not.
6I have called upon you, for you will hear me, O God: incline your ear unto me, and hear my speech.
7Show your marvelous lovingkindness, O you that save by your right hand them who put their trust in you from those that rise up against them.
8Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of your wings,
9From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who surround me.
10They are enclosed in their own fat hearts: with their mouth they speak proudly.
11They have now surrounded us in our steps: they have set their eyes, crouching down to the earth;
12Like as a lion that is greedy of its prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.
13Arise, O LORD, confront him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, by your sword:
14From men by your hand, O LORD, from men of the world, who have their portion in this life, and whose belly you fill with your hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.
15As for me, I will behold your face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with your likeness.

Wesley's Notes on the Bible

Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.
17:2 Sentence - Judgment on my behalf. Come - From thy tribunal.
Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.
17:3 Proved - Or, searched or tried it, by many temptations and afflictions. Night - When mens minds being freed from the distraction of business, and from the society of men, they act more vigorously and freely, according to their several inclinations. Tried - As gold - smiths do metals. Nothing - Nothing of unrighteousness. Purposed - I have resolved, upon deliberation, as the word implies. Mouth - I am so far from practising against Saul's life, as they charge me, that I will not wrong him so much as in a word.
Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.
17:4 Concerning - Observing the works of the men of this age, how wicked they are, I was resolved to take more care in ordering my own actions. By - By the help of thy blessed word. Paths - The customs and practices. Destroyer - Or, of the violent man: such as Saul, and his courtiers and soldiers.
Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.
I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.
Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.
17:7 By - By thy great power.
Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,
From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.
They are inclosed in their own fat: with their mouth they speak proudly.
17:10 They - They live in splendor and prosperity.
They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;
17:11 Steps - In all our ways. We go from place to place, to rocks, and caves, and woods; but wheresoever we go they are at hand, and ready to surround us. Eyes - They keep their eyes fixed upon us. Bowing - Couching down upon the earth, that they may watch the fittest opportunity to surprize us.
Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.
Arise, O LORD, disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:
17:13 Sword - Thy instrument to execute vengeance upon thine enemies. Do not punish me with this rod: let me fall into thy hands, and not into the hands of men.
From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.
17:14 Thy hand - Wherewith thou dost correct me. World - Who set their hearts upon this world, and neither have, nor desire any other portion. Belly - Mind or appetite, as that word is used, Job 20:20. Prov 20:30. Treasure - With extraordinary wealth and glory. Children - When many of thy faithful servants are barren, these are blessed with a numerous posterity.
As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.
17:15 I will - I do not place my portion in earthly treasures, but in beholding God's face, in the enjoyment of God's presence and favour; which is enjoyed in part in this life, but not fully. Satisfied - The time is coming, wherein I shall be abundantly satisfied with beholding thy face. Awake - When I arise from he dead. Likeness - With the image of God stamped upon my glorified soul.
Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible by John Wesley [1754-65]



Psalm 17The Message (MSG)

A David Prayer

17 
1-2 Listen while I build my case, God,

    the most honest prayer you’ll ever hear.
Show the world I’m innocent—
    in your heart you know I am.
Go ahead, examine me from inside out,

    surprise me in the middle of the night—
You’ll find I’m just what I say I am.
    My words don’t run loose.
4-5 
I’m not trying to get my way

    in the world’s way.
I’m trying to get your way,
    your Word’s way.
I’m staying on your trail;
    I’m putting one foot
In front of the other.
    I’m not giving up.
6-7 
I call to you, God, because I’m sure of an answer.

    So—answer! bend your ear! listen sharp!
Paint grace-graffiti on the fences;
    take in your frightened children who
Are running from the neighborhood bullies
    straight to you.
8-9 
Keep your eye on me;

    hide me under your cool wing feathers
From the wicked who are out to get me,
    from mortal enemies closing in.
10-14 
Their hearts are hard as nails,

    their mouths blast hot air.
They are after me, nipping my heels,
    determined to bring me down,
Lions ready to rip me apart,
    young lions poised to pounce.
Up, God: beard them! break them!
    By your sword, free me from their clutches;
Barehanded, God, break these mortals,
    these flat-earth people who can’t think beyond today.
I’d like to see their bellies

    swollen with famine food,
The weeds they’ve sown
    harvested and baked into famine bread,
With second helpings for their children
    and crusts for their babies to chew on.
15 
And me? I plan on looking

    you full in the face. When I get up,
I’ll see your full stature
    and live heaven on earth.
The Message (MSG)

Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

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