Psalms 17:1

Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.

Psalms 17:1.-The grounds on which David rests his prayer-the righteousness of his cause; his heart, mouth, and steps will bear God's testing (Psalms 17:1); the prayer itself-that Yahweh will keep him from his deadly foes; joyful anticipation of awakening fully satisifed with Yahweh's likeness (Psalms 17:6).

Hear the right - Hebrew, 'Hear (what is) righteous;' i:e., hear me on the ground of righteousness. The ulterior reference is to Christ, 'the Just One,' appealing from the tribunal of man to that of God, who will vindicate the Just One's righteous cause. The primary reference is to David, as the representative of all believers. These, though claiming no justifying righteousness, except that of Messiah, yet can appeal to the Heart-Searcher to test their sincerity of aim. This personal righteousness consists in a life mainly striving after holiness (1 John 3:6; 1 John 3:9), though deeply conscious of sinfulness cleaving to it (Psalms 19:13; Psalms 143:2; 1 John 1:8). It springs out of a sense of pardoned sin, which pre-supposes the renouncing of self-righteousness. Righteousness of life is the offspring of righteousness of faith. Without this sincere aim after righteousness, prayer will not be accepted (Psalms 66:18; John 9:31; Job 27:8); with it, prayer obtains all it asks (1 John 3:22).

Give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips. Those who, in praying, "regard iniquity in their heart," pray from 'lips of deceit' (Hebrew). Compare John 1:47, concerning Nathanael (probably praying) under the fig tree, "without guile;" cf. also Revelation 14:5.