Psalms 17 - Introduction

The Psalmist and his companions (Psalms 17:11) are beset by proud and pitiless enemies, bent upon their destruction. One among them is conspicuous for the virulence of his hostility (Psalms 17:12). Such an occasion in David's life is described in 1 Samuel 23:25 ff., when "Saul pursued after David in... [ Continue Reading ]

Psalms 17:1

_the right_ Lit. _righteousness_or _justice_. With a righteous cause and a just appeal (Psalms 7:8) the Psalmist appears before the righteous Judge (Psalms 7:17; Psalms 9:4; Psalms 9:8), confident in the integrity of his motives towards God and man. A good conscience is the indispensable condition o... [ Continue Reading ]

Psalms 17:2

The petition. _Let_my judgement _come forth from thy presence_. Cp. Psalms 37:6; Isaiah 42:1; Isaiah 42:3-4; Habakkuk 1:4. Pronounce sentence for me; publish it; give effect to it, and vindicate the justice of my cause. _Let thine eyes_&c. Better, Thine eyes behold equity, or, with equity. The pray... [ Continue Reading ]

Psalms 17:3

_Thou hast_tried _mine heart_(Psalms 7:9; Psalms 11:4-5); _thou hast visited me in the night_, when men's thoughts range unrestrainedly, and they appear in their true colours (Psalms 36:4); _thou hast_proved or refined me (Psalms 66:10), _and_findest _nothing_, no dross of evil purpose. But see next... [ Continue Reading ]

Psalms 17:4

As for the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have shunned the paths of the violent. In regard to his behaviour as a man among men, he has obeyed the Divine precepts, and marked and shunned the ways of violent men, avoiding their example and society. God's commandments have been his preservat... [ Continue Reading ]

Psalms 17:5

My steps have held fast to thy tracks, My feet have not slipped. The A.V. is grammatically untenable. He describes his conduct positively. _Paths_, a different word from that in Psalms 17:4, denotes the beaten tracks made by wheeled vehicles. _Slipped_(the same word as _moved_in Psalms 15:5; Psalm... [ Continue Reading ]

Psalms 17:6

_I have called upon thee_ I is emphatic. Being such an one as I am, I have called upon Thee, in full confidence that Thou wilt answer me. _O God El_, as in Psalms 16:1. See note on Psalms 5:4. _hear_ Wrongly printed in italics in many editions.... [ Continue Reading ]

Psalms 17:7

_Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness_ Lit., _Make marvellous thy lovingkindnesses_: Vulg. _mirifica misericordias tuas_. Cp. Psalms 31:21, and note on Psalms 9:1. The word implies a signal intervention on his behalf. The need is great, but God's power is greater. Parallel passages decide in favour o... [ Continue Reading ]

Psalms 17:8

_Keep me_&c. Or, Preserve me (the same word as in Psalms 16:1) _as the apple_or _pupil of the eye_, an emblem of that which is tenderest and dearest, and therefore guarded with the most jealous care. Cp. Deuteronomy 32:10; Proverbs 7:2; Zechariah 2:8. _Hide me_&c. A favourite figure, taken from the... [ Continue Reading ]

Psalms 17:9

_that oppress me_ R.V., that spoil me. Cp. Psalms 12:5. (R.V.). _my deadly enemies_ Nothing but his life will satisfy them. Cp. 1 Samuel 24:11. This is the sense, whether the exact meaning is _enemies in soul_, i.e. with murderous intent (Psalms 27:12; Psalms 41:2), or _enemies against_(my) _soul_.... [ Continue Reading ]

Psalms 17:10

Prosperity has resulted in obtuse self-complacency and contemptuous arrogance. Cp. Psalms 73:7-8; Job 15:27. The right rendering of 10 _a_is however probably (cp. R.V. marg.) Their heart (lit. _midriff_) have they shut up. They have closed it against every influence for good and all sympathy. Cp. 1... [ Continue Reading ]

Psalms 17:11

It has come to this that they beset the Psalmist and his adherents at every step. See 1 Samuel 23:26. _They have set_&c. R.V., They set their eyes to cast us down to the earth. They watch intently for an opportunity of overthrowing us. Cp. Psalms 37:32; Psalms 37:14; Psalms 10:8.... [ Continue Reading ]

Psalms 17:12

_Like as a lion_&c. Lit., He is like a lion that is greedy to raven. (Psalms 22:13). One of the pursuers (Saul, if the singer is David) is conspicuous for ferocity and craftiness. Cp. Psalms 7:2; Psalms 10:8-9.... [ Continue Reading ]

Psalms 17:13

_Arise, O Lord_(Psalms 3:7), confront him, meet him face to face as he prepares to spring (or, as R.V. marg., _forestall him_), make him bow down, crouching in abject submission (Psalms 18:39). The same word is used of the lion in repose, Genesis 49:9; Numbers 24:9.... [ Continue Reading ]

Psalms 17:13,14

_from the wicked_, which is _thy sword: from men_which are _thy hand_ This rendering, which is in part that of Jerome, is retained in R.V. marg. For the thought that God uses even the wicked as His instruments see Isaiah 10:5, where the Assyrian is called the rod of Jehovah's anger. But R.V. text is... [ Continue Reading ]

Psalms 17:14

_from men of the world_ Men whose aims and pleasures belong to the -world that passeth away": those who in N.T. language are -of the world" (John 15:19), -sons of this age" (Luke 16:8; Luke 20:34-35), -who mind earthly things" (Philippians 3:19). They are further described as those whose portion is... [ Continue Reading ]

Psalms 17:15

As for me, in righteousness let me behold thy face: Let me be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness. With the low desires of worldly men the Psalmist contrasts his own spiritual aspirations. He does not complain of their prosperity; it does not present itself to him as a trial of patience and... [ Continue Reading ]

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