Psalms 17:11

_THEY HAVE NOW COMPASSED US IN OUR STEPS: THEY HAVE SET THEIR EYES BOWING DOWN TO THE EARTH;_ They have now compassed us in our steps. So the Qeri' reads х_ CªBAABUWNUW_ (H5437)]. But the harder reading of the Khethibh (text) is less likely to be due to correctors х_ CªBAANUWNIY_ (H5437)], 'They have compassed ME.' The change of number from "our" (our steps) to 'me,' is due to the speaker being the ideal representative of all the godly. So the singular is resumed, Psalms 17:13, "my." NOW. The present time was a crisis when the danger had come to its height; therefore it was the time for God to interpose. THEY HAVE SET THEIR EYES BOWING DOWN TO THE EARTH - as those do who lay snares. The English version agrees with the Hebrew, and with...

11._They have now compassed me round about in our steps. _The Psalmist confirms what he has said before concerning the furious passion for doing mischief with which his enemies were inflamed. He says they were so cruelly bent on accomplishing his destruction, that in whatever way he directed or altered his course, they ceased not to follow close upon him. When he says _our steps, _he doubtless comprehends his own companions, although he immediately after returns to speak of himself alone; unless, perhaps, another reading is preferred, for some copies have סבבונו, _sebabunu, They have compassed us, _in the plural number. This, however, is not a matter of great importance. David simply complains, that unless God stretch forth his hand from heaven to deliver him, there now remains for him no way of escape, seeing his enemies, whenever he stirs his foot to avoid their fury, immediately pursu...

8-15 Being compassed with enemies, David prays to God to keep him in safety. This prayer is a prediction that Christ would be preserved, through all the hardships and difficulties of his humiliation, to the glories and joys of his exalted state, and is a pattern to Christians to commit the keeping of their souls to God, trusting him to preserve them to his heavenly kingdom. Those are our worst enemies, that are enemies to our souls. They are God's sword, which cannot move without him, and which he will sheathe when he has done his work with it. They are his hand, by which he chastises his people. There is no fleeing from God's hand, but by fleeing to it. It is very comfortable, when we are in fear of the power of man, to see it dependent upon, and in subjection to the power of God. Most men look on the things of this world as the best things; and they look no further, nor show any care...

Verse Psalms 17:11. _THEY HAVE NOW COMPASSED US IN OUR STEPS_] Instead of אשרנו _ashshurenu_, "our steps," Dr. _Kennicott_ and others recommend אשרינו _ashreynu_, "O lucky we, at last we have compassed him." He cannot now escape; he is sure to fall into our hands. _THEY HAVE SET THEIR EYES BOWING DOWN TO THE EARTH_] All the commentators and critics have missed the very expressive and elegant metaphor contained in this clause. _Kennicott_ says, _They_ _drove the hart into toils, and then shot him_. Bishop _Horsley_ says, on the clause, _They have set their eyes bowing down to the earth_: "This is the attitude of huntsmen, taking aim at an animal upon the ground." No, it is the attitude of the huntsmen looking for the _slot_, or track of the hart's, hind's, or antelope's foot on the ground. See at the conclusion of

THEY HAVE NOW COMPASSED US - Myself, and those who are associated with me. It would seem from this that the psalmist was not alone. It is to be observed, however, that there is a difference of reading in the Hebrew text. The Masoretic reading is: “us;” the Hebrew text is “me,” though in the other expression the plural is used - “our steps.” There is no impropriety in supposing that the psalmist refers to his followers, associates, or friends, meaning that the wrong was done not to him alone, but to others connected with him. The meaning of “compassed” is, that they “surrounded” him on every side. Wherever he went, they were there. IN OUR STEPS - Wherever we go. THEY HAVE SET THEIR EYES - As those do who are intent on any thing; as the lion does that is seeking its prey Psalms 17:

EXPOSITION THIS psalm is termed "a prayer"—"a Prayer of David." It consists, no doubt, mainly of a series of petitions (Psalms 17:1, Psalms 17:2, Psalms 17:6, Psalms 17:7, Psalms 17:8, Psalms 17:9, Psalms 17:13, Psalms 17:14); but contains also a number of verses which have no precatory

THEY HAVE NOW COMPASSED US IN OUR STEPS,.... The sense is, they could not stir a step but they were at their heels, surrounding them on every side. This was true of David, when he was pursued by Saul, and followed by him to Keilah and the wilderness of Maon, 1 Samuel 23:8; according to the "Cetib", or textual writing, it should be rendered, "they have compassed me"; but, according to the "Keri", or marginal reading, and the points, it is as we have translated it, and which is followed by the Targum, and both are right, and design David as a principal person, and those that were with him, who were encompassed by Saul and his men. This also was verified in Christ, when Judas followed him into the garden with a band of men to betray him, and when he was enclosed by wicked men as he went to the cross, and hung upon it,...

Psalms 17:1. _Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips._ Good men are often slandered and misunderstood; and, at such times, the first verse of this Psalm will well fit their lips: «Hear the right, O Lord.» And, at all times, it is a great blessing when a supplicant can say to God, «Give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.» It must be a dreadful thing to pray with lips that do not speak the truth. When men's thoughts are far away from their prayers, and they are muttering pious words but their heart is absent, what a mockery it must be in the sight of God! A dead prayer, who will own it? It is like the child that was overlaid in the days of Solomon, which neither of the two mothers would own to be hers, Beware of dead prayers. You may dress them up as finely as you like; but, if there is no life in the

Psalms 17 The Prayer of Christ Against the Enemy _ 1. The Righteous Intercessor (Psalms 17:1)_ 2. Prayer for deliverance (Psalms 17:6) 3. The deliverance (Psalms 17:13) Psalms 17:1. This Psalm is blessedly linked with the foregoing one. We hear Christ interceding for the saints in whom is His delight (16:3). He pleads His own perfection. He is righteous; His prayer does not come from feigned lips. Not David, but Christ alone could truly say, “Thou hast proved my heart; Thou hast visited me in the night; Thou hast tried me. T

XVII. THE PRAYER OF A GODLY MAN FOR DELIVERANCE FROM HIS FOES. These foes are not foreign enemies but worldly Jews who persecute their pious and innocent neighbours. The cry for Divine help is made in Psalms 17:1 and is repeated in Psalms 17:6; Psalms 17:13. PSALMS 17:1. In Psalms 17:2 follow _mg._ Psalms 17:3_ b_. With slight alteration of the text translate Thou shalt find no evil thought in me; my mouth shalt not transgress. Such self-complace