Psalm 17

Psalm 17 (NRSV)
1 Hear a just cause, O Lord; attend to my cry;
give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit.
2 From you let my vindication come;
let your eyes see the right.
3 If you try my heart, if you visit me by night,
if you test me, you will find no wickedness in me;
my mouth does not transgress.
4 As for what others do, by the word of your lips
I have avoided the ways of the violent.
5 My steps have held fast to your paths;
my feet have not slipped.
6 I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
incline your ear to me, hear my words.
7 Wondrously show your steadfast love,
O savior of those who seek refuge
from their adversaries at your right hand.

Lord,
What amazing confidence the poet has, what a wondrous faith! He is apparently under siege. His opponents, his enemies, are out to get him and he dares to declare his own righteousness and to seek your protection. He asks, believing that you will answer, not only with warm feelings that all will be well in time, but that you will protect him in the time of immediate danger.

He believes that you command the forces of protection required to get him out of his jam. Secure in the rightfulness of his cause, he believes that his enemy will be destroyed.

So, Lord, how shall I pray? Shall I simply assume that I’m right and that you are on my side and that all who disagree should be destroyed? Knowing my own propensity for error, that seems a little brash. It seems better to ask that I will be on your side, that I will discern your character and will, and that I will conform to your mission and purpose in this world. And, in that spirit, I indeed pray. I pray that you will first make me right with you.

I remember that Jesus taught us to pray for our enemies and so I pray for those who disagree with me and, indeed, for those who have gossiped, lied, and distorted the truth about me. And while, as a disciple of Jesus, I cannot pray for their destruction, I do pray that you will heal and correct their misunderstanding and distorted perceptions. Where it is I who have been wrong, correct my mistakes and sins. Forgive me and attune my life again to you.

And while I may never really deserve it, indeed I seek your protection for myself, my family, my church, and all that I love.

PERSONAL PRAYERS:
Ask God to attune your life to his character and purpose.
Ask God to protect you and all you love from that which is threatening.
Name 5 things for which you are grateful and say “Thank you” to God.
In Christ’s name,
Amen.


8 Guard me as the apple of the eye;
hide me in the shadow of your wings,
9 from the wicked who despoil me,
my deadly enemies who surround me.
10 They close their hearts to pity;
with their mouths they speak arrogantly.
11 They track me down;a now they surround me;
they set their eyes to cast me to the ground.
12 They are like a lion eager to tear,
like a young lion lurking in ambush.
13 Rise up, O Lord, confront them, overthrow them!
By your sword deliver my life from the wicked,
14 from mortals—by your hand, O Lord—
from mortals whose portion in life is in this world.
May their bellies be filled with what you have stored up for them;
may their children have more than enough;
may they leave something over to their little ones.
15 As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness;
when I awake I shall be satisfied, beholding your likeness.
[1]

a One Ms Compare Syr: MT Our steps

[1] The Holy Bible : New Revised Standard Version. Nashville : Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989