Psalm 17:1-7

Psalm 17:1-7

A Prayer for Justice

Psa 17:1  A Prayer of David. Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips. 

Psa 17:2  Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal. 

Psa 17:3  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. 

Psa 17:4  Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer. 

Psa 17:5  Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not. 

Psa 17:6  I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech. 

Psa 17:7  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. 

1. A Prayer for Justice – vs. 1*
1. Oh God Listen to the Cause of Justice. – vs. 1a*
2. Oh God Heed My Heart Cry! – vs. 1*

                                                               i.      The reason God should hear my cry is because it comes from honest lips.

2. A Just Verdict – vs. 2-3*
1. A plea for a righteous judge – vs. 2a*

                                                               i.      This gives the implication of innocence, which we know that David was not. There is no way that David could call for this without a faith in the blood covering of the Messiah.

1.      Romans 3:23-25 

2. A reminder to God who is the Judge to be just. – vs. 2b*
3. Because David had pledged his life to God by purposing not to sin against God the following was found out about him. – vs. 3*

                                                               i.      God tested his heart

                                                             ii.      God watched his response to the difficult times

                                                            iii.      God purged him

                                                           iv.      In all this, God found no fault in David

                                                             v.      This is not David, but Christ. David is putting his trust in the identity of the Messiah that was to come. He realized his failure and inability to do what is right, and was trusting in Jesus’ righteousness.

1.      James 2:23 

3. A Righteous Path – vs. 4-7*
1. When one considers the works of men; there is only one answer to keep us from the path of the destroyer. That is the Word of God and putting your faith in it. – vs. 4*

                                                               i.      Psalm 119:9-11 

2. When we put our faith in the Messiah, who is the Logos or the Word of God He does the following for us:

                                                               i.      He keeps us on the right path. – vs. 5*

1.      Matthew 7:13-14 

2.      Matthew 7:24-25 

                                                             ii.      God listens to our prayers. – vs. 6*

1.      Psalm 55:16  

                                                            iii.      He shows us His marvelous lovingkindness. – vs. 7a*

1.      Matthew 11:28-30 

                                                           iv.      He saves (or Yeshua) us with His right hand, from those that would hurt us. – vs. 7b*

1.      Acts 2:32-36