Psalm 17 Study Notes

17:1-2 The concept of a just cause is also found in 9:4, although the Hebrew words are slightly different. In that context the psalmist praised God for hearing his case and answering his prayer. Here this forms part of the petition and is further identified as vindication and what is right in v. 2. In this context they are legal terms describing a case brought before the Lord who is acting as judge in the case. Lips free of deceit refers to sincerity and truthfulness. God will not tolerate deceit (101:7).

17:3-5 God is the one who tests and tries people, particularly their motives (26:2; Jr 17:10). He is the only one who can declare a person righteous (Gn 15:6; Dt 6:25; Ps 37:6). Therefore, the truthfulness of this plea can be verified by God. As in the case of other declarations of innocence (see note at Ps 7:3-5), this is not a statement of absolute righteousness, as found in the NT, but relative righteousness in terms of being habitually faithful to God and avoiding behavior that characterizes sin and rebellion against God (1:1; 26:4-5; Ezk 18:6-8).

17:6 David could be confident of an answer because he knew his cause was just (v. 1), and he was asking for God’s faithful love (v. 7).

17:7 Wonders is similar to “wondrous works” (see note at 9:1). Though this could be general enough to include works of creation, here it seems to be related to God’s intervention in a time of need. The terms wonders, faithful love, and right hand also occur together in Ex 15:11-13 where Moses in his song related the events of the exodus and God’s wonderful acts that were part of Israel’s redemption.

17:8 Both images in v. 8 convey the idea of protection. The pupil of the eye is that part of the body that is closely guarded (Dt 32:10; Pr 7:2). The image of being hidden in the shadow of your wings portrays God as a mother bird protecting her young (36:7; 57:1).

17:9 David’s enemies longed to take his life.

17:10-12 The Hebrew in v. 10 is literally “they have closed up their fat.” Fat represented prosperity, but such a state of abundance could and often did lead to callousness and rebellion (73:7; Dt 32:15; Jr 5:28). The idea here is that these enemies of God had become uncaring toward him and were surrounding the psalmist (both here and in v. 9) to attack a person who was faithful to God. The Hebrew text at the beginning of v. 11 is literally “our steps,” which is difficult. They advance against me is from the Latin Vulgate, a reading that is more understandable and fits the context. On the lion imagery, see note at 7:1-2.

17:13-14 Rise up probably expresses the military idea of preparing for battle since it is linked with your sword (see note at 7:6-8). The meaning of world here is similar to the use of the Greek cosmos in the NT to describe the world system that is against God. These men belong to the world system, and their inheritance or portion was only in this earthly life (see Ec 9:9). God would fill their bellies with punishment, so much so that it would continue in the generations to come (Ex 20:5; Dt 5:9; Jb 21:19).

17:15 Seeing God’s face is equivalent to receiving blessings from him (see note at 4:6). There is a contrast between this faithful one being satisfied with God and the wicked being satisfied with God’s punishment in v. 14. Its use in v. 14 is sarcastic in comparison to here.