Psalm 17
1 A Prayer of David. Hear a just cause, O LORD; attend to my cry! Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit! 2 From your presence let my vindication come! Let your eyes behold the right! 3 You have tried my heart, you have visited me by night, you have tested me, and you will find nothing; I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress. 4 With regard to the works of man, 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. 8 Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings, 9 from the wicked who do me violence, my deadly enemies who surround me. 10 They close their hearts to pity; with their mouths they speak arrogantly. 11 They have now surrounded our steps; they set their eyes to cast us to the ground. 12 He is like a lion eager to tear, as a young lion lurking in ambush.
13 Arise, O LORD! Confront him, subdue him! Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword, 14 from men by your hand, O LORD, from men of the world whose portion is in this life. You fill their womb with treasure; they are satisfied with children, and they leave their abundance to their infants.
15 As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness. (ESV)
How do we pray when we are under pressure?
We pray like King David who had:
- A Good Cause
Our cause is a just cause – the redemption to be found in the Lord Jesus Christ alone. We see a lot that are beautiful, but also a lot that is wrong, which only One can make right – Jesus, our Prophet, Priest and King. It was also the cause of King David.
Our cause is that salvation is by Grace alone, through Faith alone, in Christ alone, according to the Scriptures alone, to the glory of God alone. - A Godward Cry
David cries for his vindication as Jesus did. The Day of Judgment will be a day of great vindication. We must also know that God will vindicate all His people. - A Good Conscience
David had:
a. A clean heart.
b. Clean speech.
c. Clean hands
d. A Godly walk
e. A Godly trust. - A Godward Cry
David asked God for a refuge at His right hand. It was clear that the Lord Jesus trusted in God (Mat. 26:53; Mat. 27). We must pray more than complain, mutter and whine. If we complain more than we pray there is something wrong with our trusting God. - A Godly Commitment
We must be able to say like Kind David: To be Christ like and to see His face in righteousness.