“God testified … ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’” – Acts 13:22
In this Psalm, David finds himself in a terrible situation, pursued by arrogant enemies out to destroy him. Of course this is an age-old problem, as Christ warned his followers; “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 20 Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. – John 15:18-20
So how does a man, commended as “a man after” God’s heart, pray?
David doesn’t despair nor does he compromise, trying to wiggle out of the situation. Rather he turns to God and pleads his case. He doesn’t simply ask God for help – no, instead he boldly and honestly comes before God with a three-pronged argument as to exactly why God should intervene in the situation and help him.
| Psalm 17 (NIV) A prayer of David. |
Pray Boldly! |
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1 Hear me, Lord, my plea is just; listen to my cry. Hear my prayer— it does not rise from deceitful lips. 2 Let my vindication come from you; may your eyes see what is right. |
A. Pray Boldly David prayed as the old hymn says … No condemnation now I dread; Jesus, and all in Him is mine! Alive in Him, my living Head, And clothed in righteousness divine, Bold I approach the eternal throne, And claim the crown, through Christ my own. Charles Wesley 1738 |
| 3 Though you probe my heart,
though you examine me at night and test me, you will find that I have planned no evil; my mouth has not transgressed. 4 Though people tried to bribe me, I have kept myself from the ways of the violent through what your lips have commanded. 5 My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not stumbled. |
B. 3 Arguments Why God Should Answer
1. David Proclaims His Innocence We are not told the reason why enemies are trying to destroy David, and their reasons really don’t matter. What matters is that David has searched his attitudes and actions, and is innocent of their charges. As a result David challenges God to examine Him, test him, and confirm that David has followed God’s paths. Now that is bold. Are you willing to honestly ask God to test you to prove your innocence when wrongfully accused? |
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6 I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer. 7 Show me the wonders of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes. 8 Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings |
2. David Reminds God of His Love The Hebrew word for love here is hesed, meaning that God is a covenant keeping, promise keeping God. The God who saved you will never let you go! To remind God of this David quotes Deuteronomy 32:10-11, “In a desert you found him … He guarded him as the apple of His eye, like an eagle that … hovers over its young, that spreads its wings …” Would you ever remind God of His words? |
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9 from the wicked who are out to destroy me, from my mortal enemies who surround me. 10 They close up their callous hearts, and their mouths speak with arrogance. 11 They have tracked me down, they now surround me, with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground. 12 They are like a lion hungry for prey, like a fierce lion crouching in cover. |
3. David Explains the Danger to God
The folks after David were serious. David has been tracked down and surrounded. David had tried to reason with them but their callous hearts were closed to his appeals. They were not going to be persuaded to admit their error. They were out to destroy him, like a lion ready to eat him alive. Have you ever found yourself in such a situation, innocent, yet your accusers are hell-bent on your destruction? |
| 13 Rise up, Lord, confront them, bring them down;
with your sword rescue me from the wicked. 14 By your hand save me from such people, Lord, from those of this world whose reward is in this life. |
C. David Asks God to Rise Up to Action
David again refers to Deuteronomy 32 where God says, “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay … their day of disaster is near …” David is secure in the knowledge that God is the righteous Judge of all on the earth. They may seem to be getting away with their plans now but that is as good as it gets for them. God will intervene. Are you patient enough to allow God to judge? |
| You satisfy the hunger of those you cherish;
Their sons have plenty, And they store up wealth for their children. 15 As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness. |
D. David is Confident in God David knows that because he is innocent, because the God of love keeps His promises, and because God judges the wicked, he will be vindicated.
And beyond that, as if that weren’t enough, God’s protection and provision for his children is so abundant that there is more than enough for their children and their grandchildren after them! |
Charles Spurgeon, a great man of prayer observed, “The man who has his mouth full of arguments in prayer shall soon have his mouth full of benedictions in answer to prayer.”
By Richard Loper