Psalm 17

A Prayer of David.
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.
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; 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.

Daily Prayer (based on Psalm 17:6)

Why do I pray, Lord? There are so many reasons: because You command it; because I'm wired from the beginning for communication with You; because in You alone do I find life and rest. Yet, like the Psalmist, "I call upon You, for You will answer me." I pray because You hear me and because You answer, much as a child calls out for the help of a parent. So many times Have I called to You, and so many times You have answered, more than I can possibly remember. Your faithfulness cannot be counted, gracious God.

Postscript

The phrase in verse 6 "incline your ear" means, literally, "to stretch out or to extend one's ear to someone." It means "to listen," but with special intentionality and attention. When humans listen to God, inclining the ear implies obedience (see Jeremiah 7:24). When God inclines His ear to hear our prayers, it means He truly wants to know what we have to say to Him. When I read the phrase "incline your ear," I picture a father bending over, perhaps even coming down on one knee, to hear the words of a small child. How amazing it is that God cares so much about us that He's willing to incline His ear in our direction!

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Except for the Scripture text, all material of The Daily Psalm Copyright © 2006 by Mark D. Roberts

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The Scripture text used in The Daily Psalm is from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved