PSALM 17: Prayer for Vindication, Protection and Victory (Psalm 17:1-15)

Psalm 17 is a Psalm of David when he was being pursued by Saul's armies, who have tracked him down and surrounded him (v9-12, see 1Samuel 23, especially v19-29). His prayer is in 3 parts, each part starts by him invoking a name of God. He prays (1) for VINDICATION, for he was being falsely accused (v1-5), (2) for PROTECTION, because his enemies were out to kill him (v6-12), and (3) for VICTORY - for God to intervene and completely overthrow his enemies (v13-14), and finally he expresses confidence (4) in his ultimate eternal SALVATION in God's Presence at his resurrection (v15). It is a Messianic Psalm (the prayer of Christ as He is falsely accused and pursued to death by His enemies). This is because He declares His perfect righteousness (v1-4). Whereas this was true in a limited way for David, in that as far as the specific cause he was praying about, he was innocent, he was being falsely accused. However these verses are only true in an absolute sense of Christ Himself. Thus Psalm 17 is similar to Psalm 16 in emphasising the perfect righteousness of the Messiah and His confident expectation of being resurrected to glory in God's Presence (v15, see 16:8-11). Psalm 17 also prepares the way for Psalm 18, another Messianic Psalm, which begins where Psalm 17 ends, with the Messiah resurrected and exalted as King, giving thanks to God for His deliverance and victory (we will see that Psalm 20 and 21 work together in a similar way). Since Jesus is the greater Son of David, the life of David is a type of the life of Christ. Like Jesus in His 1st Coming, he was anointed and did many great works, but was rejected and persecuted by the Jewish authorities, who wanted to kill him. But eventually David was exalted by God to become king, just as God exalted Jesus at His resurrection, establishing Him as Lord and King. So, this is a prayer of David praying for God's vindication, protection and victory over his enemies (v1-14), which was accomplished at his enthronement, as well as expressing his faith that God would also ultimately give him the victory over sin and death at his resurrection (v15). Likewise, this is also Christ's prayer for vindication, protection and victory during His earthly ministry (v1-14), ending with His confident declaration that God would ultimately answer His prayer by raising Him from the dead (v15), at which time He was also enthroned as King. David's hope of resurrection (v15), as for all believers, is based on the resurrection of the perfectly righteous Man, Jesus Christ (v15), for only through union with Him can we have a glorious resurrection. Their confidence in prayer was based on (1) their innocence and purposeful righteousness in thought, word and deed (v1-4), (2) the nature of God: "Manifest Your wonderful (miraculous) loving-kindness (chesed, steadfast covenant love) by Your right hand" (v7), and (3) their just cause (they were called anointed as God's King to fulfil His purposes, so they were praying according to God’s will. This prayer contains 2 beautiful pictures of God’s protective care for his people in v8: "Keep me as the apple (pupil) of Your eye; hide me under the shadow of Your wings" (see Deuteronomy 32:10-11, Proverbs 7:2, Zechariah 2:8, Ruth 2:12, Psalm 36:7, 57:1, 61:4, 63:7, 91:4, Matthew 23:37). v14 describes the godless as men of the world (1John 2:15), who (only) have their portion in this life, who are fully SATISFIED with the things of this life, but have no room for God in their life, who graciously provides these things to them. But, in rejecting God and taking His blessings for granted, they are also building up their measure of God's hidden treasure of wrath (Romans 2:4). By way of contrast, the godly will be SATISFIED with God's Presence (v15). The Psalm finishes with a beautiful picture of our glorious resurrection, just as in Psalm 16: "As for me (in contrast to the men of the world, who have no hope beyond this life), I will SEE Your FACE in RIGHTEOUSNESS; I shall be SATISFIED (with God), when I AWAKE (from the dead - see Isaiah 26:19, Daniel 12:2) in Your LIKENESS (1John 3:2)” (v15). This is our blessed hope, for when we are resurrected in His likeness, in a state of perfect righteousness, without sin, then we can enjoy perfect face to face fellowship and union with Him, and be fully satisfied.