Today's Reading: Psalm 17 & Matthew 26:51-56; Rev. 22:4
How is your prayer life at the moment?
David was a man who sought His God often and called on Him in times of crisis. How quick are you to call on God's help rather than trying to seek other means?
When you pray, how confident are you that God will hear you? What if He doesn’t answer your prayers immediately? Are you still confident that He hears you and cares about your desires?
Psalm 17 is a prayer of David's that is worth turning into a model prayer for all those longing to be found as a woman after God's own heart; similar to us using the model Jesus gave us found in Matthew 6:6-13.
I pray that once we’re finished breaking David’s prayer down
today that you will want to come back to Psalm 17 again and again for the rest
of your days here on earth and make it your own prayer when a crisis arises. So,
let’s get started…
Hear the just cause, O Lord; listen to my loud cry;
Give ear to my prayer,
that comes from guileless lips.
Let my verdict of
vindication come from Your presence;
May Your eyes look with
equity and behold things that are just.
You have tried my heart;
You have visited me in
the night;
You have tested me and
You find nothing [evil in me];
I intend that my mouth
will not transgress.
Concerning the deeds of
men, by the word of Your lips
I have kept away from
the paths of the violent.
My steps have held
closely to Your paths;
My feet have not
staggered. Psalm 17:1-5
- David begins this prayer by requesting God’s attention three times in the first verse: “Hear,” “listen,” and “give ear.”
- David's plea is a righteous plea: "just cause" (v.1), "guileless lips" (v.1), "You find nothing [evil in me]" (v.2) ...
- First, the innocence that David claims is probably concerning the charges that have been made against him. I believe David is telling the Lord that he has not committed what his enemies charge.
- Secondly, for us, if we are in Christ Jesus we are a new creation; the old has past away and we are able to come before God in His righteousness.
Which tells us that before we come before God we should examine our own hearts to make sure that we come before Him with nothing but the righteousness of Jesus Christ Himself. We should ask ourselves,
- Are our motives pure?
- Are we being selfish, self-centered, prideful?
- Have we been disobedient in some way?
- Have we surrendered our so-called rights to our Savior?
David's Prayer is Based on Love
I call on you, my God, for you will answer me;
turn your ear to me and hear my prayer.
Show me the wonders of your great love,
you who save by your right hand
those who take refuge in you from their foes.
Keep me as the apple of your eye;
hide me in the shadow of your wings. -Psalm 17:6-8
When we go through times when we feel like everyone is against us, life can seem hopeless. However, our God is a God of hope. He is a God who answers prayers. He is the One who gives us purpose and direction. His love for us means that He will not leave us drifting without hope or purpose.
David Calls God to Action for he Knows only God is Just to Save (Psalms 17:9-14)
They close up their callous hearts, and their mouths speak with arrogance. They have tracked me down, they now surround me, with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground. They are like a lion hungry for prey, like a fierce lion crouching in cover. Rise up, Lord, confront them, bring them down; with your sword rescue me from the wicked. By your hand save me from such people, Lord, from those of this world whose reward is in this life. May what you have stored up for the wicked fill their bellies; may their children gorge themselves on it, and may there be leftovers for their little ones.
David Closes his Prayer with Hope
As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face;
when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.- Psalm 17:15
David knows,
- He will one day be vindicated
- He will see God face to face one day
- He will "awake" from this situation
- He will be satisfied when he see Jesus.
I believe that if we come to God in prayer with a heart of wanting to be found in His likeness, that prayer will not be turned away. David’s prayer is beautiful and shows us how we can boldly approach the throne of God so that we may find grace and help in our time of need.
