In verses 1 - 4 David craves justice in the controversy between him and his oppressors. In verses 5 and 6 he requests of the Lord grace to act rightly while under the trial. From verse 7 - 12 he seeks protection from his foes, whom he graphically describes; and in verses 13 and 14 he pleads that thy may be disappointed; closing the whole in the most comfortable confidence that all would certainly be well with him at the last.
David Dickson
Verse 1. "Hear the right, O God, attend unto my cry … that goeth not out of feigned lips". There are such things as "feigned lips" – a contradiction between the heart and the tongue. This is an unworthy conceit of God, to fancy that we can satisfy for inward sins, and avert approaching judgments by external offerings, by a loud voice, with a false heart, as if God (like children), would be pleased with the glittering of an empty shell, or the rattling of stones, the chinking of money, a mere voice, and crying without inward frames and intention of service.
S. Charnock
Verse 3. "Thou hast proved mine heart … I am purposed that my heart shall not transgress". Therefore, if thou be upon a mountain, look not back again unto Sodom as Lot's wife did; if thou be within the ark, fly not out again into the world as Noah's crow did; if thou be well washed, return not again to the mire as the hog doth; if thou be going towards the land of Canaan, think not on the fleshpots of Egypt; if thou be marching against the host of Midian, drink not of the waters of Harod; if thou be upon the housetop, come not down; if thou have set thine hand to the plough, look not behind thee.
Thomas Playfere
Verse 4. "Concerning the works of men, by the words of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer". As if David had said – Would you know how it comes to pass that I escape those ungodly works and practices that men ordinarily take liberty to do? I must ascribe it to the good Word of God; it is this I consult with, and by it I am kept from those foul ways whereinto others, that make no use of the Word for their defence, are carried by Satan the destroyer. Can we go against sin and Satan with a better weapon than Christ used to vanquish the tempter with? And certainly Christ did it to set us an example.
William Gurnall
Verse 5. "Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not". As a stone cast up into the air cannot go any higher, neither yet there abide when the power of the hurler ceaseth to drive it; even so, seeing our corrupt nature can go downward only; and the devil, the world, and the flesh, driveth to the same way; how can we proceed further in virtue, or stand therein, when we are tempted, if our merciful and good God do not by His Holy Spirit, from time to time, guide and govern us.
R. Cawdray
Verse 6. "I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me …", I have called upon thee formerly, therefore, Lord, hear me now. It will be a great comfort to us if trouble, when it comes, finds the wheels of prayer a-going, for then may we come with the more boldness to the throne of grace. Tradesmen are willing to oblige those that have long been their customers.
Matthew Henry
Verse 6. Two Words – both great, though little - "call" and "hear". Two Persons - one little and the other great – "I" and "thee". Two Tenses – past and future - "I have" and "thou wilt". Two Wonders – that we do not call more, and that God hears such unworthy prayers.
Hints to the Village Preacher
Verse 11. "… they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth". They are ever watching my "steps"; that is, they are looking for the impress or footsteps in the earth. For this purpose the eyes of David's enemies were "bowing down to the earth".
Joseph Roberts
Verse 14. "… men of the world, which have their portion in this life…" This discovers that rotten foundation on which many men build their hope of heaven. Surely (are many ready to argue) if God did not love me He would not give me such a portion in the world. Deceive not thyself in a matter of so great concernment. Thou mayest will say God loved Judas, because he had the bag, or the "rich man of the parable" because he fared deliciously.
John Frost
Verse 15.
Metrical Version
This Page Title – Gleanings in the Psalms — Psalm 17The Wicket Gate Magazine "A Continuing Witness". Internet Edition number 52 – placed on line January 2005 Magazine web address – www.wicketgate.co.uk |