DAWN

     Explanation: In Psalm 17 David asks the LORD to judge between him and his enemies, finding him innocent and his enemies guilty. The occasion of the Psalm is not given, but it refers to a time of persecution and danger for David such as those under Saul or Absalom. The first image above depicts Christ, the second person of the Trinity, as judge -- the one upon whom David called in this Psalm. I've chosen the second image to represent the all-seeing eye of God in reference to verse 8, in which David asks God to keep his eye upon him with favor.

          [ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: 1 Samuel 19-31. 2 Samuel 15-18. ]

          [ CHRONOLOGY: General. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]

          [ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]

          [ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

          [ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). Psalm 17 - #1. Psalm 17 - #2. Psalm 17 - #3. ]

     David comes to God, the righteous judge, and asks him to hear the right or equitable case he is about to present, to attend to his outcry, to listen to his guileless prayer (1). He asks for an equitable verdict (2). He pleads on the basis that God has tested him and knows that his heart, his acts, and his words are without transgression (3). He states that he has not walked in the paths of the destroyer (4). So he asks the LORD to keep his footsteps secure in the path which he treads (5). He says that he has called on God because God will hear him; and he asks God to incline his ear and listen (6). He pleads for God's "marvelous lovingkindness" to deliver him from those who rise up against him (7). He asks God to keep him as the "apple of the eye," meaning the pupil of the eye -- it's central, most important part. The phrase in the Hebrew is "the little man, the daughter of the eye." Taken together, these images and implications mean that David is asking the LORD to treat him as someone who is very important and tenderly regarded by him (8). He asks to be thus protected from the wicked oppressors and deadly enemies who surround him (9). He characterizes them as being enclosed in their own fat (or guarded by their own prosperity); and so they speak proudly -- or majestically, in high-flown rhetoric (10). They surround David and his companions; and their eyes are "bowing down" or "spreading out upon" the earth, searching everywhere for David (11). And like ravenous lions they lie in wait in secret places (12). So David asks the LORD to arise and disappoint them -- literally, to come before their faces (or step in front of them), cast them down, and deliver his soul from the wicked, which are like a sword in God's hand, except when God restrains them (13). He asks God not to use such men against him -- men of the world, who have their portion in this life, whose bellies are full, who have many children to whom they leave their wealth (14). "As for me," says David, "I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness" (15).

Hear the right, O LORD,
attend unto my cry,
give ear unto my prayer,
that goeth not out of feigned lips.
² Let my sentence come forth from thy presence;
let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.
³ Thou hast proved mine heart;
thou hast visited me in the night;
thou hast tried me,
and shalt find nothing;
I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.

⁴ Concerning the works of men,
by the word of thy lips
I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.
⁵ Hold up my goings in thy paths,
that my footsteps slip not.
⁶ I have called upon thee,
for thou wilt hear me, O God:
incline thine ear unto me,
and hear my speech.
⁷ Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness,
O thou that savest by thy right hand
them which put their trust in thee
from those that rise up against them.
⁸ Keep me as the apple of the eye,
hide me under the shadow of thy wings,
⁹ From the wicked that oppress me,
from my deadly enemies,
who compass me about.

¹⁰ They are inclosed in their own fat:
with their mouth they speak proudly.
¹¹ They have now compassed us in our steps:
they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;
¹² Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey,
and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.

¹³ Arise, O LORD, disappoint him,
cast him down:
deliver my soul from the wicked,
which is thy sword:
¹⁴ From men
which are thy hand, O LORD,
from men of the world,
which have their portion in this life,
and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure:
they are full of children,
and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.

¹⁵ As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness:
I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

* NOTE: On Opening and Closing Comments in the Psalms.
[Some commentators take the Psalm in Habakkuk 3 to be a standard model for the Psalms.
Habakkuk's Psalm begins with the name of the composer (Habakkuk) and a musical notation ("upon Shigionoth").
It closes with a dedication or a "send to" notice ("To the chief singer on my stringed instruments").
I have arranged similar material, where it is found in the Psalter, in accord with the model in Habakkuk.]