Read
(A prayer by David.)
The Prayer
1I am innocent, Lord!
Won't you listen as I pray
and beg for help?
I am honest!
Please hear my prayer.
2Only you can say
that I am innocent,
because only your eyes
can see the truth.
3You know my heart,
and even during the night
you have tested me
and found me innocent.
I have made up my mind
never to tell a lie.
4I don't do like others.
I obey your teachings
and am not cruel.
5I have followed you,
without ever stumbling.
6I pray to you, God,
because you will help me.
Listen and answer my prayer!
7Show your wonderful love.
Your mighty arm protects those
who run to you for safety
from their enemies.
8Protect me as you would
your very own eyes;
hide me in the shadow
of your wings.
9Don't let my brutal enemies
attack from all sides
and kill me.
10They refuse to show mercy,
and they keep bragging.
11They have caught up with me!
My enemies are everywhere,
eagerly hoping to smear me
in the dirt.
12They are like hungry lions
hunting for food,
or like young lions
hiding in ambush.
13Do something, Lord!
Attack and defeat them.
Take your sword and save me
from those evil people.
14Use your powerful arm
and rescue me
from the hands of mere humans
whose world won't last.
You provide food
for those you love.
Their children have plenty,
and their grandchildren
will have more than enough.
15I am innocent, Lord,
and I will see your face!
When I awake, all I want
is to see you as you are.
Reflect
Psalm 17 is certainly challenging to read. There is so much here that can cause us to stumble if we do not rightly place ourselves within the context of the psalm.
As you read, you will notice that David is calling out for the Lord to acknowledge the righteous (vv 1-5). After he says, “Won’t you listen? … Please hear my prayer,” he then begins to show evidence of his righteousness (vv 1-5). I believe you and I can probably relate to this prayer of David’s. How many times, when we face trials, do we find ourselves pleading with God and showing him upfront why we are worthy of being acknowledged?
In verses 6-12, David begins to plead with God to protect him. He cries out again (v 6), then he seeks refuge in the Lord (v 7), and then he speaks of being hidden in the shadow of God’s wings (v 8). David is seriously seeking protection from the Lord in this passage.
Finally, David pleads for vindication in verse 13 with the initial call, “Do something, Lord!” David has turned from asking God for mere protection to pleading with God to vindicate him as a righteous man and destroy his enemies.
I know we have probably prayed this prayer, or something like it, many times. We ask God to acknowledge us as righteous, to protect the righteous, and then vindicate the righteous. While there is nothing wrong with prayers like this that ask God to support us because we are not guilty, I would like us to take a different approach in light of Romans 3:10 and Psalm 14:3 that, “No one is acceptable to God!”
We must remember that in light of our sin and unrighteousness, we are the enemy in this psalm. However, we can become righteous by having faith in Christ (Romans 3:22). Let us seek righteousness in Christ, and then in obedience, seek for those same enemies to become righteous in Christ as well.
Respond
Father, I know that apart from Christ there is no righteousness in me. Thank you for your gift of salvation and for the opportunity to receive the righteousness that is in Christ. Thank you that you acknowledge us, protect us, and vindicate us by the power of the blood of Christ. Lord, we believe. Help our unbelief. Amen.
J. R. Bucklew
J.R. Bucklew is a visionary with ideas that are quickly becoming the standard in other parts of the world. Born a hearing child of deaf parents (CODA), his first language growing up was American Sign Language (ASL), and he still considers ASL his heart language. He has a strong desire for the Deaf community to know and understand the Word of God. This has allowed him to travel to many parts of the world, both ministering to and being an advocate for the Deaf. Prior to coming to Albuquerque, NM, JR and his wife ministered to the Deaf in Ethiopia. They started a Deaf church and opened a café that exclusively employed Deaf people. They also formed two sign language centers and helped train others to work with the Deaf. JR’s journey with Deaf Bible began in 2012 and is now President and visionary-lead of the Deaf Bible Society. JR also serves on the boards of several other Deaf ministries in the United States.