Thoughts on Psalm 17
Psalm 17 is a prayer of David.
He starts off by praying that God will hear him. He tells God that he is not faking his prayer, but is being totally honest with God.
He then tells God how God has proved him, and how God has tried him, and found no evil. How many of us have been tried by God and have passed the test? How many of us can tell God that we have not transgressed?
The Psalmist continues by praying that God will guard his footsteps, so that he will not slip. We should pray that God will guard our footsteps so that we don’t stumble. He further prays that God will show his loving kindness, and that God will protect him.
The Psalmist then changes to describing the wicked’s ways. The wicked are described as having proud mouths, and as lions waiting in dark places.
After describing the wicked, the Psalmist prays that God will cast them down, and deliver the Psalmist from them.
The Psalmist concludes by saying that God will protect him.
When things are going rough for us; when we are afraid of what is coming, do we pray to God and ask for Him to guide our steps? Or do we instead push through, and try to make it on our own.
Several times throughout the prayer, the Psalmist praises God. When we pray do we just read off a list of things we want, or do we take time to actually worship God?
