Psalms 17 - Introduction

This psalm is entitled “A Prayer of David.” By whom the title was prefixed to it, is not known; but there can be no doubt of its appropriateness. It is, throughout, a prayer - fervent, earnest, believing. It was evidently uttered in the view of danger - danger arising from the number and the designs of his enemies; but on what particular occasion it was composed cannot now be determined. There were many occasions, however, in the life of David for the utterance of such a prayer, and there can be no doubt that in the dangers which so frequently beset him, he often poured out such warm and earnest appeals to God for help. “Who” the enemies referred to were cannot now be ascertained. All that is known of them is that they were “deadly” or bitter foes, that they were prosperous in the world, and that they were proud Psalms 17:9; that they were fierce and greedy, like a lion hunting its prey Psalms 17:12; that they were men whose families were in affluence and men who lived for this world alone, Psalms 17:14.

The points which constitute the prayer in the psalm are the following:

1. The prayer itself, as an earnest appeal or supplication to God to do what was equal and right, Psalms 17:1.

2. A reference of the author of the psalm to himself, and to his own life and character, as not deserving the treatment which he was receiving from others, Psalms 17:3.

3. An earnest petition on this ground for the divine interposition, Psalms 17:5.

4. A description of the character of his enemies, and a prayer on the ground of that character, that God would interpose for him, Psalms 17:10.

5. The expression of a confident hope of deliverance from all enemies; a looking forward to a world where he would be rescued from all troubles, and where, in the presence of God, and entering on a new life, he would awake in the likeness of God and be satisfied, Psalms 17:15. The psalm terminates, as the anticipations of all good people do amid the troubles of this life, in the hope of that world where there will be no trouble, and where they will be permitted to dwell forever with God.