The blue shade of a pale wadi late in the day: one line of sandal prints up the sandy floor, and several more lines of prints behind it, closing in.

Lament · David

Psalm 17

Falsely accused, you have nowhere left to go but to the One who saw what really happened.

15 verses≈ 3 minBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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Where we are

1–41Book IDavid's prayers: 'The LORD is my shepherd'Psalm 17
42–72Book II'As the deer pants'; the throne under pressure
73–89Book IIIAsaph and Korah: the kingdom falls
90–106Book IVBack to Moses: the LORD reigns
107–150Book VSongs of ascents, and the last Hallelujah

Hear My Righteous Plea

A prayer of David.

Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea;

listen to my cry.

Give ear to my prayer—

it comes from lips free of deceit.

May my vindication come from Your presence;

may Your eyes see what is right.

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Question

Quick question

David asks God to look closely at him. That takes nerve.

“You have tested me and found no evil.” What is David claiming?

I call on You, O God,

for You will answer me.

Incline Your ear to me;

hear my words.

Show the wonders of Your loving devotion,

You who save by Your right hand

those who seek refuge from their foes.

A chukar partridge hen settled on the ground in dappled shade, wings a little spread, the heads of her chicks showing from under her feathers.

Keep me as the apple of Your eye;

hide me in the shadow of Your wings

from the wicked who assail me,

from my mortal enemies who surround me.

Keep me as the apple of Your eye

Pray

Kept close

Where are you surrounded right now? Tell God plainly. Then pray David’s line as your own, and ask to be guarded as closely as an eye is guarded: “Keep me as the apple of Your eye.”

A young lion lies flat on its belly in the reeds of the Jordan thicket, still, its eyes fixed past the viewer.

They have closed their callous hearts;

their mouths speak with arrogance.

They have tracked us down, and now surround us;

their eyes are set to cast us to the ground,

like a lion greedy for prey,

like a young lion lurking in ambush.

0:16

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Arise, O LORD, confront them!

Bring them to their knees;

deliver me from the wicked by Your sword,

from such men, O LORD, by Your hand—

from men of the world

whose portion is in this life.

May You fill the bellies of Your treasured ones and satisfy their sons,

so they leave their abundance to their children.

From inside a dark stone room: an open door, a rolled sleeping mat on the floor, and the first gold of sunrise lying on the hills outside.

As for me, I will behold Your face in righteousness;

when I awake, I will be satisfied in Your presence.

You’ve experienced

Psalm 17

0 of 150 psalms read

A verse to carry with you

Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings

Psalm 17:8

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