Psalm 17 explained: A Plea From Someone Wrongly Accused

Asking for a fair hearing (vv. 1-2)

The writer speaks like someone in court, asking God to hear an honest case and give the verdict. The psalm's heading credits it to David, and some interpreters picture his years on the run from King Saul, but the psalm itself names no situation.

Claiming a clean record (vv. 3-5)

Being examined at night likely means lying awake searching one's own conscience and finding no guilt for what the enemies claim. The writer says God's word kept them from violent ways and claims innocence of these charges rather than perfection, though translations word verse 4 quite differently.

Guard me closely (vv. 6-9)

The apple of your eye is the pupil, the part of the body people instinctively protect, and the shadow of your wings pictures a bird sheltering its chicks. Some scholars also hear a hint of the winged figures over the sacred chest in the temple, but that is uncertain.

Enemies like a crouching lion (vv. 10-12)

The Hebrew literally says the enemies are closed in their fat, meaning comfortable, smug and unfeeling. They watch and close in like a lion waiting in hiding.

Rise up and stop them (vv. 13-14)

The writer bluntly asks God to bring the attackers down by force. Verse 14 is hard to translate: some versions read it as a wish that punishment fill them and their children, others as a bitter description of their wealth passing to their heirs, and scholars are not sure which is meant.

Seeing God's face (v. 15)

Against enemies whose whole reward is in this life, the writer's hope is to be in God's presence. When I awake may mean the next morning, perhaps in the temple, or it may point beyond death, and interpreters differ.

Key verse: Psalm 17:8

Where Christians differ

Christians differ on whether the closing hope of seeing God's face on waking points to life with God after death or simply to confidence of God's presence after a night of danger.

Something to think about

When you feel misjudged, whose verdict on you would you most want to hear, and why?