MY STEPS ARE HELD TO GOD’S PATHS

Passage: Psalm 17:1-15

Key verse: 8

NIV

Psalm 17
A prayer of David.

1 Hear me,(A) Lord, my plea is just;
    listen to my cry.(B)
Hear(C) my prayer—
    it does not rise from deceitful lips.(D)
2 Let my vindication(E) come from you;
    may your eyes see what is right.(F)

3 Though you probe my heart,(G)
    though you examine me at night and test me,(H)
you will find that I have planned no evil;(I)
    my mouth has not transgressed.(J)
4 Though people tried to bribe me,
    I have kept myself from the ways of the violent
    through what your lips have commanded.
5 My steps have held to your paths;(K)
    my feet have not stumbled.(L)

6 I call on you, my God, for you will answer me;(M)
    turn your ear to me(N) and hear my prayer.(O)
7 Show me the wonders of your great love,(P)
    you who save by your right hand(Q)
    those who take refuge(R) in you from their foes.
8 Keep me(S) as the apple of your eye;(T)
    hide me(U) in the shadow of your wings(V)
9 from the wicked who are out to destroy me,
    from my mortal enemies who surround me.(W)

10 They close up their callous hearts,(X)
    and their mouths speak with arrogance.(Y)
11 They have tracked me down, they now surround me,(Z)
    with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground.
12 They are like a lion(AA) hungry for prey,(AB)
    like a fierce lion crouching in cover.

13 Rise up,(AC) Lord, confront them, bring them down;(AD)
    with your sword rescue me from the wicked.
14 By your hand save me from such people, Lord,
    from those of this world(AE) whose reward is in this life.(AF)
May what you have stored up for the wicked fill their bellies;
    may their children gorge themselves on it,
    and may there be leftovers(AG) for their little ones.

15 As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face;
    when I awake,(AH) I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.(AI)

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

In the Shadow of Your Wings

A (A)Prayer of David.

17 Hear a just cause, O Lord; (B)attend to my cry!
    Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit!
2 From your presence (C)let my vindication come!
    Let your eyes behold the right!

3 You have (D)tried my heart, you have (E)visited me by (F)night,
    you have (G)tested me, and you will find nothing;
    I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.
4 With regard to the works of man, by the word of your lips
    I have avoided the ways of the violent.
5 My steps have (H)held fast to your paths;
    my feet have not slipped.

6 I (I)call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
    (J)incline your ear to me; hear my words.
7 (K)Wondrously show[a] your steadfast love,
    O Savior of those who seek refuge
    from (L)their adversaries at your right hand.

8 Keep me as (M)the apple of your eye;
    hide me in (N)the shadow of your wings,
9 from the wicked who do me violence,
    my deadly enemies who (O)surround me.

10 (P)They close their hearts to pity;
    with their mouths they (Q)speak arrogantly.
11 They have now surrounded our (R)steps;
    they set their eyes to (S)cast us to the ground.
12 He is like a lion eager to tear,
    as a young lion (T)lurking in ambush.

13 Arise, O Lord! Confront him, subdue him!
    Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword,
14 from men by your hand, O Lord,
    from (U)men of the world whose (V)portion is in this life.[b]
You fill their womb with treasure;[c]
    they are satisfied with (W)children,
    and they leave their abundance to their infants.

15 As for me, I shall (X)behold your face in righteousness;
    when I (Y)awake, I shall be (Z)satisfied with your likeness.

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Footnotes
  1. Psalm 17:7 Or Distinguish me by
  2. Psalm 17:14 Or from men whose portion in life is of the world
  3. Psalm 17:14 Or As for your treasured ones, you fill their womb
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

Believers are warned to “be self-controlled and alert” because our “enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). The same was true with David (vv.4, 9,10,12). Temptations were everywhere around him. “They are like a lion hungry for prey, like a fierce lion crouching in cover” (v.12). David did not trust his own moral and spiritual strength to defeat such temptations but prayed to God for protection (vv.8,9,13,14). He also searched his own heart and made sure his heart was right with God (vv.1-3).

When he knew his heart was right with God, he could maintain his love and longing for the wonders of God’s love (v.7). He also knew God loved him and kept him as the apple of His eye (v.8). When we stray from God and His words, our hearts are polluted with things that rob us of noble desires (cf. Phil. 4:8).

David, just like any of us, loved beauty. But beauty can become a fatal attraction. David knew the danger. He had learned that ultimate beauty was in the “face” of God and His likeness (v.15; see Psalm 27:4).

Prayer: Father, search my heart and make it right with you. Keep me from all sorts of temptations. May I keep my ways pure before you so that I may always have spiritual desires to seek your beauty and love. Amen.

One Word: Let my vindication come from God