Charles (Chuck) Kensinger

Many of the psalms are prayers and Psalm 17 is one of these. He expresses his virtue before seeking the petition that he has. How could King David claim to not have been violent? Note the phrase “through what your lips have commanded.” When Jehovah directed him to kill Goliath or another enemy, he did what he was told to do. When Saul was within striking distance, he did not.

He acknowledges the love and answered prayers of the past and continues to request the best from Yahweh. He contrasts himself with those that oppose God and includes himself as one of His followers. He asks to be saved from those whose reward is in this life. Christians are often criticized for being too heavenly minded to be of any earthly good. David was looking forward to a world better than this one because of his behavior toward Jehovah.

The Psalmist, David, knows who to ask to defend him in Psalm 35. He declares that no one is like Jehovah. God has the best in mind for everyone including the poor and weak. Are you like the King, praying for those that oppose you? Do you fight a spiritual battle with those that fight you physically and mentally?

This sounds like an outrageous idea for Yahweh to expect us to treat our assailants as we would our friends. This loving treatment is exactly what the Pharisees saw as unwelcome in Jesus’ teaching. They believed that sinners were evil and should be treated in a like manner. David was ahead of his time and this is one of the reasons he was considered a man after God’s own heart. He was selected to be the ancestor of the Christ who taught these unusual practices.

Most of David’s songs are for stringed instruments as is Psalm 54. Those he thought would protect him have betrayed him and his men. Yahweh is his help. These people are his foes. This prayer is for the Lord to take vengeance. David knows the importance of worship through sacrifices.

David declares that he thirsts for his God in Psalm 63. He describes where he lives as a land that has no water in relation to Jehovah being what will quench his thirst. His love is better than life means that it would be better to be loved by God than to live a long prosperous life. David had both.

We Baptists seem to have an aversion to lifting our hands in worship compared to those in other denominations. In verse four the Psalmist says he will praise Yahweh by lifting his hands. What is the significance of the lifted hands? I view myself as a small child, lifting my arms to my parents because I want to be held and shown love by Him.

David’s bed can be a place of worship. He also announces here again, that His God will deliver him from the wicked and all liars will be silenced. I think we all have prayed for that at some time.

©Copyright 2020 by Charles Kensinger