* This magnificent piece of 10th century art is titled, "Moses Receives the Law". It is part of The Paris Psalter. The Paris Psalter is a copy of the 150 Psalms of David, translated from Hebrew into demotic Greek. The Paris Psalter is a Byzantine illuminated manuscript 38 x 26.5 cm in size, containing 449 folios and 14 full-page miniatures. The Paris Psalter is considered a key monument of the so-called Macedonian Renaissance, a 10th-century renewal of interest in classical art closely identified with the emperor Constantine VII Porphyrogenitus (909-959) and his immediate successors.
>1. When David prays what is he sure of? (1-2, 6) In seeking the LORD to vindicate him, what does it mean about his resolve to be righteous?
* Psalm 17:1-2 "Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea; listen to my cry. Give ear to my prayer-- it does not rise from deceitful lips. May my vindication come from you; may your eyes see what is right."
* Psalm 17:6 "I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer."
* The title of the psalm is simply "A prayer of David".
* "Hear... listen"
* "my righteous plea"
* "it does not rise from deceitful lips"
* "May my vindication come from you"
* "may your eyes see what is right."
>2. Does David have something specific that he wants the LORD to see if he was righteous about? (3) How might David be sure that he did not sin in this matter?
* Psalm 17:3 "Though you probe my heart and examine me at night, though you test me, you will find nothing; I have resolved that my mouth will not sin."
* "Though you probe my heart and examine me at night"
* "though you test me"
* "you will find nothing"
* "I have resolved that my mouth will not sin."<"
>3. How did David personally experience violent people in his life?
* Psalm 17:4-5 "As for the deeds of men-- by the word of your lips I have kept myself from the ways of the violent. My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not slipped."
* "As for the deeds of men"
* "by the word of your lips I have kept myself from the ways of the violent."
* "My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not slipped."<
* David is praying to the LORD his God. He has a request that he calls a cry. He is sure that his request is righteous. Before he presents his request he invites God to examine his heart and way. He confides that he is not trying to deceive. David said that though the LORD would probe his heart and examine him at night and test him he would not find fault for he had resolved that he would not speak a lie. David knows the word of God and follows the direction the Lord God has set for us to live. After keeping the Lord's ways David presents his cry to God.
Keeping my heart and way pure is wise and good. Knowing God's word and living according to it is wise. The Holy Spirit is given so I can remember Jesus' words and have the power, strength, and ability to live by faith. Jesus taught, "Therefore if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift." (Matthew 5:23-24)
God is true to me and I need to be true to him. Be genuine towards God for God is genuine towards me.
Listen to the above comments on Psalm 17:1-6.
II. Show the Wonder (17:7-9)
>4. Though David did not strike out to those who were violent towards him what does his asking the Lord to do? What does this show about his heart attitude and how that attitude was not a sin? (Matthew 5:21-22)
* Psalm 17:7 "Show the wonder of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes."
* Matthew 5:21-22 "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell."
* "Show the wonder of your great love"
* "you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes."
>5. What does "the apple of your eye" mean? And "shadow of your wings"? What kind of people was David praying about?
* Psalm 17:8-9 "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"
* "hide me in the shadow of your wings"
* "wicked... mortal enemies"
* David requests God because he knows the Lord will answer him. He seeks God's ear so that He can hear his prayer. Confidence in God is a part of prayer. Do I believe God will hear my prayer? Even though God may not grant my request will I have faith in him?
David asks the Lord God to "show the wonder of his great love." In generations before David, the Lord heard the prayers of his people who were slaves in Egypt. In His love, He rescued them and made a covenant of love with them. From Egypt to Mount Sinai, the mountain of the covenant, the Lord God performed wonders, including parting the Red Sea. He saved them with his right hand. The Israelites took refuge in him from their foes, Pharaoh and the Egyptian army.
Now, in confidence, David asks the Lord to keep him as the apple of his eye and hide him in the shadow of His wings from the wicked who assail and desire to kill. David is being pursued by King Saul and his army.
Remembering the Lord's work in the past helps. I have not, but should have kept a detailed journal of the Lord's deliverance and answer to prayer. This would have helped me have confidence in God when I pray.
Listen to the above comments on Psalm 17:6-9.
III. Save Me (17:10-15)
>6. What does it mean to close up a callous heart? What happens to the mouth that is controlled by one?
* Psalm 17:10 "They close up their callous hearts, and their mouths speak with arrogance."
* "They close up their callous hearts" -Implies that David tried to reach out to them for reconciliation.
* "their mouths speak with arrogance." -Their reply to reconciliation.
* Matthew 5:23-26 "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift. Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny."
* Matthew 6:12-15 "Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.' For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."
>7. How does it feel to be trapped? What did David do when there was no escape?
* Psalm 17:11 "They have tracked me down, they now surround me, with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground."
* "They have tracked me down"
* "they now surround me"
* "with eyes alert"
* "to throw me to the ground."
>8. How does David describe his desperate situation? (12) What are some ways people respond to overwhelming entrapment?
* Psalm 17:12 "They are like a lion hungry for prey, like a great lion crouching in cover."
* "lion hungry for prey"
* "great lion crouching in cover"
* Some responses to overwhelming entrapment include lashing out, hiding in fear, cunning planning, negotiating a compromise, pleading for mercy, self inflicted injury, faith in God, prayer, anger, and committing suicide.
* The response depends on the person's character and God's intervention (if asked for).
* David is pleading to the Lord God against his foes who surround him. They have callous hearts. They have an unfeeling indifference to David's suffering. They have ganged up against him and want to pulverize him to the ground. They are determined and eager like a hungry wolf whose gaze is fixed on the sheep. The mortal enemy has surrounded him.
The feeling of overwhelming entrapment drives the soul to crouch down and hide. What can be done when unrelenting powers tighten their grip around the heart? Does a champion exist who stops the wolf from scattering the sheep?
Jesus said, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me-- just as the Father knows me and I know the Father--and I lay down my life for the sheep." (John 10:11-15)
Listen to the above comments on Psalm 17:10-12.
>9. How did David respond to desperation? Was Jesus, the apostles, and the prophets ever in desperation? Did all escape?
* Psalm 17:13 "Rise up, O LORD, confront them, bring them down; rescue me from the wicked by your sword."
* "Rise up"
* "confront them"
* "bring them down"
* "rescue me"
>10. What reward is the wicked? Those who depend on God? What do they do with that which God provides?
* Psalm 17:14 "O LORD, by your hand save me from such men, from men of this world whose reward is in this life. You still the hunger of those you cherish; their sons have plenty, and they store up wealth for their children."
* "O LORD, by your hand save me from such men"
* "from men of this world whose reward is in this life"
* "You still the hunger of those you cherish"
* "their sons have plenty, and they store up wealth for their children."
>What is David assure of about eternity? How is it described?
* Psalm 17:15 "And I--in righteousness I will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness."
* "And I--in righteousness"
* "I will see your face"
* "when I awake"
* "I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness."
* Whenever someone does ill towards me I sometimes think, "The Lord judge between me and them," not wanting to take revenge against them, but let the Lord Jesus vindicate me. I want the Lord to rise up, confront, and bring them down. I beseech the Lord to rescue me from the wicked. This is what David is requesting the Lord to do.
I even think that the next time they or someone does ill towards me I will say, "The Lord judge between you and me who is right." I hope that by pronouncing judgment they will get their just due. I believe that my hunger will be stilled and my bank full. But when the wicked attack I don't say that. Rather, I am startled and gaze at them in amazement. Later, I remember what they did and hope they are taken away from my presence and I am restored.
I think of Jesus who often retreated so that he could continue the work his Father gave him until the time was right for him to be betrayed, arrested, tortured, and crucified. Jesus lived under God's precise timing. So he was not alarmed nor disheartened by his retreats from danger.
Ruthless people often receive rewards in this life (14). However, the righteous will see the Lord Jesus' face. They will not die. They will awake and be satisfied with seeing his likeness for eternity. Jesus is the center of eternal paradise.
