#695 Not To Men

Hear a just cause, O Lord; attend to my cry!

Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit!

2 From your presence let my vindication come!

Let your eyes behold the right!

3 You have tried my heart, you have visited me by night,

you have 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 held fast to your paths;

my feet have not slipped.

6 I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;

incline your ear to me; hear my words.

7 Wondrously show your steadfast love,

O Savior of those who seek refuge

from their adversaries at your right hand.

8 Keep me as the apple of your eye;

hide me in the shadow of your wings,

9 from the wicked who do me violence,

my deadly enemies who surround me.

10 They close their hearts to pity;

with their mouths they speak arrogantly.

11 They have now surrounded our steps;

they set their eyes to cast us to the ground.

12 He is like a lion eager to tear,

as a young lion 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 men of the world whose portion is in this life.

You fill their womb with treasure;

they are satisfied with children,

and they leave their abundance to their infants.

15 As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness;

when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness. Psalm 17 ESV

Lips free of deceit - David takes his troubles to God, and there is no use in hidden agendas or vain repetitions, God already knows. He is asking God to vindicate him because he feels the cause is just, that he is in the right this time. 

By the word of Your lips - He has set about to do what pleases God, and these things He knows from the Word of God. This is the light that keeps him on the path. He has not slipped in this or acted as the violent.

Those Who seek refuge - It would not be unusual of God to extend help to those who cry out for justice. The Psalmist knows he will be heard for his seeking, not with a memorized spell from a dusty old scroll, but for the pouring out of a heart that has set itself to do the will of God. 

Shadow of Your wings - Hold me in a place of importance to You, not for the glory of my ego, but to the wonders of your grace. Like a child that you are willing to die for, cover me from my enemy. 

36Truly I tell you, all these things will come upon this generation. 37O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling! 38Look, your house is left to you desolate.…Matthew 23: 36-38

They close their hearts to pity - I have tried to come to peace with my enemy, but he still pines over my blood. I have fed him when he was hungry, brought him safe water when he was thirsty, and Lord he still seeks my harm. God, I have put myself in his shoes, seen him as made in Your image, yet he still looks down upon my life. 

Whose portion is in this life - I come to You oh God, for no matter who my enemy is, he can do nothing outside Your hand. Teach me to depend on You in this, to sorrow over my own lost soul, for You found me, and You teach me, You have given me faith, and surely You will sanctify me. All the wicked care about is what they can obtain in this life, how much dust they can hold in their hands. 

When I awake - Though they have their reward here, and their kingdoms sometimes pass to generations, yet we all will sleep, but some shall awaken to eternal glory, and I would prefer eternity to that which is fleeting. The Psalmist satisfaction rests in one day being face to face with the Lord, living in the light of His countenance.

1Be careful not to perform your righteous acts before men to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. 2So when you give to the needy, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be praised by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their reward. 3But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,… Matthew 6: 1-3