Psalm 17

Introduction:

The focus of this Psalm is upon David’s petition to the Lord to deliver him from ungodly men who do not delight in God as their portion.

Thesis:

The Lord is faithfully present with His people, both in this life and in the life to come.

Lessons:

1. Pray for help from the Lord is a time for searching our own hearts and consciences (v. 1-6). We are justified by faith in Christ only, but we must live upright lives in fellowship with God. Let us plead our just cause before God and repent as we discover our own sins.
2. The more the enemies of the Church are set against us, the more near God is to help us (v. 12).
3. In our distress, let us trust in the sword of God (v. 13), for the help of man is useless (Ps. 108:12).
4. We must not be like those whose God is their belly and who glory in their shame (v. 14. Phil. 3:19ff), but we must count all things loss compared to the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus our Lord.
5. God’s people walk by faith and not by sight. They are satisfied only when the behold the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 4:6), both in this life and in the life to come (v. 15). Even in this life, believers enjoy “assurance of God’s love, peace of conscience, joy in the Holy Ghost, increase of grace, and perseverance therein to the end” (WSC 36).