RRB notes on Psalm 17

Psalms 17 KJV

A Prayer of David.

1. Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips.

2. Let my sentence come forth from thy presence; let thine eyes behold the things that are equal.

3. Thou hast proved mine heart; thou hast visited me in the night; thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.

4. Concerning the works of men, by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.

5. Hold up my goings in thy paths, that my footsteps slip not.

6. I have called upon thee, for thou wilt hear me, O God: incline thine ear unto me, and hear my speech.

7. Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness, O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.

8. Keep me as the apple [1] of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings, [a]

[1] “The apple” (אִישׁוֹן) is literally “the little man.” “The little man of the eye” is a reference to the pupil. Cases like this are called “dynamic equivalents.”

[a] Figurative expressions (see App. 104 and note on Psa. 6:6).

9. From the wicked that oppress me, from my deadly enemies, who compass me about.

10. They are inclosed in their own fat: [b] with their mouth they speak proudly.

[b] See Judg. 3:17; Job 15:27.

11. They have now compassed us in our steps: they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;

12. Like as a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places. [c] 

[c] The Antichrist (1 Pet. 5:8; Job 10:16; Psa. 91:13; Jer. 25:38).

13. Arise, O LORD, [d] disappoint him, cast him down: deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword:

[d] Second Advent (Psa. 44:23, 7:6, 9:19, 10:12, 74:22, 82:8, 132:8, etc.).

14. From men which are thy hand, O LORD, from men of the world, which have their portion in this life, and whose belly thou fillest with thy hid treasure: they are full of children, [e] and leave the rest of their substance to their babes.

[e] Cf. Job 10:18.

15. As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness. [2]

[2] These were the last words that George Whitfield breathed before he died in Newburyport, Massachusetts (1770). After repeating the verse several times, he finished with a sigh and the words “I shall be satisfied.” Then after a pause, “satisfied.” That’s how he ended his life.

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Appendix 104 – Figurative Expressions

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Note on Psa. 6:6 KJV I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; [1] I water my couch with my tears. [a]

[1] Notice the figurative language (see note on Job 21:24). Figurative speech is very common in the Bible, and our language is rich with it (see App. 104). The hermeneutical rule is solid: always take the Bible absolutely literally if it’s possible to take it literally; if a passage is absolutely impossible to take literally, then and only then can you take it figuratively (Matt. 26:27-28).

[a] Like Job (Job 7:3-4, 13-15, 16:16, 20, 23:2).