Psalm 17 ~ keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings

Wilderness, painted by Ron di Cianni

Psalm 17

1 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.

In our early years of marriage, with 2 young children, one of our treats was a rental movie. We lived in Dallas, at the time, and I had to return the rental movie that night. I was worried, it was night & my mom had always taught me females should be cautious at night. I began to pray for a parking place in front of the door. There was - I was so pleased, the rental place was located right off of a major highway. That very evening, a young nurse was taken from that parking lot after visiting the book store, next to the movie rental place. Her Blazer, truck, was found with a receipt in it from the bookstore, the news reports listed it as being at 9:15 - about the same time I was in the parking lot. Her blood was all over the vehicle, causing the driver to be pulled over by the police. Her body was later discovered in the Trinity River. Her murderer was tried and convicted.

My maternal grandmother was a prayer warrior - a believing Christian. Her worst vice was the perpetual worry in her life. If she heard I was sailing on a sunfish, she would call and ask me to stay home. She just knew I would drown. I have been worried about going out at night ever since I wasn't taken from that parking lot. Great reward to the Lord for His protection.

David had a lot to worry about. If Saul wasn't trying to kill him, other countries were raiding his band of followers- they would not only steal, but kidnap women and children. As a child, he was a shepherd in a region where there were lions and all types of dangers. We all have different types of dangers in life. David prayed about his fears and went on with his life, this Psalm is a prayer.

So many times when life has fear, we can read the Word and rely upon it. To remember the Scripture, Jesus asleep upon the cushions in the middle of the storm. We let the Word of God carry us like that ship.

Jesus Asleep in the Boat during Storm, painted by James Tissot

Mark 4:37-40
And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”

Be with us Father God when we have fear, You are a God who has walked among us and lived our human state. Help us to leave our fears with You, to act with wisdom and live the courage David lived. We always ask for Your protection. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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