"I call on you, my God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer. Show me the wonders of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes. Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings."

Psalm 17:6-8

Personal scrutiny and vindication are common features of David’s psalms. He is unafraid of baring his innermost fears before the Lord, and his walk with God should challenge us.

David constantly calls upon the Lord, with the utter confidence that God will answer. This confidence underwrote the fact that David composed this psalm for the benefit of others. Do you and I have the habit of journaling our prayer concerns? When we look back over the years, we find that God did indeed answer every one of them in his wisdom, in his time, and in his way.

Psalm 17 demonstrates to us the need to pour out our hearts, our complaints, our laments, and our feelings to the Lord. We may face people who are harsh in their manner, intent on doing harm, and who are well beyond our ability or recourse even to confront. David faced such people—not with the sword or staff, but with prayer.

Closing Prayer

Holy Spirit, help me to pray prayers filled with faith, prayers offered confidently in my Father’s will and for his purposes (edited from Encounter with God).