O Lord, give heed to my cry;
Give ear to my prayer…
A Powerful Prayer for God to Hear Your Petition – Psalm 17:1-7
Hear a just cause, O Lord, give heed to my cry;
Give ear to my prayer, which is not from deceitful lips.
Let my judgment come forth from Your presence;
Let Your eyes look with equity.
You have tried my heart;
You have visited me by night;
You have tested me and You find nothing;
I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.
As for the deeds of men, by the Word of Your lips
I have kept from the paths of the violent.
My steps have held fast to Your paths.
My feet have not slipped.I have called upon You, for You will answer me, O God;
Incline Your ear to me, hear my speech.
Wondrously show Your lovingkindness,
O Savior of those who take refuge at Your right hand
From those who rise up against them.
Psalm 17 Commentary
In his powerful plea to Heaven, King David was being tested in mind, body, spirit, and conduct … and was ultimately approved. David was human. He had flaws like everyone else and, at times, succumbed to temptation. But at the center of his heart, David kept God’s Law his primary will. He craved the Law of God and wanted to do right by his Lord. God knew the heart of David, just like He knows the hearts and minds of all men today, and because He saw that David was a man after His own heart, he (David) was able to invoke God’s divine assistance with great confidence. He prayed mercilessly for his Savior to show mercy and kindness to him, to keep him as the apple of His eye in order to be sheltered from his enemies … and God continued to answer in mighty ways
Just like God tested the psalmists of the past, He continues to test His People today. Rest assured, God will test your faith. He will also test your endurance, perseverance, love for neighbor, charity, and every other virtue He holds dear. This is not to punish the faithful; on the contrary, this is to strengthen and elevate them! This kind of testing builds spiritual strength and wisdom, a perseverance that leads one to the divine life – a life lived according to the will of God.
So if you are going through a period of testing today, as hard as it is, thank God in your suffering! This test is for your benefit and filled with graces from Heaven. In every circumstance, approach the Throne of Grace with great humility and confidence and, like King David did, invite God to search your ways. If you do, God will not only guide you – He will elevate you to the next level.
Psalm 17 for Meditation
Let my judgment come forth from Your presence;
Let Your eyes look with equity.
You have tried my heart;
You have visited me by night;
You have tested me and You find nothing;
I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.
As for the deeds of men, by the Word of Your lips
I have kept from the paths of the violent.
My steps have held fast to Your paths.
My feet have not slipped.I have called upon You, for You will answer me, O God;
Incline Your ear to me, hear my speech.
Wondrously show Your lovingkindness,
O Savior of those who take refuge at Your right hand
From those who rise up against them.
Lord Jesus, hear my plea.
Amen.
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