← Back to Psalms

Psalms 17

15 verses

TL;DR

A heartfelt plea to God for protection, justice, and divine mercy amid adversity.

Summary

The psalm opens with a sincere request for God's attentive hearing, asserting the sincerity of the prayer. The psalmist affirms God’s righteous judgment and vows to speak truthfully. He asks for divine guidance to avoid destructive paths and to keep his steps steady. He calls on God’s merciful kindness and requests protection as a precious eye, hidden under divine wings, against the wicked who surround him. The psalm declares that God will bring him justice, deliver him from his enemies, and that he will ultimately behold God’s righteousness with satisfaction. The tone shifts from supplication to confident expectation of divine vindication.

Outline
  1. Plea for hearing and divine justice
  2. Request for protection against enemies
  3. Confidence in God’s righteousness and future satisfaction
Themes
Faith in God’s justicePlea for protectionHopeful confidence in divine deliverance
Keywords
prayerjusticeprotectionenemytrustrighteousnessdeliverance
People
LORD
Places
Things
God’s lovingkindnessshadow of wingsapple of the eyeswordpaths of the destroyer
Key Verses
  • Psalm 17:8: Illustrates divine protection using intimate imagery of an apple of the eye and shelter under wings.
  • Psalm 17:13: Appeals to God’s active judgment against the wicked, emphasizing divine intervention.
Questions
  • What does the psalmist mean by "paths of the destroyer"?
  • How does the image of "shadow of wings" convey God’s protective care?
  • In what ways does the psalm shift from supplication to confidence?
  • What can modern readers learn from the psalmist’s insistence on truthfulness?
  • How does this psalm connect to the broader theme of God’s righteousness in the Psalter?
Sentiment

positive
expresses hopeful trust and confidence in divine justice