Psalm 17--A Prayer for Protection

Psalm 17
World English Bible

A Prayer by David.
17 Hear, Yahweh, my righteous plea.
    Give ear to my prayer that doesn’t go out of deceitful lips.
2 Let my sentence come out of your presence.
    Let your eyes look on equity.
3 You have proved my heart.
    You have visited me in the night.
    You have tried me, and found nothing.
    I have resolved that my mouth shall not disobey.
4 As for the deeds of men, by the word of your lips,
    I have kept myself from the ways of the violent.
5 My steps have held fast to your paths.
    My feet have not slipped.
6 I have called on you, for you will answer me, God.
    Turn your ear to me.
    Hear my speech.
7 Show your marvelous loving kindness,
    you who save those who take refuge by your right hand from their enemies.
8 Keep me as the apple of your eye.
    Hide me under the shadow of your wings,
9 from the wicked who oppress me,
    my deadly enemies, who surround me.
10 They close up their callous hearts.
    With their mouth they speak proudly.
11 They have now surrounded us in our steps.
    They set their eyes to cast us down to the earth.
12 He is like a lion that is greedy of his prey,
    as it were a young lion lurking in secret places.
13 Arise, Yahweh, confront him.
    Cast him down.
Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword,
14     from men by your hand, Yahweh,
    from men of the world, whose portion is in this life.
You fill the belly of your cherished ones.
    Your sons have plenty,
    and they store up wealth for their children.
15 As for me, I shall see your face in righteousness.
    I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with seeing your form.

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David starts this Psalm by declaring how he believes he is blameless (not the same as perfect) before the LORD.  All his sin has been dealt with and atoned for and there is no unrepentant sin or rebellion that would prevent the LORD from hearing and answering his prayer.

David next prays for protection from the wicked that are all around him.  He prays for the LORD to strike them down and protect him from what seems to be certain defeat (maybe even ending in death) if the LORD does not intervene.  They may live lives of ease and leave a good inheritance to their children, but it is the children of the LORD that will inherit eternal life and will dwell face-to-face with the LORD one day.