THURSDAY, JULY 19
Psalm 17:1-15
Genesis 18:25

“… wondrous things out of thy law.”

GOD THE APPEAL-JUDGE OF THE FALSELY ACCUSED

In David’s petition, we see the godly deeply wronged by false accusers. There were many of them, miserable sycophants in the court of king Saul under whom young David served. Doeg the Edomite was chief among them (1 Sam 22:9). In such a situation, where could David find redress? He did not forget Abraham’s declaration that God is “the Judge of all the earth” (Gen 18:25). To David, God is the Appeal-Judge of the falsely accused. He must have recourse quickly to Him. Hence his “cry” and prayer that “goeth not out of feigned lips” (Ps 17:1). Calvin says, “When we present ourselves before God in prayer, it is not to be done with the ornaments of an artificial eloquence, for the finest rhetoric and the best grace which we can have before him consists in pure simplicity.” Feigned lips are God’s abhorrence. When you get into a tight spot like David, when you are left helpless with no one speaking for you, then turn to the Lord for help! But it must be for a righteous cause (Ps 17:1), or else how can God hear you? He who is right need not try to take advantage. He is subject to God’s judgment and is assured of equity given from an equal balance (Ps 17:2).

A blessed privilege is prayer petition. The very rightness of his cause makes him bold in prayer.

The whole of the Divine character is approved by the righteous and is a joy to Him. David rejoiced in the Divine Omniscience (Ps 17:3), but this is terror to the wicked. The wicked love sin and evil as the lion flesh and blood. In the circumstances David finds himself in, though his enemy is like a sword, it is still controlled by God’s hand. David is assured of deliverance and of seeing God face to face when he wakes up in His presence. Rev Ting Li Mei (1871-1936), the Moody and First Revivalist of China, makes the last verse of this Psalm his farewell message to his family and friends before his death.

THOUGHT: (Review Psalm 17:15.)
PRAYER: Be it good times or bad, may I always be found at Thy Throne of grace.