Kept by God’s Hand: Trusting His Justice in Psalm 17

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Title: Kept by God’s Hand: Trusting His Justice in Psalm 17

 Psalm 17 is a prayer of David that models how to approach God when facing injustice, false accusations, or danger. In this episode, we explore how David appeals to God’s righteousness, seeks His protection, and rests in His faithful love. This psalm not only offers comfort in times of trial but points us to Jesus Christ, our ultimate Advocate and Defender.

Episode Highlights

• David begins by appealing to God as the righteous Judge who hears and answers prayer
• Integrity in private life is essential when making our case before the Lord
• God’s people are “the apple of His eye” and safe under His protective wings
• David contrasts the arrogance of the wicked with the humble trust of the righteous
• The psalm ends with confident hope in God’s ultimate deliverance and satisfaction
• Jesus perfectly embodied trust in the Father while suffering injustice
• Our hope rests not in self-defense but in God’s vindication

Resources and Next Steps
Join the free Navigator Level of the Lessons for Life Community: https://jameslongjr.org/community

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Download devotionals, attend live meetups, and access biblical life training to grow emotionally, relationally, and spiritually.

ABOUT JAMES and LESSONS FOR LIFE

Are you seeking hope, wisdom, and practical solutions to life’s challenges? Dr. James Long, Jr., pastor, counselor, and professor with over 30 years of experience, helps people discover God’s solutions to emotional, relational, and spiritual challenges. Each episode of Lessons for Life points you to the peace and freedom found in Jesus Christ.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, hello everyone, it's James Long.
Do me a favor and grab yourBible and a journal and turn to
Psalm 17.
Psalm 17 is where we are goingto be looking at today.
Psalm 17 is a heartfelt pleafor vindication and protection
in the midst of injustice andthreat.

(00:20):
David's prayer models how therighteous can confidently seek
God's deliverance, not byself-righteousness but by
sincere integrity and steadfasthope in the satisfaction of
seeing God's face.
Well, the first section we'llbe looking at today is a cry of
integrity in a world ofinjustice.

(00:46):
David opens this psalm withstriking boldness.
He says in verse 1, his wordsmay feel foreign in our
self-effacing age, but they'renot a boast of perfection.
They're a cry of a man whoknows he stands clean in a
particular trial Accused, huntedand slandered.
David calls on the righteousjudge to vindicate him.
This is not the pride of asinless man, but the honest plea

(01:08):
of a faithful one.
He examined his heart beforethe Lord and found no guile.
He says in verse 3, you havetried my heart.
And then he says you will findnothing.
David has not walked in deceit,violence or compromise.
Instead, it says in verse 4, bythe word of your lips, I have
avoided the ways of the violent.
What gives David suchconfidence?

(01:29):
Not a sense of entitlement, butthe comfort of integrity.
He walks in God's ways, guidedby God's word, and he trusts
that his feet have not slipped.
Verse 5, when we live in humbleobedience, our prayers are not
hindered by guilt or hypocrisy.
David's appeal reminds us thatour spiritual footing matters.
Integrity is not only ourreputation, but our communion

(01:53):
with God, kept by love.
In the shadow of God's wings,david's cry turns upward.
He says in verse 6, I call uponyou, for you will answer me.
This is the boldness of a childwho knows the father listens.
And the request is not ageneric blessing.
It's a longing to be hidden,guarded and preserved in the

(02:15):
presence of the most intimatecare of God.
He says in verse 8, keep me asthe apple of your eye and hide
me in the shadow of your wings.
The imagery evokes deeptenderness.
The apple of your eye is thepupil, the most delicate part,
protected instinctively andconstantly.
The shadow of your wings callsto mind a mother bird sheltering

(02:36):
her chicks or the mercy seat ofGod's presence in the
tabernacle.
David is not asking to escapethe world, but to be enfolded by
the God who sees, saves andshelters.
Yet the danger is real.
David is surrounded by deadlyenemies verse 9.
Those whose hearts are hardened, their mouths are proud and
their eyes are set to destroyverses 10 and 11.

(02:58):
The threat is not justemotional, it's strategic,
relentless and violent.
Like a lion lurking in the dark, they wait to pounce verse 12.
But David doesn't tremble.
He turns to the covenant loveof God.
He remembers that God savesthose who seek refuge verse 7.
His confidence is not infavorable circumstances, but in

(03:20):
the faithful character of theLord when the world is enough
for them, but in the faithfulcharacter of the Lord when the
world is enough for them, butnot for me.
Now, what separates therighteous from the wicked in
this Psalm is not moralperformance alone, it's the

(03:40):
desire.
David's enemies are describedas men of the world whose
portion is in this life Verse14,.
Their treasures are earthly.
Their fullness is food, familyor fortune.
Their legacy ends in theirchildren's inheritance.
They live for now and they aresatisfied with it.
David once more, verse 15,.
As for me, I shall behold yourface in righteousness when I
awake.
I shall be satisfied with yourlikeness.

(04:02):
He longs for something that theworld cannot offer a vision of
God, the joy of his presence,the radiance of becoming like
him.
Now, this is not escapism, it'srealism.
The soul made for God willnever be content with anything
less than God.
This final verse pulses withhope that stretches beyond

(04:23):
present affliction.
Whether David means awakeningfrom sleep or from death, the
vision is clear.
He expects that God will notmerely protect him now but
transform him forever.
He longs for communion, notjust comfort.
The righteous are not merelysaved from harm, they are drawn
into glory.

(04:43):
Well, let's look at some of thedoctrinal insights.
First, we see divine justice.
God hears the cries of therighteous and vindicates those
who trust in him, verse 2.
Second, we see sanctification.
Holiness is not perfection, buta spirit wrought life of
integrity rooted in God's word,verse 4.
Third, we see God's covenant oflove.

(05:05):
The steadfast love of the Lord,has said, is both a refuge and
a rescue verse 7.
Fourth, we see spiritualperspective.
The righteous live for eternalcommunion with God, not just
temporal comforts verses 14 and15.
And then, fifth, we seeglorification.

(05:25):
The hope of seeing God's faceand being satisfied with his
likeness anticipates our finaltransformation in Christ.
1 John 3, verse 2.
Okay, now let's take all of thatdoctrine and make it practical
For those who feel surrounded.
Dear friend, perhaps you're ina season where your enemies feel
close and your name is underattack.

(05:47):
Your integrity is questioned.
Attack, your integrity isquestioned and your soul is
burdened by injustice of others.
Psalm 17 meets you there.
David's example reminds youthat it is not arrogant to cry
out for vindication if yourheart is secure, it's not
faithless to want rescue andit's not selfish to ask for
protection.

(06:07):
But God invites you to ask withclean hands and a clear
conscience.
He calls you to examine yourhearts, to walk in his ways, to
speak with integrity.
The prayer of the righteous ispowerful because it flows from a
life that longs for God.
Above all, this is not an easypath.
It's a cruciform path.
It leads to a joy that theworld can never give nor take

(06:30):
away.
So when you feel misunderstood,attacked or just weary of
worldly schemes, run under theshadow of his wings.
He sees, he surrounds, and oneday you will see him.
Now let's reflect and respond.
Number one can you pray withintegrity, like David, or are

(06:51):
there hidden sins that you needto confess before you can ask
God to vindicate you?
Number two in what ways haveyou experienced being surrounded
by enemies, emotionally,spiritually or relationally?
Number three how does God'scovenant love, his said, bring
comfort to your heart when youfeel exposed or at risk?

(07:13):
Number four what worldlycomforts are you tempted to
cling to as your portion ratherthan seeking the presence of God
?
Number five are you living fortemporal satisfaction or for
eternal joy?
What does your prayer lifereveal about your desires?

(07:36):
6.
How can you help others walk inintegrity and seek God's
protection through righteousprayers?
7.
What would it look like toentrust your situation entirely
to the Lord, believing that hewill one day satisfy you with
his likeness?
Well, let us pray, father.

(07:57):
Thank you for revealingyourself to us.
Lord Jesus, I praise you andthank you because you are the
anchor of our soul and HolySpirit.
I pray that you would remind usthat, as we cry out to you,
that you hear us and that youwill respond and remind us of
your glory.
Help us to reflect you in thiswicked world.
In your name, we pray, amen.

(08:20):
Well, if you're struggling withfalse accusations or spiritual
attacks, remind yourself of thetruth of the Psalm.
Do me a favor as well Considerjoining our free navigator level
of our Lessons for Lifecommunity at jameslongjrorg
slash community for devotionals,meetups and training that will
help you walk by faith.

(08:41):
Or if you want to explore ourfull memberships at
jameslongjrorg slash, sign upnow for deeper coaching and
content designed to help yougrow in emotional, relational
and spiritual wisdom.
Well, thank you so much forbeing with us.
Remind yourself of this you arenot forgotten, you are seen,

(09:03):
you are sheltered and you aresatisfied if you are in Christ.
So thank you again for beingwith us.
Until next time, be blessed,take care everyone.