# Psalm 17 📖: The Apple of His Eye [[📚 Explore the Bible Books]] [[-Psalm Overview]] | [[Psalm 16]] | [[Psalm 18]] > [!info] Table of Contents > [[#📜 Scripture Text (NET)]] > [[#📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary]] > [[#🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights]] > [[#🧠 Chapter Summary]] > [[#✝️ Christ in This Chapter]] > [[#🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application]] > [[#💬 Discussion Questions]] > [[#✍️ Key Verses to Remember]] > [[#🔗 Related Passages/Cross Reference]] > [[#🙏 Devotional Reflection]] > [[#📂 Internal Notes]] ## 📜 Scripture Text (NET) (The NET Bible: New English Translation. Biblical Studies Press, 2005) ## A prayer of David. [[#Verse 01.]] Lord, consider my just cause. Pay attention to my cry for help. Listen to the prayer I sincerely offer. [[#Verse 02.]] Make a just decision on my behalf. Decide what is right. [[#Verse 03.]] You have scrutinized my inner motives; you have examined me during the night. You have carefully evaluated me, but you find no sin. I am determined I will say nothing sinful. [[#Verse 04.]] As for the actions of people— just as you have commanded, I have not followed in the footsteps of violent men. [[#Verse 05.]] I carefully obey your commands; I do not deviate from them. [[#Verse 06.]] I call to you because you will answer me, O God. Listen to me! Hear what I say! [[#Verse 07.]] Accomplish awesome, faithful deeds, you who powerfully deliver those who look to you for protection from their enemies. [[#Verse 08.]] Protect me as you would protect the pupil of your eye. Hide me in the shadow of your wings. [[#Verse 09.]] Protect me from the wicked men who attack me, my enemies who crowd around me for the kill. [[#Verse 10.]] They are calloused; they speak arrogantly. [[#Verse 11.]] They attack me, now they surround me; they intend to throw me to the ground. [[#Verse 12.]] He is like a lion that wants to tear its prey to bits, like a young lion crouching in hidden places. [[#Verse 13.]] Rise up, Lord! Confront him. Knock him down. Use your sword to rescue me from the wicked man. [[#Verse 14.]] Lord, use your power to deliver me from these murderers, from the murderers of this world. They enjoy prosperity; you overwhelm them with the riches they desire. They have many children, and leave their wealth to their offspring. [[#Verse 15.]] As for me, because I am innocent I will see your face; when I awake you will reveal yourself to me. ## 📖 Verse-by-Verse Commentary ###### Overall. ###### Verse 01. ###### Verse 02. ###### Verse 03. ###### Verse 04. ###### Verse 05. ###### Verse 06. ###### Verse 07. ###### Verse 08. ###### Verse 09. ###### Verse 10. ###### Verse 11. ###### Verse 12. ###### Verse 13. ###### Verse 14. ###### Verse 15. ## 🤔 Interesting Facts / Historical and Cultural Insights 1. Psalm 17 is titled simply "a prayer of David," one of only five psalms titled "a prayer" (17, 86, 90, 102, 142). 2. "The pupil of the eye" (17:8) is literally "the little man of the eye," the tiny reflection you see in someone else's eye. 3. The same image of God guarding His people like the pupil of His eye appears in Deuteronomy 32:10. 4. "Shadow of Your wings" (17:8) may picture a mother bird or the wings of the cherubim over the ark. 5. Jesus used similar imagery when He longed to gather Jerusalem like a hen gathers her chicks (Matthew 23:37). 6. The enemy is pictured as a lion crouching in hiding (17:12). 7. David's words "You have tested my heart... You have visited me by night" (17:3) picture God examining him during sleepless hours. 8. 17:14 contrasts "men of the world" whose portion is in this life with David's hope in God. 9. "When I awake" (17:15) may refer to waking each morning, and many also see a hint of resurrection hope. 10. God's faithful love is described as "wonderful" or "marvelous" (17:7), the word often used for His miracles. ## 🧠 Chapter Summary > [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way. ## ✝️ Christ in This Chapter Christ is the Righteous One whose prayer was always heard (John 11:41-42), and through Him we will awake to behold God's face (17:15). When He appears, we will be like Him and see Him as He is (1 John 3:2). ## 🔎 Key Principles / 🛟 Life Application > [!note] 🌱 Still growing. This section is on its way. ## 💬 Discussion Questions 1. David asks God to hear a just cause from lips free of deceit (17:1). Why does integrity matter when we pray? 2. David asks God to guard him like the pupil of His eye and hide him in the shadow of His wings (17:8). What do these images say about God's care? 3. David's hope is to be satisfied by seeing God's likeness (17:15). How does this contrast with people whose reward is in this life (17:14)? ## ✍️ Key Verses to Remember - 📖 verse 1: David asks God to hear his just cause and sincere prayer. - 📖 verse 8: David asks God to protect him like the pupil of His eye and hide him under His wings. - 📖 verse 15: David will be satisfied when he awakes and sees God's likeness. ## 🔗 Related Passages/Cross Reference - 🔗 [[Deuteronomy 32#Verse 10.|Deuteronomy 32:10]] - God guarded Israel like the pupil of His eye. - 🔗 [[Matthew 23#Verse 37.|Matthew 23:37]] - Like a hen gathering her chicks. - 🔗 [[1 John 03#Verse 02.|1 John 3:2]] - We will see Him as He is. - 🔗 [[Psalm 36#Verse 07.|Psalm 36:7]] - Refuge in the shadow of Your wings. - 🔗 [[John 11#Verse 41.|John 11:41-42]] - Jesus knew the Father always hears Him. ## 🙏 Devotional Reflection 📝 SOAP: [[Psalm 17- SOAP|Praying for Justice]] ## 📂 Internal Notes