Psalm 17 - The Contemplative Bible Meditation Series

In the sacred verses of Psalm 17, we encounter the heartfelt plea of King David as he seeks divine protection and guidance amidst life's challenges. This timeless passage holds significant relevance for modern readers, touching the deepest corners of our souls where we yearn for comfort, peace, and unwavering trust in a higher power.

Transcript

Psalm 17 Finding Comfort,

Peace,

And Trust in the Divine In the sacred verses of Psalm 17,

We encounter the heartfelt plea of King David as he seeks divine protection and guidance amongst life's challenges.

This timeless passage holds significant relevance for modern readers Touching the deepest corners of our souls where we yearn for comfort,

Peace,

And unwavering trust in a higher power,

We will first listen to the psalm in its entirety and then embark on a meditative journey through each verse,

Drawing on its wisdom to find solace and strength in our daily lives.

Psalm 17 Hear a just cause,

O Lord!

Attend to my cry.

Give ear to my prayer which is not from deceitful lips.

Let my vindication come from your presence.

Let your eyes look on the things that are upright.

You have tested my heart.

You have visited me in the night.

You have tried me and have found nothing.

I have purposed that my mouth shall not trunk this.

Concerning the works of men,

By the word of your lips I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer.

Uphold my steps in your paths that my footsteps may not slip.

I have called upon you,

For you will hear me.

O God,

Incline your ear to me and hear my speech.

Show your marvelous lovingkindness by your right hand.

O you who save those who trust in you from those who rise up against them.

Keep me as the apple of your eye.

Hide me under the shadow of your wings from the wicked who oppress me,

From my deadly enemies who surround me.

They have closed up their fat hearts with their mouths they speak proudly.

They have now surrounded us in our steps.

They have set their eyes crouching down to the earth.

As a lion is eager to tear his prey and like a young lion lurking in secret places,

Arise O Lord,

Confront him,

Cast him down.

Deliver my life from the wicked with your sword.

With your hand from men O Lord,

From men of the world who have their portion in this life and whose belly you fill with your hidden treasure.

They are satisfied with children and leave the rest of their possession for their babies.

As for me,

I will see your face in righteousness.

I shall be satisfied when I awake in your likeness.

Verse 1 Hear a just cause O Lord,

Attend to my cry.

Give ear to my prayer which is not from deceitful lips.

In the chaos of the world we yearn to be heard and understood.

Like David,

We offer our genuine prayers unburdened by pretense and deceit.

In this moment of reflection let us release our masks and express our true selves to the divine,

Finding comfort in the knowledge that our authentic cries are embraced with love and compassion.

Verse 2 Let my vindication come from your presence.

Let your eyes look on the things that are upright.

King David seeks vindication from the divine acknowledging that true justice and righteousness come from a higher source.

As we meditate on this verse,

Let us relinquish the desire for validation from the world.

Finding solace in the assurance that the divine sees and values our upright intentions and actions.

Verse 3 You have tested my heart.

You have visited me in the night.

You have tried me and have found nothing.

I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.

In the quietude of the night,

The divine examines the depths of our hearts,

Understanding our innermost struggles and desires.

In this moment of meditation let us surrender our fears and doubts,

Finding comfort in the divine's loving gaze that acknowledges our pure intentions and commitment to righteousness.

Verse 4 Concerning the works of men,

By the word of your lips I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer.

Amidst the turmoil of the world,

David chose to steer clear of destructive ways guided by the divine's teachings.

As we reflect on this verse,

Let us discern the paths that lead to harm and discord and instead embrace the path of love,

Compassion and understanding.

Verse 5 Uphold my steps in your paths that my footsteps may not slip.

Life's journey can be treacherous,

Filled with uncertainties that may lead us astray.

Let us seek the divine's guidance,

Trusting that our steps will be upheld and our path will be made firm,

Allowing us to walk with confidence and peace.

Verse 6 I have called upon you for you will hear me.

O God,

Incline your ear to me and hear my speech.

David's unwavering faith in the divine's responsiveness serves as a reminder that we are never alone in our struggles.

In this moment of stillness,

Let us open our hearts knowing that the divine listens attentively to every word,

Prayer and plea,

Offering us comfort and solace.

Verse 7 Show your marvellous lovingkindness by your right hand,

O you who save those who trust in you from those who rise up against them.

King David implores the divine to reveal the marvellous lovingkindness through acts of salvation and protection.

Let us nurture our trust in the divine,

Finding comfort in the knowledge that the power of love and grace can triumph over any adversity we may face.

Verse 8 Keep me as the apple of your eye,

Hide me under the shadow of your wings.

The imagery of being the apple of your eye and finding shelter under the divine's wings conveys a profound sense of love and protection.

In this moment of reflection,

Let us bask in the divine's nurturing embrace,

Finding comfort in the assurance that we are cherished beyond measure.

Verse 9 From the wicked who oppresses me,

From my deadly enemies who surround me.

King David acknowledges the presence of adversities surrounding him,

Seeking his harm.

Let us recognize the challenges we face in our lives and the negative influences that may surround us.

In the face of adversity,

May we find strength in the divine's protection and guidance.

Verse 10 They have closed up their fat hearts with their mouths,

They speak proudly.

David describes the arrogance and hardness of heart displayed by his enemies.

Let us cultivate compassion and understanding,

Recognizing that even those who oppose us may be lost in their own struggles.

May we respond to them with grace and love,

Seeking to break down barriers rather than building walls.

Verse 11 They have now surrounded us in our steps,

They have set their eyes crouching down to the earth.

In times of distress,

We may feel surrounded by challenges on every side.

So let us find peace in the presence of the divine,

Knowing that we are not alone in our struggles and that,

With the divine's guidance,

We can navigate through difficult situations with resilience and strength.

Verse 12 As a lion is eager to tear his prey,

And like a young lion lurking in secret places,

The imagery of a fierce and hungry lion represents the intensity of opposition we may face in life.

So while we reflect on this verse,

Let us find courage and determination,

Knowing that the divine's protective presence can shield us from harm and empower us to face challenges with boldness.

Verse 13 Arise,

O Lord,

Confront him,

Cast him down,

Deliver my life from the wicked with your sword.

David implores the divine to intervene and deliver him from the clutches of wickedness.

Let us release our burdens,

Trusting in the divine's power to dismantle the forces of darkness and grant us the strength to overcome adversity.

Verse 14 With your hand from men,

O Lord,

From men of the world who have their portion in this life,

And whose belly you fill with your hidden treasure,

They are satisfied with children and leave the rest of their possession for their babes.

David speaks of the transience of worldly possessions and desires,

Recognizing that true fulfillment lies beyond material abundance.

Let us cultivate gratitude for the gifts of life,

Love,

And connection,

Finding contentment in the richness of our relationships and spiritual journey.

Verse 15 As for me,

I will see your face in righteousness.

I shall be satisfied when I awake in your likeness.

David's steadfast devotion to the divine brings him the assurance of seeing God's face and finding ultimate satisfaction in being in alignment with divine principles.

In this moment of reflection,

Let us seek the divine's presence in our lives,

Finding fulfillment in living according to higher values and embodying love and compassion in all our actions.

And as we conclude this meditation on Psalm 17,

Let us carry with us the wisdom and insights from these sacred verses.

In moments of distress,

May we find comfort in the loving embrace of the divine,

Trusting that our authentic prayers are heard and answered.

Let us anchor our trust in the divine's guidance,

Knowing that we are protected and upheld on our journey.

And we can conclude the meditation with a small prayer.

Divine Presence,

As we walk through the challenges of life,

Grant us the strength to face adversity with courage and resilience.

In times of doubt,

Wrap us in the comfort of your love and grace,

So we may trust in your divine plan.

May we find peace in your shelter and may our actions be guided by righteousness and love.

Amen.

Reviews

Love all of these messages. My only wish is that there would be consistency in which version of the bible is used. It seems to change from NIV to another version every few days.