{"id":6278,"date":"2010-05-20T12:45:12","date_gmt":"2010-05-20T12:45:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/jesuscreed\/2010\/05\/our-common-prayerbook-17.html"},"modified":"2010-05-20T12:45:12","modified_gmt":"2010-05-20T12:45:12","slug":"our-common-prayerbook-17","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/jesuscreed\/2010\/05\/our-common-prayerbook-17.html","title":{"rendered":"Our Common Prayerbook 17 – 1"},"content":{"rendered":"

The psalmist in Psalm 17 (see the whole psalm after the jump) thinks God should listen to him because he has lived before God faithfully. <\/p>\n

<\/div>\n
Here I find the Protestant impulse to gush a bit at the boldness of the psalmist; I find the Protestant impulse to be one of wondering if the psalmist is not proud; I find the Protestant impulse to be one in which this smacks of works or earning one’s standing before God. But this misconstrues biblical piety: obedience is rewarded and, if I may say it this way, deserving of reward. Why? Because God promises such and because it conforms to God’s very nature.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Furthermore, the psalmist scans his whole body to show he’s altogether doing what God wants: lips and ears and heart and eyes and feet. What is perhaps an insight into the whole is  v. 2: all that matters to him is YHWH’s approval.<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n
Notice these first five verses:<\/p>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n

A prayer of David.<\/p>\n

17:1<\/span> Lord<\/span>, consider my just cause!<\/p>\n

Pay attention to my cry for help!<\/p>\n

Listen to the prayer<\/p>\n

I sincerely offer!<\/p>\n

17:2<\/span> Make a just decision on my behalf!<\/p>\n

Decide what is right!<\/p>\n

17:3<\/span> You have scrutinized my inner motives;<\/p>\n

you have examined me during the night.<\/p>\n

You have carefully evaluated me, but you find no sin.<\/p>\n

I am determined I will say nothing sinful.<\/p>\n

17:4<\/span> As for the actions of people –<\/p>\n

just as you have commanded,<\/p>\n

I have not followed in the footsteps of violent men.<\/p>\n

17:5<\/span> I carefully obey your commands;<\/p>\n

I do not deviate from them.<\/p>\n

 <\/b><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n

A prayer of David.<\/p>\n

17:1<\/span> Lord<\/span>, consider my just cause!<\/p>\n

Pay attention to my cry for help!<\/p>\n

Listen to the prayer<\/p>\n

I sincerely offer!<\/p>\n

17:2<\/span> Make a just decision on my behalf!<\/p>\n

Decide what is right!<\/p>\n

17:3<\/span> You have scrutinized my inner motives;<\/p>\n

you have examined me during the night.<\/p>\n

You have carefully evaluated me, but you find no sin.<\/p>\n

I am determined I will say nothing sinful.<\/p>\n

17:4<\/span> As for the actions of people –<\/p>\n

just as you have commanded,<\/p>\n

I have not followed in the footsteps of violent men.<\/p>\n

17:5<\/span> I carefully obey your commands;<\/p>\n

I do not deviate from them.<\/p>\n

17:6<\/span> I call to you for you will answer me, O God.<\/p>\n

Listen to me!<\/p>\n

Hear what I say!<\/p>\n

17:7<\/span> Accomplish awesome, faithful deeds,<\/p>\n

you who powerfully deliver those who look to you for protection from their enemies.<\/p>\n

17:8<\/span> Protect me as you would protect the pupil of your eye!<\/p>\n

Hide me in the shadow of your wings!<\/p>\n

17:9<\/span> Protect me from the wicked men who attack me,<\/p>\n

my enemies who crowd around me for the kill.<\/p>\n

17:10<\/span> They are calloused;<\/p>\n

they speak arrogantly.<\/p>\n

17:11<\/span> They attack me, now they surround me;<\/p>\n

they intend to throw me to the ground.<\/p>\n

17:12<\/span> He is like a lion that wants to tear its prey to bits,<\/p>\n

like a young lion crouching in hidden places.<\/p>\n

17:13<\/span> Rise up, Lord<\/span>!<\/p>\n

Confront him! Knock him down!<\/p>\n

Use your sword to rescue me from the wicked man!<\/p>\n

17:14<\/span> Lord<\/span>, use your power to deliver me from these murderers,<\/p>\n

from the murderers of this world!<\/p>\n

They enjoy prosperity;<\/p>\n

you overwhelm them with the riches they desire.<\/p>\n

They have many children,<\/p>\n

and leave their wealth to their offspring.<\/p>\n

17:15<\/span> As for me, because I am innocent I will see your face;<\/p>\n

when I awake you will reveal yourself to me.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The psalmist in Psalm 17 (see the whole psalm after the jump) thinks God should listen to him because he has lived before God faithfully.  Here I find the Protestant impulse to gush a bit at the boldness of the psalmist; I find the Protestant impulse to be one of wondering if the psalmist is…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":70,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[76],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6278","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-psalms"],"yoast_head":"\nOur Common Prayerbook 17 - 1 - Jesus Creed<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/jesuscreed\/2010\/05\/our-common-prayerbook-17.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Our Common Prayerbook 17 - 1 - Jesus Creed\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The psalmist in Psalm 17 (see the whole psalm after the jump) thinks God should listen to him because he has lived before God faithfully.  Here I find the Protestant impulse to gush a bit at the boldness of the psalmist; I find the Protestant impulse to be one of wondering if the psalmist is…\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/jesuscreed\/2010\/05\/our-common-prayerbook-17.html\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Jesus Creed\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2010-05-20T12:45:12+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Scot McKnight\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Our Common Prayerbook 17 - 1 - Jesus Creed","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/jesuscreed\/2010\/05\/our-common-prayerbook-17.html","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Our Common Prayerbook 17 - 1 - Jesus Creed","og_description":"The psalmist in Psalm 17 (see the whole psalm after the jump) thinks God should listen to him because he has lived before God faithfully.  Here I find the Protestant impulse to gush a bit at the boldness of the psalmist; 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