Psalm 17

Introduction:

In the past few months, we've completed our study of the Lord 's Prayer. We learned to pray like Jesus in the areas of attitude and content. This morning we want to address the issue of: "Why should God listen to my prayers?"

Why? Oh because he is a loving God; an almighty God. He will listen to me because he invites me to pray to him, or because of my faith. My faith in him will move his hands. We'll take a look at one of David's prayers; to discover several reasons why God listens to us.

First let's look at the setting of this psalm. It appears that at the time of writing, David was under severe attack from his enemies. He was being accused and his life was at stake. We do not know which particular incident he was referring to. Yet it is clear that he was in some dire difficulties.

In this psalm, we see his pleading, almost like begging God. Yet he is also so full of confidence that God would listen to him.

I. God listens to our prayers because of our innocence.

In vs.1, "Hear….my righteous plea,…..listen to my cry……give ear……" They are strong words pleading for God to hear him and to listen and at the same time, they reveal David's confidence in God. Why such confidence?

In vs.1b-2, "…..it does not rise from deceitful lips…may my vindication come from you, may your eyes see what is right…." David is saying that my plea, what I am asking is righteous, i.e. even according to God's standards, what I am asking is right and proper. My request to God is not from deceitful lips, meaning that I am totally honest. There is no hidden agenda in my requests. I am not trying to use God to accomplish some personal selfish gains.

Vs.3, "Though you probe my heart and examine me at night, though you test me, you will find nothing; I have resolved that my mouth will not sin." David says that even after God's probing and testing, God cannot find any dishonesty or wrong within him.

We may have some strong reaction to these verses. How can David be so confident? Isn't he a little arrogant in saying that even after probing and testing, God was not able to find anything wrong? There is more to this.

In vs.4-5, "As for the deeds of men-by the word of your lips I have kept myself from the ways of the violent. My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not slipped." He continued on to maintain his innocence before God. Reading this, it reminds us of Psalm 1, "A blessed, or righteous man does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers." Is David perfect, no! In many other psalms David confessed his sinfulness and brokenness before God. He acknowledged his weakness. No one can claim perfect innocence, except Jesus Christ. David is so certain that he is innocent of the charges against him. He called on God to be his witness. Why should God listen to his prayers? Why is he so confident that God listens to his prayer? He is blameless before God; a man of integrity. In Isaiah 59:1-2, "Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear." This passage tells us that our sins separate us from God. Therefore if we want to have an open communication with him, we need to rid the sins in our lives. David was a righteous person, therefore he was confident that God would listen to him.

Likewise, our innocence before God is the basis of our coming to him and expecting he will listen to our prayers. This means that as we come before God, there is no deliberate and unconfessed sin. This also means that whenever we come and pray, we need to first examine ourselves. James Boice suggested self-examination in 4 areas.

a. Are we disobedient? Have we been disobedient to God's moral law? We are told to keep the Lord's day as holy. Is there anything special about the lord's day, or is it just like any other day? Are we honoring our parents? Do we steal? How about using company time for personal chores. Do we take home company properties, such as papers and pens? Are there sexual sins in our lives? Do we harbor hatred and bitterness towards anyone? In the biblical context, hatred is the same as murder. Do we lie in order to protect our personal well being? Do I covet something or someone that belong to another person?

b. Are we being selfish? As we look at our prayers, can it be summarized as "give me, give me?" Certainly we can and should pray for ourselves, as David did in this Psalm. From our study of the Lord's Prayer, we learned that since we live in a community, we also pray for others. We pray for OUR daily bread; we remember the needs of those in our community. We pray for their spiritual well being, that God will deliver them from the evil one.

c. Are we neglecting our duty? Another area of self examination has to do with the responsibilities given to us. At different times we are given certain responsibilities at church or at work. Are we faithful to them? Or do we start out with great excitement but soon it fizzles away? As parents, are we faithful in our duty to provide and train our children in accordance to God's words? To the husbands, how are we treating our wives? In 1 Peter 3:7, "Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers." The Bible is saying that when we don't respect or treat our wives with consideration, our prayers will not be heard. This is quite clear, isn't it?

d. Then the last area for self examination: is there any wrong that needed to be made right? Since we live in the community of the redeemed, have we offended someone, leading to a strained and broken relationship? Is there some one we are not on speaking terms? If so, we may want to take the 1st step to begin the healing and restoration process.

If we deliberately choose to ignore or perpetuate such wrongs and sins, why should God listen to us? This is also one reason that whenever we come before God, either privately or corporately, there need to be a time for confession of our sins to him. For his word clearly teaches us that when we confess our sins, he'll forgive and cleanse us from all iniquities.

II. God listens to our prayers because of his covenant love. Vs.6-8

In vs.6, "I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer." Again, these are words of confidence. You will answer, give ear to me, hear my prayer. What is this confidence built upon? Earlier we see that David is confident that his prayers will be heard because of his innocence, blamelessness before God. What about here?

In vs.7,8: "Show the wonder of your great love, you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes. Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings." The key word in vs 7 is "great love". In the Hebrew language this is God's covenant love to his people. In God's covenant with his people, he has promised that he would love them with his eternal love. This loves begins in the OT, continues in the NT and to this day. This is God's love towards his people. Vs 7 also echoes Exodus 15:11-13, when the Israelites celebrated their deliverance from Egypt. The words: wonder, love, right hand, are all present in Exodus 15:11-13. It is God's great love that delivered his people from slavery and their enemies.

In vs.8, "keep me as apple of your eye, hide me in the shadow or your wings" again this is found in Deuteronomy 32:10-11, known as the Song of the Covenant. So vs.7,8 tell us about God's faithfulness to his covenant. God's love for the covenant community. He is the covenant keeping God. He will never withdraw his love from his people. So, why should God listen to David's prayer? Because of God's covenant love. He kept his covenant to the people in the past, he has never changed.

The same covenant love is for us too. In the past, He delivered his people from Egypt and their enemies. This same love, reached out and saved us through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. When we put our faith in Jesus Christ, we too become a member of his covenant community, recipients of his love, grace and mercy.

Why should God listen to our prayers? It is not because so and so had such an experience, therefore he will listen to me too. It is not because of the great faith I have in him, therefore God will listen to me. God listens to my prayer because he is the covenant keeping God. My confidence is not in human experiences but in God's character.

III. God listens to our prayers because we are under attack. 9-13

Whey should God listen to David's prayer? In vs.13, "Arise, O lord! Confront him, subdue him! Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword." Again, these are strong words of confidence. In vs.9-12, we catch a glimpse of the nature of attack on David, "from the wicked who do me violence, my deadly enemies who surround me. they close their hearts to pity; with their mouths they speak arrogantly. They have now surrounded our steps; they set their eyes to cast us to the ground. He is like a lion eager to tear, a young lion lurking in ambush." His enemies had callous hearts, arrogant mouth, like hungry lions. They were without mercy, arrogant, intending to kill David. So what is David appealing to? Because David knows that his God is the God of covenant. God keeps his covenant with his people. Therefore when his people are under attack, in dire danger, he will not just idly standby. David knows for sure that God will protect him and deliver him from his enemies.

Why can we be certain that God listens to our prayers? Because we belong to him. He cares for us and keeps his covenant with us, therefore we can be certain of his listening to us. We know that when we are attack by our enemies in the spiritual battle, God is on our side. If your child is being bullied at school, who would he tell; his parents. Why, for he knows that he belongs to them. We know that when we pray, "lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil", God is there listening, because we belong to him.

So, when we are under attack, we tell God, "your property is in danger." He will certainly listen.

Conclusion:

In this first part of this psalm, David first protested about his innocence, after which he gave a detailed description of his enemies. He described in detail their cruelty and intent to kill. Now at the closing of this psalm, in vs. 13-15, he reversed the order and started with a description of the enemies and then again, about his innocence. Vs.15, "And I--- in righteousness I will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness." He began and closed the psalm with his innocence and blamelessness.

He came before God as a blameless person. He prayed to God as a member of God's covenant community. God has a covenant with his people, extending his eternal love and mercy towards them. David was so certain that God listens to his prayers that his only desire, even in the midst of difficulties, is to see his face. Not just while alive, but also when he awakes from the sleep of death. He knows that God listens to his prayers; yes, he wants to be delivered from his enemies. However, what is even more important is for him to see God's face. If he would die, he still look forward to see God's face after his resurrection. This is David's faith in God.

This psalm is really the prayer of a righteous person. We are certainly aware that there is no perfect righteous person on earth. Therefore, again, this psalm like many other psalms points us to the only perfect righteous person, Jesus Christ. However, when we put our faith in him, God also places Jesus Christ's righteousness on us. He welcomes us as a member of his redeemed, covenant community, recipients of his eternal love and mercy. Therefore, having been considered a righteous person by God, it becomes our desire and goal that our daily life, our conduct is worthy of who we are.

When we pray, we also come to God as righteous, blameless persons, as his covenant children. This is the foundation of our confidence that God listens to our prayers. What does the Bible say about the prayer of a righteous person? James 5:16, "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective."

Rev. William Hsueh    Sep.08, 2002    Houston Chinese Church,  Houston, Texas