September 26, 2014

Psalm 17:1-7

Rachel Workman: 1 O Lord, hear my plea for justice.
    Listen to my cry for help.
Pay attention to my prayer,
    for it comes from honest lips.
2 Declare me innocent,
    for you see those who do right.

3 You have tested my thoughts and examined my heart in the night.
    You have scrutinized me and found nothing wrong.
    I am determined not to sin in what I say.
4 I have followed your commands,
    which keep me from following cruel and evil people.
5 My steps have stayed on your path;
    I have not wavered from following you.

6 I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God.
    Bend down and listen as I pray.
7 Show me your unfailing love in wonderful ways.
    By your mighty power you rescue
    those who seek refuge from their enemies.
I love this prayer. David states that God has scrutinized him and found nothing wrong. I think too many people take for granted the beauty of what Christ has done for us. How can we ever be found with "nothing wrong" without Christ's sacrifice? By your mighty power you rescue those who seek refuge from their enemy. I love this. That enemy can be a number of things, money, lust, drugs, other addictions. Those are our enemies because Satan is the ruler behind them all. Seek refuge and we will be rescued. But I find we don't always seek refuge instead we continue the way we are hoping God steps in. And when he doesn't it has to be God's fault instead of our own inability to let go. And I'm speaking from personal experience here.
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John Burnett:  17 Hear a just cause, O Lord, give heed to my cry;
Give ear to my prayer, which is not from deceitful lips.
Let my [a]judgment come forth from Your presence;
Let Your eyes look with equity.
You have tried my heart;
You have visited me by night;
You have tested me and You find [b]nothing;
I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.
As for the deeds of men, by the word of Your lips
I have kept from the paths of the violent.
My steps have held fast to Your [c]paths.
My feet have not slipped.
I have called upon You, for You will answer me, O God;
Incline Your ear to me, hear my speech.
Wondrously show Your lovingkindness,
O Savior of those who take refuge [d]at Your right hand
From those who rise up against themThis is a prayer that will be more applicable as we approach Christ’s return.  The man of lawlessness is already at work and as this world turns upside down and good becomes bad and bad becomes good we will need God’s protection and strength to persevere.

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Allen Michaels:  O Lord, hear my plea for justice.
    Listen to my cry for help.
Pay attention to my prayer,
    for it comes from honest lips.
Declare me innocent,
    for you see those who do right.

You have tested my thoughts and examined my heart in the night.
    You have scrutinized me and found nothing wrong.
    I am determined not to sin in what I say.
David’s relationship with God was one of close fellowship and constant repentance and forgiveness. His claim to goodness, therefore, was based on his continual seeking after God. We must be continuous with our walk with God. We cannot only talk to Him when it benefits ourselves.

I have followed your commands,
    which keep me from following cruel and evil people.
My steps have stayed on your path;
    I have not wavered from following you.
Taking a careful inventory of our life is absolutely necessary for complete recovery. If we refuse to examine our life, we will encounter numerous obstacles that will stand in the way of our recovery program. As we learn to live as we should, we can have confidence that God will respond to our cries for help. We must follow through on our commitment by avoiding involvement with the people who draw us toward the evil things that have overwhelmed us in the past. It’s important that we associate with those that will draw us closer to God.


I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God.
    Bend down and listen as I pray.
Show me your unfailing love in wonderful ways.
    By your mighty power you rescue
    those who seek refuge from their enemies.

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