Psalm-17
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Please Note: Some alterations or (additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ having been corrected like it once was pre the now “Masoretic Text”.
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Remember the following two
truth’s from our beloved Scriptures!
“Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem,
which I command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2.
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With
Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
“Be strong and courageous. Be careful to obey the entire Torah My servant Moshe has given you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Torah depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
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Introduction to Tehillim - Psalm 17:
Psalm 17 is a plea for justice and protection. The Psalmist speaks with confidence in their own integrity, not out of pride but out of a sincere desire to be judged fairly. This Psalm is both a cry for help and a declaration of trust. It moves between self-examination, a request for divine intervention, and a longing for closeness with the Divine.
It is a Psalm for moments when someone feels misunderstood, falsely accused, or surrounded by forces that seem stronger than they are. It is also a psalm of clarity, the Psalmist knows what they stand for and seeks to align them-selves with what is right.
Now, let us take our time with this wonderful Tehillim - Psalm 17 for it is deeply personal, almost like listening in on someone speaking directly from their heart.
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Verse-by-Verse Explanation:
Verse 1. “Hear the right, O יְהוָה - LORD, attend unto my cry”.
The Psalm opens with a plea for justice. The Psalmist is not asking for favouritism but for fairness, that their cause be heard because it is just.
Verse 2. “Let my sentence come forth from Thy presence”.
The Psalmist wants judgment only from the Divine, not from human opinion. They
trust that true justice flows from a higher source.
Verse 3. “Thou hast tried my heart … Thou hast found nothing”.
This verse expresses confidence that the Psalmist has been examined inwardly
and found sincere. It is not a claim of perfection but of honesty and
integrity.
Verse 4. “As for the doings of men … I have kept myself from the paths of
the violent”.
The Psalmist distinguishes their own choices from the destructive behaviour of
others. They have consciously avoided harmful paths.
Verse 5. “My steps have held fast to Thy paths”.
A declaration of stability. The Psalmist has remained
steady, walking in alignment with what is right.
Verse 6. “I have called upon Thee, for Thou wilts answer me”.
This is a statement of trust. The Psalmist believes their prayer will be heard,
not because of entitlement but because of a relationship built on faith.
Verse 7. “Show Thy marvellous loving-kindness”.
The psalmist appeals to divine compassion, a request for protection rooted in
the belief that the Divine acts with steadfast love.
Verse 8. “Keep me as the apple of the eye”.
A vivid metaphor. The “apple of the eye” refers to the
most sensitive, protected part of one’s vision. The Psalmist asks to be guarded
with that same level of care.
Verse 9. “From the wicked that oppress me”.
The threat becomes clearer: the Psalmist is surrounded by hostile forces and
seeks deliverance from those who seek harm.
Verse 10. “They are enclosed in their own fat.”
This imagery suggests arrogance, self-indulgence, or insensitivity. Their
hearts are closed, and their speech is hostile.
Verse 11. “They have now compassed us in our steps”.
The Psalmist feels hemmed in watched, surrounded, pressured.
The danger is not abstract but immediate.
Verse 12. “Like a lion that is greedy of his prey”.
The enemies are compared to a lion ready to pounce. This heightens the urgency
of the plea.
Verse 13. “Arise, O יְהוָה - LORD, confront him”.
A direct call for intervention. The Psalmist asks for
deliverance from the power of the wicked.
Verse 14. “From men of the world, whose portion is in this life”.
The Psalmist contrasts themselves with those who seek only worldly gain. Their
values differ; their hopes lie elsewhere.
Verse 15. “As for me, I shall behold Thy face in righteousness”.
The Psalm ends with a vision of spiritual fulfilment. The psalmist longs not
for material reward but for closeness with the Divine, a sense of being
“satisfied” upon awakening to that presence.
This being the closing verse it shifts the focus from ‘danger’ to ‘hope’. The Psalmist’s deepest desire is not merely safety but a ‘relationship’ with the ‘Divine’ that brings true satisfaction and peace!
In Conclusion:
Tehillim - Psalm 17 is without a doubt, a heartfelt appeal for ‘justice’, ‘protection’, and ‘clarity’. It reflects the experience of someone who feels surrounded by hostility yet remains committed to integrity. The Psalmist trusts that the Divine sees the truth of their heart, even when others do not. The closing verse shifts the focus from danger to hope. The Psalmist’s deepest desire is not merely safety but a relationship with the Divine that brings true satisfaction and peace.
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Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be
He, said the following, via several of our prophets...
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And Remember ...
Enjoy your Sabbath Rest, Shabbat Shalom!
אֲנִי
יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, בְּחֻקּוֹתַי
לֵכוּ; וְאֶת-מִשְׁפָּטַי
שִׁמְרוּ, וַעֲשׂוּ
אוֹתָם
וְאֶת-שַׁבְּתוֹתַי, קַדֵּשׁוּ; וְהָיוּ
לְאוֹת, בֵּינִי
וּבֵינֵיכֶם-לָדַעַת, כִּי
אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם
“I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD your Eloheichem;
walk in My statutes, and keep Mine
ordinances, and do them; and hallow My Sabbaths, and they shall be a sign
between Me and you, that ye may know that I am אֱלֹהֵיכֶם יְהוָה - the LORD
your Eloheichem”. Yechezkel - Ezekiel
20:19-20. (JPS).
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שָׁלוֹם
עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!
Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.
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