“A Just Cause”
Psalm 17
Introduction:
Psalm 17, “(A Prayer of David.) Hear a just cause, O LORD, give heed to my cry; Give ear to my prayer, which is not from deceitful lips. 2 Let my judgment come forth from Thy presence; Let Thine eyes look with equity. 3 Thou hast tried my heart; Thou hast visited me by night; Thou hast tested me and dost find nothing; I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress. 4 As for the deeds of men, by the word of Thy lips I have kept from the paths of the violent. 5 My steps have held fast to Thy paths. My feet have not slipped. 6 I have called upon Thee, for Thou wilt answer me, O God; Incline Thine ear to me, hear my speech. 7 Wondrously show Thy lovingkindness, O Savior of those who take refuge at Thy right hand From those who rise up against them. 8 Keep me as the apple of the eye; Hide me in the shadow of Thy wings, 9 From the wicked who despoil me, My deadly enemies, who surround me. 10 They have closed their unfeeling heart; With their mouth they speak proudly. 11 They have now surrounded us in our steps; They set their eyes to cast us down to the ground. 12 He is like a lion that is eager to tear, And as a young lion lurking in hiding places. 13 Arise, O LORD, confront him, bring him low; Deliver my soul from the wicked with Thy sword, 14 From men with Thy hand, O LORD, From men of the world, whose portion is in this life; And whose belly Thou dost fill with Thy treasure; They are satisfied with children, And leave their abundance to their babes. 15 As for me, I shall behold Thy face in righteousness; I will be satisfied with Thy likeness when I awake.”
“You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did. 52 Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become” (Acts 7:51-52). “And indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12).
Psalm 34:16-17, “The face of the LORD is against evildoers, To cut off the memory of them from the earth. 17 The righteous cry and the LORD hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles.” Psalm 66:18, “If I regard wickedness in my heart, The Lord will not hear.”
John 9:31, “We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing, and does His will, He hears him.”
I. Past Demonstration vs. 1-5
“Hear a just cause, O LORD, give heed to my cry; Give ear to my prayer, which is not from deceitful lips. 2 Let my judgment come forth from Thy presence; Let Thine eyes look with equity. 3 Thou hast tried my heart; Thou hast visited me by night; Thou hast tested me and dost find nothing; I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress. 4 As for the deeds of men, by the word of Thy lips I have kept from the paths of the violent. 5 My steps have held fast to Thy paths. My feet have not slipped.”
Proverbs 15:29, “The LORD is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer of the righteous.”
Isaiah 59:1-2, “Behold, the LORD'S hand is not so short That it cannot save; Neither is His ear so dull That it cannot hear. 2 But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He does not hear.” Isaiah 59:7-8, “Their feet run to evil, And they hasten to shed innocent blood; Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; Devastation and destruction are in their highways. 8 They do not know the way of peace, And there is no justice in their tracks; They have made their paths crooked; Whoever treads on them does not know peace.”
Psalm 23:1-3, “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. 3 He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.”
II. Present Relation vs. 6-14
“I have called upon Thee, for Thou wilt answer me, O God; Incline Thine ear to me, hear my speech. 7 Wondrously show Thy lovingkindness, O Savior of those who take refuge at Thy right hand From those who rise up against them. 8 Keep me as the apple of the eye; Hide me in the shadow of Thy wings, 9 From the wicked who despoil me, My deadly enemies, who surround me. 10 They have closed their unfeeling heart; With their mouth they speak proudly. 11 They have now surrounded us in our steps; They set their eyes to cast us down to the ground. 12 He is like a lion that is eager to tear, And as a young lion lurking in hiding places. 13 Arise, O LORD, confront him, bring him low; Deliver my soul from the wicked with Thy sword, 14 From men with Thy hand, O LORD, From men of the world, whose portion is in this life; And whose belly Thou dost fill with Thy treasure; They are satisfied with children, And leave their abundance to their babes.”
Acts 13:22, “After [God] removed [Saul], He raised up David to be their king, concerning whom He also testified and said, 'I HAVE FOUND DAVID the son of Jesse, A MAN AFTER MY HEART, who will do all My will.'”
Matthew 23:37, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling.” 2 Timothy 1:12, “I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.”
1 Peter 2:21-23, “Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, 22 WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; 23 and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously.”
1 John 2:16-17, “All that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides forever.”
“When therefore you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full” (Matthew 6:2). “when you pray, you are not to be as the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners, in order to be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full” (Matthew 6:5). “whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance in order to be seen fasting by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full” (6:16). “woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full. 25 Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep” (Luke 6:24-25).
Psalm 1, “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 And he will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season, And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers. 4 The wicked are not so, But they are like chaff which the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 6 For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked will perish.”
III. Future Aspiration v. 15
“As for me, I shall behold Thy face in righteousness; I will be satisfied with Thy likeness when I awake.”
Psalm 84:8-12, “O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; Give ear, O God of Jacob! 9 … O God, … look upon the face of Thine anointed. 10 For a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand outside. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God, Than dwell in the tents of wickedness. 11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. 12 O LORD of hosts, How blessed is the man who trusts in Thee!”
Proverbs 24:19-20, “Do not fret because of evildoers, Or be envious of the wicked; 20 For there will be no future for the evil man; The lamp of the wicked will be put out.”
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3).
“Give us each day our daily bread” (Luke 11:3). “Do not be anxious then, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'With what shall we clothe ourselves?' 32 For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:31-33).
“It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD'” (Matthew 4:4).
“I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me shall not hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst” (John 6:35).
“Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. 17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).
Introduction:
Psalm 17, “(A Prayer of David.) Hear a just cause, O LORD, give heed to my cry; Give ear to my prayer, which is not from deceitful lips. 2 Let my judgment come forth from Thy presence; Let Thine eyes look with equity. 3 Thou hast tried my heart; Thou hast visited me by night; Thou hast tested me and dost find nothing; I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress. 4 As for the deeds of men, by the word of Thy lips I have kept from the paths of the violent. 5 My steps have held fast to Thy paths. My feet have not slipped. 6 I have called upon Thee, for Thou wilt answer me, O God; Incline Thine ear to me, hear my speech. 7 Wondrously show Thy lovingkindness, O Savior of those who take refuge at Thy right hand From those who rise up against them. 8 Keep me as the apple of the eye; Hide me in the shadow of Thy wings, 9 From the wicked who despoil me, My deadly enemies, who surround me. 10 They have closed their unfeeling heart; With their mouth they speak proudly. 11 They have now surrounded us in our steps; They set their eyes to cast us down to the ground. 12 He is like a lion that is eager to tear, And as a young lion lurking in hiding places. 13 Arise, O LORD, confront him, bring him low; Deliver my soul from the wicked with Thy sword, 14 From men with Thy hand, O LORD, From men of the world, whose portion is in this life; And whose belly Thou dost fill with Thy treasure; They are satisfied with children, And leave their abundance to their babes. 15 As for me, I shall behold Thy face in righteousness; I will be satisfied with Thy likeness when I awake.”
“You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did. 52 Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become” (Acts 7:51-52). “And indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 3:12).
Psalm 34:16-17, “The face of the LORD is against evildoers, To cut off the memory of them from the earth. 17 The righteous cry and the LORD hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles.” Psalm 66:18, “If I regard wickedness in my heart, The Lord will not hear.”
John 9:31, “We know that God does not hear sinners; but if anyone is God-fearing, and does His will, He hears him.”
I. Past Demonstration vs. 1-5
“Hear a just cause, O LORD, give heed to my cry; Give ear to my prayer, which is not from deceitful lips. 2 Let my judgment come forth from Thy presence; Let Thine eyes look with equity. 3 Thou hast tried my heart; Thou hast visited me by night; Thou hast tested me and dost find nothing; I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress. 4 As for the deeds of men, by the word of Thy lips I have kept from the paths of the violent. 5 My steps have held fast to Thy paths. My feet have not slipped.”
Proverbs 15:29, “The LORD is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer of the righteous.”
Isaiah 59:1-2, “Behold, the LORD'S hand is not so short That it cannot save; Neither is His ear so dull That it cannot hear. 2 But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He does not hear.” Isaiah 59:7-8, “Their feet run to evil, And they hasten to shed innocent blood; Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; Devastation and destruction are in their highways. 8 They do not know the way of peace, And there is no justice in their tracks; They have made their paths crooked; Whoever treads on them does not know peace.”
Psalm 23:1-3, “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. 3 He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.”
II. Present Relation vs. 6-14
“I have called upon Thee, for Thou wilt answer me, O God; Incline Thine ear to me, hear my speech. 7 Wondrously show Thy lovingkindness, O Savior of those who take refuge at Thy right hand From those who rise up against them. 8 Keep me as the apple of the eye; Hide me in the shadow of Thy wings, 9 From the wicked who despoil me, My deadly enemies, who surround me. 10 They have closed their unfeeling heart; With their mouth they speak proudly. 11 They have now surrounded us in our steps; They set their eyes to cast us down to the ground. 12 He is like a lion that is eager to tear, And as a young lion lurking in hiding places. 13 Arise, O LORD, confront him, bring him low; Deliver my soul from the wicked with Thy sword, 14 From men with Thy hand, O LORD, From men of the world, whose portion is in this life; And whose belly Thou dost fill with Thy treasure; They are satisfied with children, And leave their abundance to their babes.”
Acts 13:22, “After [God] removed [Saul], He raised up David to be their king, concerning whom He also testified and said, 'I HAVE FOUND DAVID the son of Jesse, A MAN AFTER MY HEART, who will do all My will.'”
Matthew 23:37, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling.” 2 Timothy 1:12, “I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.”
1 Peter 2:21-23, “Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, 22 WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; 23 and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously.”
1 John 2:16-17, “All that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides forever.”
“When therefore you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full” (Matthew 6:2). “when you pray, you are not to be as the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners, in order to be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full” (Matthew 6:5). “whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance in order to be seen fasting by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full” (6:16). “woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full. 25 Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you shall be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep” (Luke 6:24-25).
Psalm 1, “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, Nor stand in the path of sinners, Nor sit in the seat of scoffers! 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. 3 And he will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, Which yields its fruit in its season, And its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers. 4 The wicked are not so, But they are like chaff which the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, Nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. 6 For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the wicked will perish.”
III. Future Aspiration v. 15
“As for me, I shall behold Thy face in righteousness; I will be satisfied with Thy likeness when I awake.”
Psalm 84:8-12, “O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; Give ear, O God of Jacob! 9 … O God, … look upon the face of Thine anointed. 10 For a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand outside. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God, Than dwell in the tents of wickedness. 11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield; The LORD gives grace and glory; No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. 12 O LORD of hosts, How blessed is the man who trusts in Thee!”
Proverbs 24:19-20, “Do not fret because of evildoers, Or be envious of the wicked; 20 For there will be no future for the evil man; The lamp of the wicked will be put out.”
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3).
“Give us each day our daily bread” (Luke 11:3). “Do not be anxious then, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'With what shall we clothe ourselves?' 32 For all these things the Gentiles eagerly seek; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:31-33).
“It is written, 'MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD'” (Matthew 4:4).
“I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me shall not hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst” (John 6:35).
“Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. 17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, 18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).
Conclusion:
Proverbs 3:5-7, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.”
2 Samuel 22:1-7, “And David spoke the words of this song to the LORD in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. 2 And he said, "The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; 3 My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge; My savior, Thou dost save me from violence. 4 I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; And I am saved from my enemies. 5 For the waves of death encompassed me; The torrents of destruction overwhelmed me; 6 The cords of Sheol surrounded me; The snares of death confronted me. 7 In my distress I called upon the LORD, Yes, I cried to my God; And from His temple He heard my voice, And my cry for help came into His ears."”
2 Samuel 22:18-22, “He delivered me from my strong enemy, From those who hated me, for they were too strong for me. 19 They confronted me in the day of my calamity, But the LORD was my support. 20 He also brought me forth into a broad place; He rescued me, because He delighted in me. 21 The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me. 22 For I have kept the ways of the LORD, And have not acted wickedly against my God.”
“This is the confidence which we have before [God], that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him” (1 John 5:14-15).
2 Samuel 22:47, “The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock; And exalted be God, the rock of my salvation.”
Proverbs 3:5-7, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight. 7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.”
2 Samuel 22:1-7, “And David spoke the words of this song to the LORD in the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. 2 And he said, "The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; 3 My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold and my refuge; My savior, Thou dost save me from violence. 4 I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; And I am saved from my enemies. 5 For the waves of death encompassed me; The torrents of destruction overwhelmed me; 6 The cords of Sheol surrounded me; The snares of death confronted me. 7 In my distress I called upon the LORD, Yes, I cried to my God; And from His temple He heard my voice, And my cry for help came into His ears."”
2 Samuel 22:18-22, “He delivered me from my strong enemy, From those who hated me, for they were too strong for me. 19 They confronted me in the day of my calamity, But the LORD was my support. 20 He also brought me forth into a broad place; He rescued me, because He delighted in me. 21 The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me. 22 For I have kept the ways of the LORD, And have not acted wickedly against my God.”
“This is the confidence which we have before [God], that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him” (1 John 5:14-15).
2 Samuel 22:47, “The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock; And exalted be God, the rock of my salvation.”
