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Study This Verse
Public-domain commentary
Matthew Henry
From his Commentary on the Whole Bible. Henry comments on passages, not single verses — this entry covers Psalms 17:8–15. His four-level outline is real structure in the source text, so it is rendered as structure.
We may observe, in these verses,
I.What David prays for.
Being compassed about with enemies that sought his life, he prays to God to preserve him safely through all their attempts against him, to the crown to which he was anointed. This prayer is both a prediction of the preservation of Christ through all the hardships and difficulties of his humiliation, to the glories and joys of his exalted state, and a pattern to Christians to commit the keeping of their souls to God, trusting him to preserve them to his heavenly kingdom. He prays,
1.That he himself might be protected (Psa 17:8): "Keep me safe, hide me close, where I may not be found, where I may not be come at. Deliver my soul, not only my mortal life from death, but my immortal spirit from sin." Those who put themselves under God's protection may in faith implore the benefit of it.
(1.)He prays that God would keep him,
[1.]With as much care as a man keeps the apple of his eye with, which nature has wonderfully fenced and teaches us to guard. If we keep God's law as the apple of our eye (Pro 7:2), we may expect that God will so keep us; for it is said concerning his people that whoso touches them touches the apple of his eye, Zac 2:8.
[2.]With as much tenderness as the hen gathers her young ones under her wings with; Christ uses the similitude, Mat 23:37. "Hide me under the shadow of thy wings, where I may be both safe and warm." Or, perhaps, it rather alludes to the wings of the cherubim shadowing the mercy-seat: "Let me be taken under the protection of that glorious grace which is peculiar to God's Israel." What David here prays for was performed to the Son of David, our Lord Jesus, of whom it is said (Isa 49:2) that God hid him in the shadow of his hand, hid him as a polished shaft in his quiver.
(2.)David further prays, "Lord, keep me from the wicked, from men of the world," [1.] "From being, and doing, like them, from walking in their counsel, and standing in their way, and eating of their dainties." [2.] "From being destroyed and run down by them. Let them not have their will against me; let them not triumph over me."
2.That all the designs of his enemies to bring his either into sin or into trouble might be defeated (Psa 17:13): "Arise, O Lord! appear for me, disappoint him, and cast him down in his own eyes by the disappointment." While Saul persecuted David, how often did he miss his prey, when he thought he had him sure! And how were Christ's enemies disappointed by his resurrection, who thought they had gained their point when they had put him to death!
II.What he pleads for the encouraging of his own faith in these petitions, and his hope of speeding. He pleads,
1.The malice and wickedness of his enemies: "They are such as are not fit to be countenanced, such as, if I be not delivered from them by the special care of God himself, will be my ruin. Lord, see what wicked men those are that oppress me, and waste me, and run me down." (1.) "They are very spiteful and malicious; they are my deadly enemies, that thirst after my blood, my heart's blood - enemies against the soul," so the word is. David's enemies did what they could to drive him to sin and drive him away from God; they bade him go serve other gods (Sa1 26:19), and therefore he had reason to pray against them. Note, Those are our worst enemies, and we ought so to account them, that are enemies to our souls. (2.) "They are very secure and sensual, insolent and haughty (Psa 17:10): They are enclosed in their own fat, wrap themselves, hug themselves, in their own honour, and power, and plenty, and then make light of God, and set his judgments at defiance, Psa 73:7; Job 15:27. They wallow in pleasure, and promise themselves that tomorrow shall be as this day. And therefore with their mouth they speak proudly, glorying in themselves, blaspheming God, trampling upon his people, and insulting them." See Rev 13:5, Rev 13:6. "Lord, are not such men as these fit to be mortified and humbled, and made to know themselves? Will it not be for thy glory to look upon these proud men and abase them?" (3.) "They are restless and unwearied in their attempts against me: They compass me about, Psa 17:9. They have now in a manner gained their point; they have surrounded us, they have compassed us in our steps, they track us wherever we go, follow us as close as the hound does the hare, and take all advantages against us, being both too many and too quick for us. And yet they pretend to look another way, and set their eyes bowing down to the earth, as if they were meditating, retired into themselves, and thinking of something else;" or (as some think), "They are watchful and intent upon it, to do us a mischief; they are down-looked, and never let slip any opportunity of compassing their design." (4.) "The ringleader of them (that was Saul) is in a special manner bloody and barbarous, politic and projecting (Psa 17:12), like a lion that lives by prey and is therefore greedy of it." It is as much the meat and drink of a wicked man to do mischief as it is of a good man to do good. He is like a young lion lurking in secret places, disguising his cruel designs. This is fitly applied to Saul, who sought David on the rocks of the wild goats (Sa1 24:2) and in the wilderness of Ziph (Psa 26:2), where lions used to lurk for their prey.
2.The power God had over them, to control and restrain them. He pleads, (1.) "Lord, they are thy sword; and will any father suffer his sword to be drawn against his own children?" As this is a reason why we should patiently bear the injuries of men, that they are but the instruments of the trouble (it comes originally from God, to whose will we are bound to submit), so it is an encouragement to us to hope both that their wrath shall praise him and that the remainder thereof he will restrain, that they are God's sword, which he can manage as he pleases, which cannot move without him, and which he will sheathe when he has done his work with it. (2.) "They are thy hand, by which thou dost chastise thy people and make them feel thy displeasure." He therefore expects deliverance from God's hand because from God's hand the trouble came. Una eademque manus vulnus opemque tulit - The same hand wounds and heals. There is no flying from God's hand but by flying to it. It is very comfortable, when we are in fear of the power of man, to see it dependent upon and in subjection to the power of God; see Isa 10:6, Isa 10:7, Isa 10:15.
3.Their outward prosperity (Psa 17:14): "Lord, appear against them, for," (1.) "They are entirely devoted to the world, and care not for thee and thy favour. They are men of the world, actuated by the spirit of the world, walking according to the course of this world, in love with the wealth and pleasure of this world, eager in the pursuits of it (making them their business) and at ease in the enjoyments of it - making them their bliss. They have their portion in this life; they look upon the good things of this world as the best things, and sufficient to make them happy, and they choose them accordingly, place their felicity in them, and aim at them as their chief good; they rest satisfied with them, their souls take their ease in them, and they look no further, nor are in any care to provide for another life. These things are their consolation (Luk 6:24), their good things (Luk 16:25), their reward (Mat 6:5), the penny they agreed for, Mat 20:13. Now, Lord, shall men of this character be supported and countenanced against those who honour thee by preferring thy favour before all the wealth in this world, and taking thee for their portion?" Psa 16:5. (2.) They have abundance of the world. [1.] They have enlarged appetites, and a great deal wherewith to satisfy them: Their bellies thou fillest with thy hidden treasures. The things of this world are called treasures, because they are so accounted; otherwise, to a soul, and in comparison with eternal blessings, they are but trash. They are hidden in the several parts of the creation, and hidden in the sovereign disposals of Providence. They are God's hidden treasures, for the earth is his and the fulness thereof, though the men of the world think it is their own and forget God's property in it. Those that fare deliciously every day have their bellies filled with these hidden treasures; and they will but fill the belly (Co1 6:13); they will not fill the soul; they are not bread for that, nor can they satisfy, Isa 55:2. They are husks, and ashes, and wind; and yet most men, having no care for their souls, but all for their bellies, take up with them. [2.] They have numerous families, and a great deal to leave to them: They are full of children, and yet their pasture is not overstocked; they have enough for them all, and leave the rest of their substance to their babes, to their grand-children; and this is their heaven, it is their bliss, it is their all. "Lord," said David, "deliver me from them; let me not have my portion with them. Deliver me from their designs against me; for, they having so much wealth and power, I am not able to deal with them unless the Lord be on my side."
4.He pleads his own dependence upon God as his portion and happiness. "They have their portion in this life, but as for me (Psa 17:15) I am none of them, I have but little of the world. Nec habeo, nec careo, nec curo - I neither have, nor need, nor care for it. It is the vision and fruition of God that I place my happiness in; that is it I hope for, and comfort myself with the hopes of, and thereby distinguish myself from those who have their portion in this life." Beholding God's face with satisfaction may be considered, (1.) As our duty and comfort in this world. We must in righteousness (clothed with Christ's righteousness, having a good heart and a good life) by faith behold God's face and set him always before us, must entertain ourselves from day to day with the contemplation of the beauty of the Lord; and, when we awake every morning, we must be satisfied with his likeness set before us in his word, and with his likeness stamped upon us by his renewing grace. Our experience of God's favour to us, and our conformity to him, should yield us more satisfaction than those have whose belly is filled with the delights of sense. 2. As our recompence and happiness in the other world. With the prospect of that he concluded the foregoing psalm, and so this. That happiness is prepared and designed only for the righteous that are justified and sanctified. They shall be put in possession of it when they awake, when the soul awakes, at death, out of its slumber in the body, and when the body awakes, at the resurrection, out of its slumber in the grave. That blessedness will consist in three things: - [1.] The immediate vision of God and his glory: I shall behold thy face, not, as in this world, through a glass darkly. The knowledge of God will there be perfected and the enlarged intellect filled with it. [2.] The participation of his likeness. Our holiness will there be perfect. This results from the former (Jo1 3:2): When he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. [3.] A complete and full satisfaction resulting from all this: I shall be satisfied, abundantly satisfied with it. There is no satisfaction for a soul but in God, and in his face and likeness, his good-will towards us and his good work in us; and even that satisfaction will not be perfect till we come to heaven.
Historical interpretation
Historical Reception
One surviving comment on this verse from the historical church.
"Casting Me forth they have now compassed Me about" [Psalm 17:11]. Casting Me forth outside the city, they have now compassed Me about on the Cross. "Their eyes they have determined to turn down on the earth." The bent of their heart they have determined to turn down on these earthly things: deeming Him, who was slain, to endure a mighty evil, and themselves, that slew Him, none.
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Summary
Psalms 17:11 powerfully depicts the relentless and malicious pursuit of David's adversaries, portraying them as having meticulously surrounded him, tracking his every movement. Their gaze is fixed intently downward, signifying a cunning, predatory, and earthly focus aimed at his downfall. This verse profoundly underscores the vulnerability of the righteous when confronted by such determined wickedness, implicitly highlighting the urgent and absolute need for divine intervention and protection from God alone.
Context
Literary Context
Psalm 17 is a fervent prayer of lament and petition, where David appeals directly to God for justice and deliverance from his enemies. This particular verse, Psalms 17:11, is situated within a section (verses 9-12) where David vividly describes the nature and actions of his adversaries, emphasizing their predatory and relentless pursuit. It follows his plea for God's protection ("Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me under the shadow of your wings," Psalm 17:8) and precedes his further description of their lion-like ferocity and readiness to pounce ("Like a lion that is greedy of his prey, and as it were a young lion lurking in secret places," Psalm 17:12). This verse thus serves as a critical piece of evidence presented to God, illustrating the immediate and pervasive threat David faces, building the case for divine intervention.
Historical & Cultural Context
David's life was characterized by numerous periods of intense persecution, whether from King Saul, Philistine armies, or internal rebellions like that of his son Absalom. The imagery in Psalms 17:11 reflects the realities of ancient warfare and hunting. Being "compassed us in our steps" evokes the tactics of encirclement, ambush, and close-quarters tracking common in a pre-modern world where personal surveillance was a direct, physical threat. The "eyes bowing down to the earth" could suggest a hunter meticulously tracking footprints, a conspirator plotting in secret, or someone searching for a snare. This posture would have been understood as one of intense, focused malice, contrasting sharply with the upright, heavenward gaze of the righteous who look to God for help and guidance.
Key Themes
Psalms 17:11 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the psalm and the broader Psalter. Firstly, it highlights the Vulnerability of the Righteous in a fallen world, demonstrating how even those who walk in integrity before God can face relentless and malicious opposition. Secondly, it underscores the Nature of Wickedness, portraying enemies as cunning, predatory, and earthly-minded, focused solely on destruction rather than justice or truth. This contrasts sharply with David's own appeal to God's righteousness (e.g., Psalm 7:8). Finally, by vividly depicting the severity of the threat, the verse implicitly reinforces the theme of Divine Deliverance and Refuge, emphasizing that God alone is the ultimate protector and vindicator against such determined adversaries, a theme found throughout the psalms, as seen in David's declaration in Psalm 18:2.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
From a primitive root meaning "to revolve, surround, or border," this word powerfully conveys the idea of being hemmed in, besieged, or trapped. It suggests that David's enemies have not merely observed him from a distance but have actively closed in, making escape difficult and creating a pervasive sense of being under constant, inescapable threat. It implies an active, strategic encirclement.
This primitive root means "to stretch or spread out" or "to bend away." When used in relation to the eyes, as here, it describes a posture of intense, fixed, and downward gaze. This implies a meticulous, perhaps sinister, concentration, suggesting that their focus is entirely on David's downfall, as if searching for a weakness, a misstep, or a way to trip him.
While literally meaning "ground" or "land," in this metaphorical context, "earth" signifies a low, base, and worldly focus. It implies that the enemies' intentions and perspectives are entirely rooted in earthly malice, devoid of any higher moral, spiritual, or divine consideration. Their gaze is not lifted to heaven for justice but fixed on the dust, symbolizing their desire to bring David to ruin or to find a way to ensnare him within the physical realm.
Verse Breakdown
"They have now compassed us in our steps"
This clause describes the active, pervasive, and strategic nature of the enemies' pursuit. The phrase "in our steps" emphasizes the close proximity and meticulous tracking of David's movements. It suggests that every path David takes, every decision he makes, is being monitored, encircled, or actively blocked by his adversaries. This is not a distant threat but an immediate and suffocating encirclement, creating a sense of being cornered or hunted, with no easy avenue of escape from their determined malicious intent.
"they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth;"
This second clause reveals the malicious intent and predatory focus of the enemies. Their "eyes bowing down to the earth" depicts a posture of intense, concentrated scrutiny, as if they are meticulously searching for a snare, a weakness, or an opportunity to bring David low. This imagery implies a cunning, calculating, and earthly mindset, entirely devoid of any higher moral or divine perspective. Their gaze is fixed on destruction, on bringing David to the dust, rather than on justice, truth, or mercy, highlighting their base and malevolent purpose.
Literary Devices
Psalms 17:11 is rich in Imagery and Metaphor, effectively conveying the intense threat David faces. The phrase "compassed us in our steps" creates a vivid picture of encirclement and being hunted, evoking the feeling of being trapped or under siege. This is a powerful Metaphor for the pervasive and suffocating nature of the enemies' pursuit, suggesting they have surrounded him on all sides, cutting off escape routes. Similarly, "they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth" is a striking Metaphor that describes the adversaries' malicious intent. It paints a picture of a predatory, cunning gaze, fixed on the ground to find a weakness or a way to trip their victim, symbolizing their base, worldly, and destructive focus. The implied contrast between an upward, righteous gaze (looking to God) and this downward, malevolent stare highlights the spiritual and moral chasm between David and his foes. The verse also employs Personification by attributing human actions and postures (compassing, setting eyes, bowing down) to the collective "they," thereby emphasizing their unified and malevolent purpose.
Theological and Thematic Connections
Psalms 17:11 powerfully articulates the experience of the righteous facing relentless opposition from the wicked, a recurring theme throughout biblical literature. This verse underscores the reality of spiritual warfare and the tangible manifestation of evil intent in human actions. The enemies' earthly focus and predatory nature contrast sharply with the divine perspective and justice that David seeks, highlighting the fundamental conflict between the kingdom of God and the kingdoms of this world. The psalmist's vulnerability, despite his integrity, points to the profound need for God's sovereign protection and intervention, reminding believers that ultimate deliverance comes not from human strength or cunning, but from the Almighty. This theme resonates with the broader biblical narrative of God's people enduring persecution, yet finding their hope and vindication in His faithfulness, trusting that He will ultimately bring justice.
Reflection and Application
For believers today, Psalms 17:11 offers a profound and relatable picture of the spiritual and emotional battles we may encounter. We may feel "compassed in our steps" by relentless pressures, whether from spiritual forces of darkness, societal opposition to our faith, or personal adversaries who seek our downfall. The imagery of "eyes bowing down to the earth" serves as a stark reminder that worldly opposition often operates with a cunning, earthly focus, devoid of heavenly perspective or moral restraint, meticulously seeking out our weaknesses and vulnerabilities. This verse calls us to vigilance and, more importantly, to a deeper reliance on God. When we feel targeted, vulnerable, or overwhelmed by those who wish us ill, our response, like David's, should be to lift our eyes to God, recognizing Him as our ultimate refuge and deliverer. It encourages us to pray fervently for His protection and to trust in His justice, even when human circumstances seem dire and the path ahead appears fraught with danger.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What does "compassed us in our steps" mean in a practical sense for David?
For David, "compassed us in our steps" meant that his enemies had surrounded him, closely watching and tracking his every movement. It implies a strategic and relentless pursuit, making it difficult for him to escape or act freely. This was not a distant threat but a pervasive, close-quarters encirclement, as if they were laying a trap or closing in for an attack. It conveyed a feeling of being constantly monitored and cornered by those with malicious intent, much like a hunter stalking prey, aiming to cut off all avenues of escape, as seen in the descriptions of his flight from Saul in 1 Samuel 23:26.
How does "they have set their eyes bowing down to the earth" relate to the enemies' character?
This phrase is highly symbolic and reveals much about the enemies' character. Their "eyes bowing down to the earth" suggests a low, intense, and sinister focus. It implies their gaze is fixed on the ground, meticulously searching for a weakness, a snare, or a way to trip David. The "earth" here can symbolize a base, worldly, and cunning intent, devoid of any heavenly or righteous perspective. Their entire focus is on bringing David low, perhaps even to the dust, rather than on justice or truth. It highlights their malice, their lack of higher purpose, and their determined, destructive intent, contrasting with a righteous person who would look to God (e.g., Psalm 121:1).
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
Psalms 17:11 finds its ultimate and profound fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ. David's experience of being "compassed in our steps" by relentless, earth-focused adversaries perfectly foreshadows the earthly ministry of Jesus. From His birth, Herod sought to destroy Him (Matthew 2:13), and throughout His public life, He was constantly pursued by religious leaders whose "eyes bowing down to the earth" sought to trap Him in His words and deeds (Matthew 22:15). They meticulously plotted His downfall, culminating in His unjust trial and crucifixion. Jesus, the perfectly righteous one, was truly "compassed" by His enemies, who, in their earthly malice, fixed their gaze on His destruction. Yet, unlike David, Jesus' suffering was not for His own sin but for the sins of humanity, fulfilling God's redemptive plan. His resurrection from the dead is the ultimate divine vindication, demonstrating God's triumph over all earthly malice and the power of death itself, offering eternal hope and deliverance to all who believe in Him (Romans 8:37). Through Christ, those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake can find solace, knowing that their ultimate victory is secured in His triumph over the very forces that sought to bring Him low (Colossians 2:15).