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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 17:1–7. His four-level outline is real structure in the source text, so it is rendered as structure.
This psalm is a prayer. As there is a time to weep and a time to rejoice, so there is a time for praise and a time for prayer. David was now persecuted, probably by Saul, who hunted him like a partridge on the mountains; without were fightings, within were fears, and both urged him as a suppliant to the throne of mercy. He addresses himself to God in these verses both by way of appeal (Hear the right, O Lord! let my righteous cause have a hearing before thy tribunal, and give judgment upon it) and by way of petition (Give ear unto my prayer Psa 17:1, and again Psa 17:6, Incline thy ear unto me and hear my speech); not that God needs to be thus pressed with our importunity, but he gives us leave thus to express our earnest desire of his gracious answers to our prayers. These things he pleads with God for audience, 1. That he was sincere, and did not dissemble with God in his prayer: It goeth not out of feigned lips. He meant as he spoke, and the feelings of his mind agreed with the expressions of his mouth. Feigned prayers are fruitless; but, if our hearts lead our prayers, God will meet them with his favour. 2. That he had been used to pray at other times, and it was not his distress and danger that now first brought him to his duty: "I have called upon thee formerly (Psa 17:6); therefore, Lord, hear me now." It will be a great comfort to us if trouble, when it comes, find the wheels of prayer a-going, for then we may come with the more boldness to the throne of grace. Tradesmen are willing to oblige those that have been long their customers. 3. That he was encouraged by his faith to expect God would take notice of his prayers: "I know thou wilt hear me, and therefore, O God, incline thy ear to me." Our believing dependence upon God is a good plea to enforce our desires towards him. Let us now see,
I.What his appeal is; and here observe,
1.What the court is to the cognizance and determination of which he makes his appeal; it is the court of heaven. "Lord, do thou hear the right, for Saul is so passionate, so prejudiced, that he will not hear it. Lord, let my sentence come forth from thy presence, Psa 17:2. Men sentence me to be pursued and cut off as an evil-doer. Lord, I appeal from them to thee." This he did in a public remonstrance before Saul's face (Sa1 24:12, The Lord judge between me and thee), and he repeats it here in his private devotions. Note,
(1.)The equity and extent of God's government and judgment are a very great support to injured innocency. If we are blackened, and abused, and misrepresented, by unrighteous men, it is a comfort that we have a righteous God to go to, who will take our part, who is the patron of the oppressed, whose judgment is according to truth, by the discoveries of which every person and every cause will appear in a true light, stripped of all false colours, and by the decisions of which all unrighteous dooms will be reversed, and to every man will be rendered according to his work.
(2.)Sincerity dreads no scrutiny, no, not that of God himself, according to the tenour of the covenant of grace: Let thy eyes behold the things that are equal. God's omniscience is as much the joy of the upright as it is the terror of hypocrites, and is particularly comfortable to those who are falsely accused and in any wise have wrong done them.
2.What the evidence is by which he hopes to make good his appeal; it is the trial God had made of him (Psa 17:3): Thou hast proved my heart. God's sentence is therefore right, because he always proceeds upon his knowledge, which is more certain and infallible than that which men attain to by the closest views and the strictest investigations.
(1.)He knew God had tried him,
[1.]By his own conscience, which is God's deputy in the soul. The spirit of a man is the candle of the Lord, with this God had searched him, and visited him in the night, when he communed with his own heart upon his bed. He had submitted to the search, and had seriously reviewed the actions of his life, to discover what was amiss, but could find nothing of that which his enemies charged him with.
[2.]By providence. God had tried him by the fair opportunity he had, once and again, to kill Saul; he had tried him by the malice of Saul, the treachery of his friends, and the many provocations that were given him; so that, if he had been the man he was represented to be, it would have appeared; but, upon all these trials, there was nothing found against him, no proof at all of the things whereof they accused him.
(2.)God tried his heart, and could witness to the integrity of that; but, for the further proof of his integrity, he himself takes notice of two things concerning which his conscience bore him record: - [1.] That he had a fixed resolution against all sins of the tongue: "I have purposed and fully determined, in the strength of God's grace, that my mouth shall not transgress." He does not say, "I hope that it will not," or, "I wish that it may not," but, "I have fully purposed that it shall not:" with this bridle he kept his mouth, Psa 39:1. Note, Constant resolution and watchfulness against sins of the tongue will be a good evidence of our integrity. If any offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, Jam 3:2. He does not say, "My mouth never shall transgress" (for in many things we all offend), but, "I have purposed that it shall not;" and he that searches the heart knows whether the purpose be sincere. [2.] That he had been as careful to refrain from sinful actions as from sinful words (Psa 17:4): "Concerning the common works of men, the actions and affairs of human life, I have, by the direction of thy word, kept myself from the paths of the destroyer." Some understand it particularly, that he had not been himself a destroyer of Saul, when it lay in his power, nor had he permitted others to be so, but said to Abishai, Destroy him not, Sa1 26:9. But it may be taken more generally; he kept himself from all evil works, and endeavoured, according to the duty of his place, to keep others from them too. Note, First, The ways of sin are paths of the destroyer, of the devil, whose name is Abaddon and Apollyon, a destroyer, who ruins souls by decoying them into the paths of sin. Secondly, It concerns us all to keep out of the paths of the destroyer; for, if we walk in those ways that lead to destruction, we must thank ourselves if destruction and misery be our portion at last. Thirdly, It is by the word of God, as our guide and rule, that we must keep out of the paths of the destroyer, by observing its directions and admonitions, Psa 119:9. Fourthly, If we carefully avoid all the paths of sin, it will be very comfortable in the reflection, when we are in trouble. If we keep ourselves, that the wicked one touch us not with his temptations (Jo1 5:18), we may hope he will not be able to touch us with his terrors.
II.What his petition is; it is, in short, this, That he might experience the good work of God in him, as an evidence of and qualification for the good will of God towards him: this is grace and peace from God the Father. 1. He prays for the work of God's grace in him (Psa 17:5): "Hold up my going in thy paths. Lord, I have, by thy grace, kept myself from the paths of the destroyer; by the same grace let me be kept in thy paths; let me not only be restrained from doing that which is evil, but quickened to abound always in that which is good. Let my goings be held in thy paths, that I may not turn back from them nor turn aside out of them; let them be held up in thy paths, that I may not stumble and fall into sin, that I may not trifle and neglect my duty. Lord, as thou hast kept me hitherto, so keep me still." Those that are, through grace, going in God's paths, have need to pray, and do pray, that their goings may be held up in those paths; for we stand no longer than he is pleased to hold us, we go no further than he is pleased to lead us, bear us up, and carry us. David had been kept in the way of his duty hitherto, and yet he does not think that this would be his security for the future, and therefore prays, "Lord, still hold me up." Those that would proceed and persevere in the way of God must, by faith and prayer, fetch in daily fresh supplies of grace and strength from him. David was sensible that his way was slippery, that he himself was weak, and not so well fixed and furnished as he should be, that there were those who watched for his halting and would improve the least slip against him, and therefore he prays, "Lord, hold me up, that my foot slip not, that I may never say nor do any thing that looks either dishonest or distrustful of thee and thy providence and promise." 2. He prays for the tokens of God's favour to him, Psa 17:7. Observe here, (1.) How he eyes God as the protector and Saviour of his people, so he calls him, and thence he takes his encouragement in prayer: O thou that savest by thy right hand (by thy own power, and needest not the agency of any other) those who put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them. It is the character of God's people that they trust in him; he is pleased to make them confidants, for his secret is with the righteous; and they make him their trust, for to him they commit themselves. Those that trust in God have many enemies, many that rise up against them and seek their ruin; but they have one friend that is able to deal with them all, and, if he be for them, no matter who is against them. He reckons it his honour to be their Saviour. His almighty power is engaged for them, and they have all found him ready to save them. The margin reads it, O thou that savest those who trust in thee from those that rise up against thy right hand. Those that are enemies to the saints are rebels against God and his right hand, and therefore, no doubt, he will, in due time, appear against them. (2.) What he expects and desires from God: Show thy marvellous loving-kindness. The word signifies, [1.] Distinguishing favours. "Set apart thy loving-kindnesses for me; put me not off with common mercies, but be gracious to me, as thou usest to do to those who love thy name." [2.] Wonderful favours. "O make thy loving-kindness admirable! Lord, testify thy favour to me in such a way that I and others may wonder at it." God's loving-kindness is marvellous for the freeness and the fulness of it; in some instances it appears, in a special manner, marvellous (Psa 118:23), and it will certainly appear so in the salvation of the saints, when Christ shall come to be glorified in the saints and to be admired in all those that believe.
Historical interpretation
Historical Reception
3 surviving comments on this verse. Each one is dated, so this reads as a timeline rather than a list.
Select a marker to jump to its quote. Markers stagger vertically where authors wrote within a few decades of each other.
He teaches us that even if we are virtuous, we should trust not in ourselves but in God, and that we should pray to him that like the pupil of the eye he protect the mind—our soul’s eye—from evil of the opposing powers.
It becomes Christians to pray for peace and quiet but not to abandon steadfast faith and truth even at the peril of death. For the Lord is our Leader, “who will save them that put their hope in him.”
"Make Your mercies marvellous" [Psalm 17:7]. Let not Your mercies be disesteemed, lest they be loved too little. "Who savest them that hope in You from such as resist Your right hand:" from such as resist the favour, whereby You favour Me.
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Summary
Psalm 17:7 is a fervent prayer from David, a plea for God to display His extraordinary and unique covenantal love and power. In a time of intense personal distress and opposition, David appeals to God as the ultimate Deliverer, specifically for those who place their complete reliance and trust in Him. This verse encapsulates a profound theological truth: God's salvation is a mighty, decisive act rooted in His steadfast character, extended to those who faithfully depend on Him amidst the threats of adversaries.
Context
Literary Context
Psalm 17 is an individual lament, a heartfelt prayer for divine intervention and vindication. David, facing false accusations and mortal threats, appeals directly to God, asserting his own integrity and righteousness before Him, as seen in his earnest plea in Psalm 17:3-5. The psalm follows a typical lament structure: an initial cry for help, an assertion of innocence, a detailed description of the enemies, a renewed petition for deliverance, and an expression of confidence in God's justice. Verse 7 serves as a pivotal point in David's plea, moving from a general appeal for justice to a specific request for God to manifest His distinctive saving power on behalf of His trusting servants. It sets the stage for the detailed description of his enemies and his confident expectation of divine protection in the subsequent verses, where he asks God to "keep me as the apple of the eye" and "hide me under the shadow of thy wings" from his deadly foes (Psalm 17:8-9).
Historical & Cultural Context
David's life was frequently marked by periods of intense persecution and betrayal, whether from King Saul (e.g., 1 Samuel 23) or foreign enemies. This psalm likely stems from such a period, where David felt surrounded by hostile forces seeking his downfall. The concept of God's "right hand" was a pervasive cultural idiom in the ancient Near East, symbolizing power, authority, and decisive action. For Israel, this imagery was deeply rooted in their history, particularly the Exodus, where God's "strong hand and outstretched arm" delivered them from Egyptian bondage, a powerful reminder often invoked in passages like Deuteronomy 5:15. The "lovingkindness" (Hebrew: ḥesed) refers to God's covenantal faithfulness, a steadfast and loyal love that binds Him to His people, implying active intervention and protection that transcends mere human affection.
Key Themes
This verse powerfully articulates several foundational themes central to the book of Psalms and the broader Old Testament. Firstly, it underscores the uniqueness and reliability of God's character, particularly His "marvellous lovingkindness" which is distinct from human affection and unwavering in its commitment to His covenant people. This divine ḥesed is the very foundation of His saving acts. Secondly, it highlights God's omnipotent power to deliver, portraying Him as the ultimate rescuer who acts decisively "by His right hand" against all adversaries, a theme powerfully echoed in David's declaration, "The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer" (Psalm 18:2). Thirdly, the verse emphasizes the critical importance of human trust and dependence on God. God's saving action is specifically directed towards "them which put their trust in thee," establishing a clear correlation between faith and divine intervention, a principle seen throughout Scripture, from Abraham's faith being "counted to him as righteousness" (Genesis 15:6) to the exhortations in Proverbs 3:5-6.
Exposition and Analysis
Key Word Analysis
This is one of the richest theological terms in the Old Testament. Chêçêd signifies far more than simple affection; it denotes God's loyal, steadfast, and covenantal love, characterized by faithfulness, mercy, and active help. It's a love that is unwavering, even when undeserved, and is the foundation of God's relationship with His people. When described as "marvellous" (from H6395, pâlâh), it emphasizes its extraordinary, wondrous, and unique nature – a love that transcends human comprehension and expectation, manifesting in miraculous deliverance.
This verb means "to save," "to deliver," "to rescue," or "to bring salvation." It implies active intervention to bring someone out of danger, distress, or oppression into a state of safety and well-being. In the context of Psalm 17:7, it highlights God's role as the ultimate rescuer, capable of providing complete and decisive deliverance from all forms of adversity. This verb is foundational to the concept of salvation throughout the Bible.
This verb means "to flee for protection" or, figuratively, "to confide in." It implies taking refuge under someone's protection, like a bird sheltering under wings. In this verse, it signifies a complete surrender and dependence on God's faithfulness. It is the posture of reliance that activates God's saving power, demonstrating that His deliverance is specifically for those who wholeheartedly depend on Him.
Verse Breakdown
"Shew thy marvellous lovingkindness"
This is an imperative plea, an earnest request for God to actively demonstrate and make visible His unique, steadfast, and wondrous covenantal love. David is not merely asking for mercy, but for a tangible manifestation of God's deepest character – His chêçêd – in his current desperate situation. It implies an appeal to God's very nature as the basis for intervention.
"O thou that savest by thy right hand"
This clause identifies God by His primary attribute as the Deliverer. The phrase "by thy right hand" (H3225, yâmîyn) underscores the omnipotence and efficacy of God's saving action. It's a declaration of faith in God's ability to act with supreme power and authority, ensuring a complete and decisive rescue. It contrasts God's mighty intervention with the weakness of human efforts or the power of the adversaries.
"them which put their trust [in thee]"
This specifies the recipients of God's mighty salvation. God's deliverance is not indiscriminate but is specifically directed towards those who place their full reliance, confidence, and faith in Him. The Hebrew word for "trust" (H2620, châçâh) signifies a complete surrender and dependence on God's faithfulness and protective care.
"from those that rise up [against them]"
This identifies the nature of the threat. The phrase "rise up" (H6965, qûwm) suggests hostile, aggressive, and violent opposition. These are adversaries who actively seek to harm or destroy God's trusting people. The verse promises that God's "right hand" will effectively deliver His trusting ones from such formidable and malevolent forces.
Literary Devices
Psalm 17:7 employs several powerful literary devices to convey its message. The direct address to God, "O thou that savest," is an example of Apostrophe, lending a personal and urgent tone to the prayer, as if David is speaking directly to the divine presence. The phrase "by thy right hand" is a vivid Metonymy where the "right hand" stands in for God's entire power, authority, and decisive action, emphasizing His omnipotence. It also functions as powerful Imagery, evoking a sense of divine strength and active, forceful intervention. The contrast between God's mighty saving power and the vulnerability of "them which put their trust in thee" against "those that rise up against them" creates a dramatic tension, highlighting God as the ultimate, indispensable source of deliverance. The entire verse is a concise yet profound statement of Petition grounded in Theological Affirmation of God's unwavering character and ability to save.
Theological and Thematic Connections
Psalm 17:7 serves as a microcosm of biblical theology, powerfully connecting God's immutable character with His active engagement in human history. The "marvellous lovingkindness" (chêçêd) is not a passive attribute but the very wellspring of God's saving acts, demonstrating His unwavering commitment to His covenant people. This divine chêçêd is the bedrock upon which trust is built, assuring believers that their reliance on God is never in vain. God's saving action "by His right hand" affirms His absolute sovereignty and omnipotence, declaring that no adversary, no matter how formidable, can ultimately thwart His purposes for those who take refuge in Him. This verse thus weaves together the threads of divine faithfulness, omnipotent power, and human faith into a cohesive tapestry of salvation.
Reflection and Application
Psalm 17:7 offers profound spiritual nourishment for believers navigating the complexities and challenges of life. It calls us to a deep, active trust in God, not as a passive hope, but as a confident reliance on His proven character. When faced with overwhelming adversaries—whether spiritual attacks, relational conflicts, professional setbacks, or personal struggles—this verse reminds us that our ultimate refuge is in the God whose "marvellous lovingkindness" is unfailing and whose "right hand" is mighty to save. It encourages us to boldly bring our pleas before Him, knowing that He is uniquely qualified and powerfully able to deliver those who lean fully on Him. Our salvation, both in its grandest eternal sense and in its daily manifestations, is not by our own strength or cunning, but by the sovereign, faithful, and omnipotent hand of God, activated by our unwavering faith in His enduring faithfulness.
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
What is the significance of "marvellous lovingkindness" in this verse?
The phrase "marvellous lovingkindness" translates the Hebrew chêçêd (lovingkindness, steadfast love, covenant faithfulness) combined with pâlâh (marvellous, wondrous). This signifies God's unique, extraordinary, and unwavering covenantal commitment to His people. It's a love that is not merely emotional but active, loyal, and powerful, always seeking the good and deliverance of those with whom God has a relationship. It's "marvellous" because it goes beyond human expectation, often manifesting in miraculous or unexpected ways, as seen in God's mighty acts throughout Israel's history, such as the Exodus from Egypt.
Does God only save those who "put their trust in Him"?
While God's common grace extends to all humanity (e.g., Matthew 5:45), Psalm 17:7 speaks specifically of a particular kind of saving intervention for those in covenant relationship with Him, characterized by active faith. The "them which put their trust [in thee]" refers to those who consciously and deliberately rely on God for their deliverance and protection. This trust is not a work that earns salvation, but the necessary posture of faith that receives God's promised intervention. It highlights the relational aspect of God's deliverance, where His power is unleashed on behalf of those who depend on Him, as illustrated by countless examples in Scripture, such as David's reliance on God against Goliath.
Christ-Centered Fulfillment
Psalm 17:7 finds its ultimate and most profound fulfillment in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The "marvellous lovingkindness" of God, chêçêd, is supremely demonstrated in the sending of His Son, Jesus, who embodies God's steadfast love and mercy toward humanity, for "God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son" (John 3:16). Jesus is the One whom God "savest by thy right hand," for He is now seated at the "right hand of the Majesty on high" (Hebrews 1:3), exercising all divine power and authority to deliver His people from the ultimate adversaries: sin, death, and the devil. Through His atoning sacrifice, Christ has delivered us "from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son" (Colossians 1:13-14). Our trust, which David placed in Yahweh, is now fully and perfectly placed in Christ, for He is the "author and perfecter of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2). Through His triumphant resurrection, Christ has decisively delivered all who put their trust in Him from the spiritual forces that "rise up against them," securing eternal salvation and daily protection for His beloved church, making us "more than conquerors through him who loved us" (Romans 8:37-39).