Psalm 17:10-15
One
difference between someone who follows the LORD and someone who doesn’t is that
the follower wants the LORD looking in on their life, being aware of what is
going on with them. The non-follower wants to hide what they are doing from the
LORD and often from others. Inwardly they know they are doing wrong. That is,
until their hearts become calloused by repetition of the sinful behavior.
People then get to the point that they feel nothing when they engage in the
sinful behavior.
We
see this in our psalm. In the first half of the psalm our writer has solicited
the LORD’s presence. But more than that, he has asked for a thorough
examination of is innermost being. He wanted the LORD to look into his motives
and actions. He was like an open book; he wanted the LORD to read every page.
Not
so those who are addressed in today’s portion of this psalm. They are closed. They
don’t want anyone looking into their business. We know this because they
express their opinions with an arrogant attitude. Arrogance is a sign of
contempt, an attitude that says that I am better than you. I deserve what I
have and you deserve what you have. They think that no one is watching, that
they will get away with their evil behavior. They feel above it all.
And
because they think no one is watching, they don’t even try to hide their evil.
So they are open in their pursuit of our writer. This person is purposeful in
their pursuit to do harm. This is not accidental harm. They are tracking the
writer down. And when they find him, they surround him, alert and ready to
pounce. They are like paid assassins. Once they get a target, they don’t take
their eyes off them. They wait for the perfect moment and then carry out their
mission, usually quickly and efficiently. This has been popularized in current
movies and TV shows.
He
feels like he is going to be devoured by his enemy. Lions don’t give up tearing
their prey until they have had their fill. And if you have ever seen what is
left over after they have finished, and the hyenas have arrived, and the
vultures have followed, and the other critters and flies…. You get the picture.
Nothing will be left. What a terrible feeling that he will be next.
But
our writer has hope. He calls on the LORD to rise up and get involved. He wants
the LORD to bring His sword of justice. What I find interesting is that he uses
language that is picked up by Paul in his letter to the Roman church. Here our
writer says that they store up wrath here for themselves, and they are also
storing up wrath with the LORD.
These
words might not sound too Christian. Aren’t we supposed to be all sugar and
spice? But these words express his true feelings, and if we can’t express our
true feelings to the LORD, to whom can we express them? This is honesty. This
is transparency. He feels these things, expresses them, and then leaves them in
the LORD’s hands. He doesn’t try to carry out his own counter offensive. He
lets it go.
He
has assurance of the LORD’s favor. Even if he dies, he knows he will see the
LORD. He is accepted. He is safe, even when his world isn’t.