Although we can’t be certain, many people that the background to this psalm is found when David and his companions were in real danger as they were fleeing from Saul, 1 Samuel 23:25-26. David knows that Saul is a real threat and so, he asks God to deliver him from the hands of his enemies.
Although the headings aren’t inspired by God, they are important because they give us some understanding of the Psalm and they help us to see why it was written. The headings usually tell us four things.
1. Who wrote them, probably wrote them, or possibly wrote them.
2. Information about the historical background to the Psalm. Why it was written.
3. They tell us of the tune the Psalm was written to.
4. How it was used.
This heading simply tells us it was a prayer of David.
In his prayer, David asks God to hear his plea because he had been unjustly accused by Saul of trying to take over his throne, Psalm 17:1 / 1 Samuel 24:9. He asks God for vindication and justice as he received no just judgment from Saul, Psalm 17:2. David was never interested in taking Saul’s throne, he never hungered for power and he certainly didn’t plan any evil, Psalm 17:3 / 1 Samuel 25:25-42.
He also asks God to give him a throughout examination, Psalm 17:3-4 / Psalm 139:23-24, which demonstrates his confidence in God. David had walked in God’s paths, Psalm 17:5, which means he had followed God’s instructions, which gave him the confidence to know he had never stumbled from the ways of God, Psalm 17:5.
Here we get a glimpse of David’s relationship with God. It was so strong he had absolute confidence that God would hear his prayer, Psalm 17:6. Because of the despair, he was going through, he asks God to show him ‘the wonders of His great love’, Psalm 17:7. In other words, he wanted a demonstration of God’s grace, he wanted God to save him and his companions from the hand of Saul, who wanted to kill them, Psalm 17:7.
Notice he asks God to keep him as ‘the apple of his eye’, Psalm 17:8. This is a term of endearment, referring to someone very. It also refers to the pupil of the eye, which was the most delicate part of the eye which needed protection, Deuteronomy 32:10 / Proverbs 7:2 / Zechariah 2:8.
He asks God to hide him from the wicked ‘in the shadow of His wings’, Psalm 17:8. This is a metaphor which symbolises protection from danger, Ruth 2:12 / Psalm 36:7 / Psalm 57:1 / Psalm 61:4 / Psalm 63:7 / Luke 13:34. David’s enemies had callous hearts, Psalm 17:10. In other words, their hearts were hard and they ignored the needs of others around them.
All Saul and his followers were interested in was power and positions of power and as a result, they became corrupt. Remember David was very familiar with lions, 1 Samuel 17:33-37, hence why, he speaks of Saul and his men as a lion. He obviously feels like he’s being hunted down like a dog by Saul and his men, Psalm 17:11-12. He describes them as lions, who lurk around ready to ambush their prey, Psalm 17:12 / Psalm 10:8-10. The lion only has one thing on its mind and that’s to kill.
David ends his prayer by asking God to ‘rise up’, Psalm 17:13 / Psalm 3:7, and bring judgment on his oppressors. He asked God to intervene by His own hand, that is, His ‘sword’, and save him from the wicked, Psalm 17:13. Notice that David wants God to save him Psalm 17:14, but he doesn’t want God to destroy the wicked.
David appears to contrast the material prosperity of the worldly with the spiritual satisfaction of those who follow God, Luke 16:25. He says the wicked are worldly, earthly people, who don’t have a future beyond this life, Psalm 17:14. However, they have enough food to fill themselves, and their children and still have leftovers to feed their babies, Psalm 17:14. In other words, they may be wicked but God still blesses them, Job 21:7 / Job 21:11 / Matthew 5:45.
He knows he will be vindicated by God and is confident he will see God’s face, Psalm 17:15. Remember God doesn’t have a physical face, John 4:24, David is simply saying that he will be in the presence of God, Psalm 105:4 / Numbers 12:8 / 2 Chronicles 7:14.
The words, ‘when I awake’, Psalm 17:15, imply that David believed in a bodily resurrection. In the Old Testament thoughts of eternal life and resurrection were not really understood, Psalm 6:5 / Psalm 7:5 / Psalm 30:12 / Psalm 57:8 / Psalm 88:11, that didn’t become clear until Christ came, 2 Timothy 1:10.
Here David implies that when he does awake, he will be satisfied with seeing His likeness, Psalm 17:15. What David prayed for here is the goal of every Christian, that is, to be conformed into the image of God, as it was perfectly displayed in His Son, Jesus, Romans 8:29.
As we get older and our bodies deteriorate, Ecclesiastes 11:10 / Ecclesiastes 11:3-7, we often have to go to the doctor and ask them to give gives us a thorough examination. We do this in order that the doctor can highlight any areas of our lives that we need to change in order to keep our bodies healthy.
Many people don’t like going to the doctor for fear of the doctor finding something which is life-threatening. However, if the doctor does find something which is life-threatening, they reassure us that any procedures which may be needed will be for our long-term benefit.
When was the last time we asked God to give us a thorough examination of our spiritual lives? David asked God to ‘probe his heart, examine him and test him,’ Psalm 17:3.
Most people struggle with sin in their lives but if we ask God to give us a thorough examination, He can highlight the sin in our lives which needs to be removed, Colossians 3:5-9. We need to pray for God to show us our sins, we then need to repent of them, and change our ways, Psalm 139:23-24.