On this basis, he is able to offer his petition, which includes both a beautiful prayer for divine protection (verse 8), and a repulsive description of his would-be captors (verses 9-12).
David approaches the divine court with 3 clusters of appeals in seeking justice.
(1)Appeals Dealing with Response and Recognition (17:1-5).
(2)Appeals Dealing with Rescue and Relief (17:6-12).
A. His Need for Rescue is Presented (17:6-8);
B. His Need for Relief is Documented (17:9-12).
(3)Appeals Dealing with Retribution and Rest (17:13-15).
A. His Anticipation of Their Retribution (17:13-14);
B. His Assurance of His Own Rest (17:15).
Psalm 17:1 Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, [that goeth] not out of feigned lips.
Psalm 17:3 Thou hast proved mine heart; Thou hast visited [me] in the night; Thou hast tried me, [and] shalt find nothing; I am purposed [that] my mouth shall not transgress.
Like Job, David did not claim he never sinned, but only that he was
Psalm 17:8 Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of Thy wings.
“The apple of the eye”:
As a person protects that vital organ of vision, so God protects His people.
Psalm 17:15 As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness.
It is the inward reality which corresponds to appearing before Him in the sanctuary. “I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness":
*David had already spoken of death as a "sleep" (Psalm 13:3).
*Now he speaks of "awaking."
Q: What awaking can this be but an awaking from the sleep of death?"
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