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Psalm 17:11

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 21, 2022
Psalm 17:11 “They have tracked me down, they now surround me, with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground.”
 
[Satan intentionally sends his servants out to track us down and attack. This description of spiritual warfare is expanded on in Psalm 62:3-4: “How long will you assault me? Would all of you throw me down– this leaning wall, this tottering fence?”
 
We are weak and unable to stand on our own against the attacks of Satan’s forces, whether he uses people or events, sickness or accidents, fear or frustration.]
 
“Surely they intend to topple me from my lofty place;”
 
They want to have us forget who we are in Christ–children of the Most High God, chosen, forgiven, adopted and delighted in–to forsake Him as our high tower, to topple us into the swamp of self-pity, materialism and despair.]
 
“they take delight in lies. With their mouths they bless, but in their hearts they curse.”
 
[Satan’s forces can be slick, sounding so positive and constructive at times (“we welcome all, we don’t want anyone to be offended”), but their goal is destruction, causing people to accept lies and harmful values–as we see happening all around us today, with abortion, rampant divorce, twisting of the definition of marriage and political correctness.]
 
Our strength is inadequate, but yours, Lord God, is mighty, invincible, far more than adequate–you who breathed the stars, who hung the earth on nothing, who brings the dawn each day–you are able to empower us to stand in any situation.
 
Help us to remember these truths:
that we are in a spiritual battle every day;
that our real enemies are not people,
but Satan’s forces using them.
 
Help us, Lord, to keep on the full armor you have provided, to fight with praise, prayer and persistence in obedience and to see your mighty power triumph in our lives and in those of people we are called to serve.]
 
May be an image of nature
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Psalm 17:9-10

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 20, 2022
 
Psalm 17:9 “… hide me in the shadow of your wings from the wicked who assail me, from my mortal enemies who surround me.”
 
[For David, these enemies were actual people; for us it is sometimes people acting like our enemies, but it is actually our spiritual foes, Satan and his forces of demons and devils, who regularly use people to attack God’s children.
 
This opposition is real, it is powerful, it is beyond our abilities to withstand or overcome. We know that Satan’s goal is to rob us of joy, to destroy our testimonies, families, churches and lives. And to kill, as he is doing in the Middle East and parts of Africa with attempts by terrorists to wipe out all Christians in their area. We need help desperately!
 
Praise be to you, Lord, that you do want to hide us in the shadow of your wings. You are our rock, our salvation and our high tower. You urge us to take shelter in you–just as David is doing in Psalm 17 by pouring out his heart to you and asking for help–so that we will never be shaken.]
 
Psalm 17:10 “They close up their callous hearts, and their mouths speak with arrogance.”
 
[People used by Satan are certainly callous—I read recently that a young man publicly executed his own mother for opposing his joining a jihadist grouup!
 
And when you hear the pronouncements of those who oppose biblical truths and standards, there is huge arrogance as they exalt their own intellect above the Almighty Creator of heaven and earth, Maker of the sea and all that is in it. They are but pawns in Satan’s plans; mercy and grace are foreign concepts to them. May this not be true of us!]
 
Praise God that He is the opposite of this: our gracious Savior, our caring Shepherd, our powerful Protector and persistent Provider. We can always know that “This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!”
May be an image of tree, twilight, nature and sky
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Psalm 17:8b

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 19, 2022
Psalm 17:8b “hide me in the shadow of your wings.”
[You, Heavenly Father, actively shelter your children, covering us with your pinions of your Presence and Power, keeping us safe from what is truly evil, like the rooster in the picture below.
 
But we, like chicks, must choose to stay under your wings, to abide in your love, as you, Jesus, command us in John 15:9-10, “Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.”
If we choose to disobey your commands, Lord Jesus, and in arrogance and selfishness elevate our intellect and desires above your Word, as Adam and Eve did, we remove ourselves from the protecting shelter of your love.
Even then, though, you never stop loving us. You are always there, calling us, waiting for us to come and again abide in your shelter, your grace, your unconditional love.
And when we do stray in disobedience, you actively, in your love, chasten us by letting us suffer the consequences of our poor choices (Heb. 12:1-17). You do this so we will come to our senses and return to obedience to you.
 
You WILL hide us under your wings, if only we will come and abide there.]
Help us, Lord, to abide in your love, obeying what we know to be true, reveling in the Truth of your great and wonderful compassion and care for us. May we have the glow of your love in our hearts, in our souls and on our faces as we go with you into today, that we may bring light and hope to all those we meet.
May be an image of game fowl
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More on how Jesus loves us!

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 18, 2022
The Father loves the Son because God IS love; He can never not love. His love is “agape,” that is, it does not depend on the response of the loved one. Whatever we may do, God’s love will not stop flowing to us.
Now, here’s the point: as the Father loves the Son, so Jesus loves us!!! This is an astounding, beautiful, transforming and wonderful truth, too good to be true–and yet it is true for all believers. This is because Jesus has purchased us and given us His righteousness, His guiltless record and His holiness.
We can exult with John as he wrote in 1 John 3:1, “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”
So, we don’t have to try and live off the love others give us; instead we can live out of the Love God always gives us, being confident in His acceptance, forgiveness and liking us!
 
Knowing who we are, a deeply loved child of God, gives us a sense of worth, security and purpose in life.
 
Knowing how much we are loved, we can love, forgive and like ourselves! And others. We can rest in His love, abide in His love and revel in His love because it is wide like this field, secure, eternal and wholehearted. It is not based on us but upon His unchanging, all powerful nature. We ARE the apple of His eye!]
 
May be an image of nature, tree and grass
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Psalm 17:8

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 17, 2022
Psalm 17:8 “Keep me as the apple of your eye;”
[This, Lord God, is how you view each of your children, the object of your illogical, unbelievable love. To you we are special, unique, wonderful and dearly loved. By you we are delighted in, doted on and deeply cared for.
 
You chose us, you cleansed us from our sin and guilt, you called us into your arms, you claimed us as your children, you commissioned us to special service and you cherish us wholeheartedly with joy.
Jesus made an amazing statement in John 15:9, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.” This is an astounding, ground-shaking, worldview-shifting announcement. If we grasp this in ongoing depth, it will change our whole lives, resulting in us “being filled to the measure of all the fullness of God” (Eph. 3:16-19).
And how does God the Father love Jesus the Son?
He loves Him enthusiastically and Eternally,
wholeheartedly, willingly, widely,
without equivocation without reservation, without interruption,
without any doubts, without remorse,
joyfully, jubilantly and justly,
positively, purposefully and powerfully,
constantly, creatively and consistently,
warmly, wonderfully, wildly,
fully, forcefully and forever.
Most foundationally, the Father loves the Son because God IS love; He can never NOT love. His love is “agape,” that is, it does not depend on the response of the loved one. Whatever we may do, God’s love will not stop flowing to us.
 
In this truth we rest, O God, reveling, exalting in your rich, deep and immeasurable love. May we grasp this more deeply every day so our lives will be transformed.
May be an image of nature
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Psalm 17:7

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 16, 2022
Psalm 17:7 “Show the wonder of your great love,
[Yours, Lord Jesus, is a love far richer and deeper, more committed than even David could know in his time. He was not able to see your great plan to move through immense suffering–spiritually, mentally, emotionally, physically and volitionally–which you were willing to endure because of you love for your rebellious creatures. To say your love is wonderful is a woefully inadequate statement! Praise you for your immeasurable, mighty, all-encompassing, all consuming compassion]
“you who save by your right hand those who take refuge in you from their foes.”
[Your right hand, the hand of honor, is powerful and adequate to save us in any danger. You, Lord Jesus, are our sure Refuge, our high Tower, our mighty Rock, our righteous Redeemer and sufficient Savior who is every watching over us.
 
We must, however, run to you and take shelter in that refuge. We are called to partnership with you and need to actively join you so you can do your promised part.
I praise you, Lord God, that you, in your immense might, your persistent power, your notable knowledge of all and your pervasive presence, can never be defeated.
 
No one can trick you, fool you or get around you. Therefore, you are fully able to protect us, to bring us through whatever events you allow and bring us down your green path and out into the wide and pleasant place you have prepared, into the green pastures of your pleasure.
We praise you now for what you will do today in protecting us, preparing all for us and providing what we need. May we live in the light of this truth and rest in you, no matter what comes.]
May be an image of nature, tree and grass
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Psalm `17:6

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 15, 2022
 
Psalm 17:6 “I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer.”
[Your faithfulness, Lord, is the impetus for prayer. You Will hear, you Will answer, you Will help–because it is your nature to be faithful!
 
As my wife says, you, Lord, have four possible answers to our prayers and always give us one of them. These possibilities are: yes, no, wait; or “Are you kidding?!!” I am so glad that you do not give a “yes” to some of the outrageous things I’ve asked for in the past. Praise you for you know all and answer in your wisdom.
We can be so certain of your answering, as your promise in the rainbow states, that in any circumstance we can give thanks before we see any sign of an answer. We can fully rest in you, we don’t have to panic, we don’t have to cling to our desired outcome, we don’t have to be afraid. We can, before an answer comes, know that you will faithfully do what is best. Your promise to hear and answer was David’s hope–and ours, too.]
May be an image of nature and sky
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Psalm 17:3-5

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 14, 2022
Psalm 17:3 “Though you probe my heart and examine me at night, though you test me, you will find nothing;”
[Here is a statement I find hard to understand. I cannot say this–only a slight probe in me will find a multitude of wrong in my motives, thoughts and actions. Perhaps David was speaking more of the fact that he has not responded incorrectly in his present situation; maybe he has forgiven and prayed for the good of his enemies. Perhaps he has already confessed his sin in the situation and now stands cleansed as far as he knows.]
“I have resolved that my mouth will not sin.”
[He’s not going to give a response of the flesh, but speak what he knows is pleasing to you, Lord. That hints at checking his motives, thinking through his possible responses and choosing to obey what he knows is right. May I live like that.]
Psalm 17:4 “As for the deeds of men—by the word of your lips I have kept myself from the ways of the violent.”
[Perhaps here David, who was a man of war, is talking specifically of the instance before him where he did not respond to these people in violence (which he could have done), acting instead according your commands in grace and quietness. May I do the same!]
Psalm 17:5 “My steps have held to your paths; my feet have not slipped.”
[As David sought to obey, running in the paths prepared by you, Lord, he did not stumble or fall. It was only when he strayed from your path that he slipped, fell and took many others down with him.
Lord keep me on your path, surround me with your hedge of thorns, pricking me immediately when I zig or zag off your way so I can quickly repent and get back on your path. May I not slip today and thereby bring you honor.]
May be an image of lake, tree, nature, sky and twilight
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Psalm 17:2

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 13, 2022
Psalm 17:2 “May my vindication come from you; may your eyes see what is right.”
[Truly, vindication can only fully come from you, Lord, for only you know fully what is good. We can rest in that awesome truth that you see everything, both right and wrong, and love us anyway.
Your Word is clear on how we should trust you to deal with those who oppose us. As it says in the Old Testament, “Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psa. 37:1-4).
This concept is repeated more powerfully in the New Testament: “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.
 
“On the contrary: ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom. 12:19-21).
In the picture here, the beauty of these leaves was revealed by the recent frost. Likewise, the beauty of the Lord is revealed in us through difficulties, if we respond according to His Word.
Lord, help us to look to you for vindication and for dealing with those who treat us like their enemies. May our delight be in you, not in vengeance or winning. May you thusly be glorified before all those around us, especially before those who oppose us. And right now, I am in the midst of such a conflict with a renter who sees me as the enemy, so I must apply all this personally! I praise you for how you will answer in faithfulness and righteousness and bring vindication.]
Epilogue: as I asked, the Lord gave wisdom through Psalm 37 (do good) in how to do good to this renter who treated me as an enemy, and he straightened out.
May be an image of tree and nature
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Psalm 17:1

Published by S.M. Wibberley on July 12, 2022
God calls us to make the choice to be holy because He himself is holy.
Psalm 17:1 “Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea; listen to my cry.”
[You, Lord, are the prayer-answering God. Intercession was your invention, giving us a way to enter your presence, your arms, your heart, your plans.
You are the God who
–heard Joseph and gave him the interpretation of dreams;
–who heard Moses and opened the Red Sea;
–who heard David and defeated his enemies;
–who heard Daniel and told him the dream of the king;
–who heard Jesus and raised Lazarus from the dead.
–And you are the God who hears us still and will answer in the same faithfulness and power you always have.]
“Give ear to my prayer—it does not rise from deceitful lips.”
[Your part is to hear, ours is to come to you in integrity, not trying to manipulate you or paint ourselves as better than we are or trick you into moving against someone unjustly. To do any of these is, of course, ridiculous, for nothing is hidden from your eyes, including our motives. You are the all-seeing, all-knowing, all-present One.
Praise you that we can and must be totally transparent before you—and that such honesty does not negatively affect your openness to us one bit, “for you are good and ready to forgive and plenteous in mercy to all who call upon you” (Psalm 86:5).
May be an image of African daisy and nature
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