My Plea

Psalm 17

This is another psalm of David. I noticed in the title that rather than saying "psalm" or "mitkam" that it says "prayer". I'm not sure if it indicates another style of poetry or a different musical style. It is clear that this psalm addresses God directly. It is another lament.
In this psalm, David opens with a plea for God to hear his prayer. In the second section David argues that he is upright and innocent and therefore does not deserve to be oppressed by his enemies. This is classic formulaic thinking which exists today: if we do this, then God must do this. David recognizes that this is not always the case in real life but basically his psalms of lament argue that this is the way it should be. The fact that it does not work that way indicates that something is broken. I would agree that something is broken but I don't think it is the formula necessarily. I don't agree that my actions demand certain responses or blessing from God.
In the third section David reflects on the intimacy of his relationship with the Lord. The relationship is two way: David has complete confidence in God and recognizes that God loves him very much. His request is that God would protect him from his enemies which leads David to reflect on the nature of his enemies in the fourth section. The fifth section contains David's request that his enemies be utterly destroyed and humiliated and, finally, David closes by expressing his confidence that God will vindicate him and that he will continue to have a close relationship with God.
I think it may be his confidence that he will have a close relationship with God that gives David comfort. In the end, whether his enemies triumph or not, David's relationship with God is secure and it is intimate. In fact David contends that he will see God's face and his likeness. This is huge! To see the face of God meant to be enveloped in all his majesty and all his glory. It almost always meant instant death because we, as sinful humans, could not survive in the presence of such intense holiness. But David desires God so much - more than he desires his vindication and the defeat of his enemies - that he is willing to risk death for the satisfaction of seeing God's likeness.
I don't think I understand the privilege that I have as a disciple of Christ. In Christ I am declared righteous enough to stand in the holy, majestic glorious presence of God and see him face to face. In Christ I can approach his throne with confidence. I am living out the blessing of the priests: May Lord make his face to shine upon you... may the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace! Amen!