April 20, 2023 -- Psalm 17:6-8a -- The Psalm Series: Kept as the apple of His eye

People loved by the Father, in the Spirit's power: Sh'ma ~ hear and obey Jesus!

I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
    incline your ear to me; hear my words.
7 Wondrously show your steadfast love,
    O Savior of those who seek refuge
    from their adversaries at your right hand.
8 Keep me as the apple of your eye;
    hide me in the shadow of your wings,
Psalm 17:6-8a ESV

It is the intimacy of these words that stands out to me. The whole Psalm is called “A Prayer of David”. His sins are well-known to us. He slept with Bathsheba, the wife of one of his closest friends and a general in his army. Then he killed this man in order to cover up his sin. He didn’t discipline his sons when they sinned. This chaos and absentee fathering led to one of his sons rising up against him in a coup. Knowing this highlights that it is the LORD Who wondrously shows steadfast love. He is also the initiator of the covenant. He is always the One Who by His Spirit holds us in the place where His steadfast love meets our deepest and greatest brokenness.

God is the Savior of all those who seek refuge in Him. Their refuge-seeking is based on His prior saving work. It is grace which surrounded the believer. In the Old Testament it is the foreshadowing of the grace that is ours in Jesus Christ. In the New Testament we know God the Savior through Jesus Christ. All the Old Testament pointed to the Father's faithful salvation that would be poured out in Jesus through Whom we are adopted as sons and daughters.

What a beautiful expression it is, to be kept as the apple of God’s eye. Think of it. If anything comes near your eye you instinctively swat it away, you zealously guard it so nothing happens to it. God, Who is all-powerful, will guard you as surely as you guard and protect your eye from all harm. What a beautiful protection is figured in that final line of today's text: “Hide me in the shadow of Your wings”. Imagine a massive eagle, strong and powerful, guarding her nest, shielding her eaglets under her wings.

Such imagery invites prayer. Such imagery was given to King David as inspiration so that believers generations and centuries removed from him, would by the Spirit’s power contemplate Who God is and be drawn to Him in prayer. Our sins cannot stop us from coming to God. Think of it, as often as we confess them, He inclines His hear to hear and to heal. What a mighty God we serve!

Our  Father in heaven hallowed and forever blessed be Your Name. Thank You for the wondrous salvation You have poured out on us in Jesus Christ. Thank You, Spirit of the Living God that in You and by Your powerful presence in our lives we are guarded as the apple of our Father's eye beneath the sheltering of His protecting wings. Increase our imagination of this glorious God so that our hearts will flow with never-ending prayer, devoting ourselves to this Mighty Savior Who has so fiercely, protectively, drawn us to Himself. Amen.

https://youtu.be/W5EUvOnQr4Y “His Mercy Is More” Matt Papa

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