Sandals Church Podcast

In Psalm 17, David prays for protection from the wicked and unjust. Pastor Fredo explores David’s plea for God to examine his heart and deliver him from those who seek his harm. This Psalm reflects the intimate relationship David had with God, entrusting his safety and justice to the Lord.
Pastor Fredo also highlights the confidence David has in God’s ability to deliver him. He encourages believers to trust in God's protection and to rely on His faithfulness in times of danger or injustice.

--

Support content like this and the vision of Sandals Church at http://sandalschurch.com/support/

Join our email list for content updates: http://sandalschurch.com/subscribe

Download the Sandals Church App: http://sandalschurch.com/app/

If you have questions, need prayer or want to get connected, please email us anytime at online@sandalschurch.com!

What is Sandals Church Podcast?

At Sandals Church, our vision is to be real with ourselves, God and others. This channel features sermons and teaching from Pastor Matt Brown and other members of the Sandals Church preaching team. You can find sermon notes, videos and more content at http://sandalschurch.com/watch

Pastor Fredo Ramos:

Psalm 17 as we continue in praying through the Psalms. Hear me, Lord. My plea is just. Listen to my cry. Hear my prayer.

Pastor Fredo Ramos:

It does not rise from deceitful lips. Let my vindication come from you. May your eyes see what is right. Though you probe my heart, though you examine me at night and test me, you will find that I have planned no evil. My mouth has not transgressed.

Pastor Fredo Ramos:

Though people tried to bribe me, I have kept myself from the ways of the violent. My steps have held to your paths. My feet have not stumbled. I call on you, my God, for you will answer me. Turn your ear to me and hear my prayer.

Pastor Fredo Ramos:

Show me the wonders of your great love, you who say by your right hand, and those who take refuge in you from their foes. Keep me as the apple of your eye. Hide me in the shadow of your wings. From the wicked who are out to destroy me, from my mortal enemies who surround me. Verse 11, it says, they tracked me down.

Pastor Fredo Ramos:

They now surround me with eyes alert to throw me to the ground. They're like a lion hungry for prey, like a fierce lion crouching in cover. Rise up, Lord. Confront them and bring them down. By your hand, save me from such people, Lord.

Pastor Fredo Ramos:

May what you have stored up for the wicked fill their bellies. May their children gorge themselves on it, and may there be leftovers for their little ones. But as for me, I will be vindicated, and I will see your face. When I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness. There's an intensity and a reality here to Psalm 17.

Pastor Fredo Ramos:

And as we read this by way of reflection, I wanna draw your attention to a few things. First, first two, let my vindication come from you. It's important for us today to realize that as we attempt to try to vindicate ourselves, to defend ourselves, that we should first trust and entrust ourselves to the God who will in fact vindicate us. David makes it clear in this prayer that he's innocent. In verse three, he talks about how you probe my heart.

Pastor Fredo Ramos:

At night you examine me and test me. In Hebrew times and in ancient days, it was common to believe that at night the individual was tested. In other words, at night we we tend to get introspective and our thoughts tend to surface. Right? This is the the importance of solitude.

Pastor Fredo Ramos:

Archbishop William Temple once said, true religion is what you do in your solitude. Real religion. And there, it's it's in that place that David is saying, you have tested me and I am innocent. And so please vindicate me. My steps are according to your paths.

Pastor Fredo Ramos:

And I love in verse a, what a word for us to meditate on today. Keep me as the apple of your eye. This is a Hebrew phrase that communicates God cherishes you today. He values you. And I think that's a beautiful invitation for us to pray.

Pastor Fredo Ramos:

As we consider the voice of Jesus through these psalms, we are reminded that even when we feel maybe isolated, maybe when we feel devalued because of a circumstance or because of a relationship, Psalm 17 is here to remind us today that we are the apple of God's eye. We are cherished by him, and we hide in the shadow of his wings. In other words, there's an intimacy to be found. If you're in the shadow of a wing, you are close. And so Jesus, we hear you today inviting us to draw close to you.

Pastor Fredo Ramos:

Even as we feel the need to defend ourselves, to prove ourselves right today, may we remember that vindication comes from you and you alone. And even in David's intensity of language that, their bellies would be full with their own inheritance and their children would receive it. God, we feel his heaviness and his anger towards his enemies, and we even confess that too. That within us there's an anger towards those who would seek our harm, and so we return to you the right to be just and the right to do what is right with them. So would you vindicate us and would we rest in your shadow and in the presence of your wings today?

Pastor Fredo Ramos:

We pray in Jesus' name. Amen. Grace and peace, and as always, stay tuned for Psalm 18.