Keep Me As the Apple of Your Eye

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Keep Me As the Apple of Your Eye

Date: Apr. 6, 2021

Passage

Psalm 17:1-15 (ESV)

A Prayer of David.

1   Hear a just cause, O LORD; attend to my cry!
    Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit!
2   From your presence let my vindication come!
    Let your eyes behold the right!
3   You have tried my heart, you have visited me by night,
    you have tested me, and you will find nothing;
    I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.
4   With regard to the works of man, by the word of your lips
    I have avoided the ways of the violent.
5   My steps have held fast to your paths;
    my feet have not slipped.
6   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,
9   from the wicked who do me violence,
    my deadly enemies who surround me.
10   They close their hearts to pity;
    with their mouths they speak arrogantly.
11   They have now surrounded our steps;
    they set their eyes to cast us to the ground.
12   He is like a lion eager to tear,
    as a young lion lurking in ambush.
13   Arise, O LORD! Confront him, subdue him!
    Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword,
14   from men by your hand, O LORD,
    from men of the world whose portion is in this life.
  You fill their womb with treasure;
    they are satisfied with children,
    and they leave their abundance to their infants.
15   As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness;
    when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness.

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Daily Bread

Key Verse: 17:8

Keep me as the apple of your eye;
hide me in the shadow of your wings,

1. Kept through what your lips commanded (1-5)

Perhaps David's enemies laid charge against him. David cried to God to hear his prayer and to vindicate him. He had kept his heart from evil through God's commands and walked in God's way. How can we keep our heart and daily conduct from evil? By living according to God's word (Ps 119:9).

2. I will see your face (6-15)

David knows that God saves those who take refuge in him like himself. So he asks God to keep him as the apple of God's eye and hide him in the shadow of God's wings. His enemies surround to prey upon him like a hungry lion. But God's almighty hand can save him. David sees his enemies receive rewards only in this life. But by faith, David prays that he will see God's face after waking up from death and be satisfied. Prayer is not only a means of asking God to do what we ask him to do, but also a channel of our relationship with God that satisfies us.

Prayer: Lord, keep me from sin through your word and by your mighty hands, and help me to be satisfied by you, not by things of the world.

One Word: The apple of God's eye

Israel Worshiped in Vain

Hosea 8:1-14

Key Verse: 8:1

Israel Will Reap the Whirlwind

8:1   Set the trumpet to your lips!
    One like a vulture is over the house of the LORD,
  because they have transgressed my covenant
    and rebelled against my law.

Today's Question

What is prayer?

See answer and references