The Sword And Hand Of The Lord

Psalm 17 begins with David asking The Lord to hear both his cry and his prayer. He is obviously distressed. He reminds God that he has chosen to avoid transgression even with his words and he has followed God's ways in all his dealings with men. After complimenting God on his loving kindness, strength and ability to save he comes out with what he wants God to do. It appears from the next verses that David has some enemies that are tormenting him and he wants The Lord to intervene. He describes the enemies: They are fat, proud, surround him and his people stopping progress, and stalk him like predators. What David declares next frankly astounded me and caused me to view my own tormentors in a new light. PS17:13 "...Deliver my soul from the wicked, which is thy sword: from men which are thy hand O Lord from men of the world, which have their portion in this life." David understood something that I didn't until I read his words. God uses people as a sword and as His hand. When enemies come against me I must consider the possibility that God has raised them up for His purposes. There are other reasons that enemies can rise up and I should ask The Lord for discernment in determining the cause.
   Davids final words in this Psalm are encouraging and are an Old Testament prophecy to which all believers look forward. "As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness." This same promise is echoed in 1John3:2 "We shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is."