Psalm 17

A Psalm of David

David makes a comparison of his trust, his reliance on God and the men of the world who trust not in God, but in their own devices.

In verse 15, David asks himself a question, then answers it, "As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness. I shall be satisfied when I awake with thy likeness".

"As for me?" Is that our testimony, our witness to the world that we neither envy nor covet the pleasures of man? Our hope is for far better.

To behold God’s face, to be changed by that vision, into his image, to partake in his righteousness; this is our ambition.

And in the prospect of this, we put aside all worldly pleasures; our satisfaction is yet to come, we don’t look for it now.

We shall all die for a little while, but we shall awake at the sound of the trumpet, wake to everlasting joy. Why? We "shall arise in his likeness".

We get glimpses of glory now. Just to whet out hunger for it. But a full feast awaits all who put their trust in Him.

Compared with this deep eternal fullness of the delight of joy, the pleasures of this world are just a drop in a bucket, compared to an ocean.

Cyril Morgan