John Calvin Commentary Psalms 17:1

"Hear the right, O Jehovah, attend unto my cry; Give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips." — Psalms 17:1 (ASV)

Hear my righteousness, O Jehovah. The Psalmist begins the psalm by setting forth the goodness of his cause. He does this because God has promised that He will not allow the innocent to be oppressed, but will always, eventually, help them. Some explain the word righteousness as meaning righteous prayer, an interpretation which seems unsatisfactory to me.

The meaning, rather, is that David, trusting in his own integrity, calls upon God as a Judge between himself and his enemies, to take notice of and decide his case. We have already seen in a preceding psalm that when we have to deal with wicked men, we may justifiably protest our innocence before God.

However, since it would not be enough for the faithful to have the approving testimony of a good conscience, David adds earnest prayer to his protestation. Even irreligious persons may often be able justly to boast of having a good cause. But as they do not acknowledge that the world is governed by the providence of God, they content themselves with enjoying the approval of their own conscience, as they put it, and, chafing at the bit, bear the injuries done to them more obstinately than steadfastly, since they do not seek any consolation in faith and prayer.

But the faithful not only depend upon the goodness of their cause; they also commit it to God that He may defend and maintain it. Whenever any adversity happens to them, they turn to Him for help.

This, therefore, is the meaning of the passage: it is a prayer that God, who knew David had acted justly and performed his duty without giving anyone reason to blame him, and was therefore being unjustly troubled by his enemies, would graciously look upon him. He prayed this especially because, trusting in God's help, he maintained good hope and, at the same time, prayed to Him with a sincere heart.

By the words cry and prayer he means the same thing; but the word cry, and the repetition of what it means by a different expression, serve to show his vehement, his intense earnestness of soul. Furthermore, as hypocrites speak proudly in commendation of themselves and, to show others a sign of the great confidence they have in God, utter loud cries, David declares concerning himself that he does not speak deceitfully. In other words, he does not use his crying and prayer as an excuse for covering his sins, but comes into the presence of God with sincerity of heart.

By this form of prayer, the Holy Spirit teaches us that we should diligently strive to live an upright and innocent life, so that if anyone gives us trouble, we may be able to boast that we are blamed and persecuted wrongfully.

Again, whenever the wicked assault us, the same Spirit calls upon us to engage in prayer. And if anyone, trusting to the testimony of a good conscience he enjoys, neglects the exercise of prayer, he deprives God of the honor due to Him by not referring his cause to Him and by not leaving Him to judge and decide it.

Let us also learn that when we present ourselves before God in prayer, it is not to be done with the adornments of artificial eloquence, for the finest rhetoric and the best appeal we can have before Him consists in pure simplicity.