This is a beautiful prayer of David.
This is a prayer for the Lord’s help for him. It is a map of the two paths of life (the wicked and the righteous) and the destination of each one.
verse 1 – 2 introduces David’s prayer with a plea to the Lord to hear his righteous cry.
Reminiscent of the course from Fanny Crosby’s hymn, “Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior”
Savior, Savior,
Hear my humble cry,
While on others Thou art calling,
Do not pass me by.
verse 3 – 5 are David’s testimony of innocence.
verses. 6 – 9 is his request for the Lord’s continued protection of him – like of the apple of his eye.
V8 “Hide me in the shadow of your wings.” This was the prayer of David and years later Jesus as he was going to the cross he looked out over Jerusalem and saw a few years into the future, when Rome ransacked the city and with heart wrenching words cries, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem… how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. Matthew 23:37 (NIV84)
In verses. 10 -12 David brings his enemies before the Lord. Then in verses. 13 – 14a he asks God to bring justice to his enemies.
In 14b -15 he concludes with a confident trust in his providence.
There is a special strong contrast between verse 14 and verse 15; “…men of this world whose reward is in this life.” and verse 15; “…in righteousness I will see your face: when I awake I will see you likeness.”
Magnificent!