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Demos Psalms

Psalm 17: Show Me the Wonder of Your Love

In Psalm 17, the Psalmist is being pursued by enemies and calls to God for help. The six-part Psalm includes an initial appeal for God to hear, a proclamation of innocence, a petition (save me!), an accusation of the wicked, another petition, and a final word of confidence that God will save.

Psalm 17 is not really for adults only,
but your kids probably won’t like it very much.

While I’m sympathetic to the Psalmist’s plight, the bulk of the Psalm is taken up with the Psalmist explaining to God just how good he is (“If you try my heart…you will find no wickedness in me”) and just how bad the enemies are (“They close their hearts to pity; with their mouths they speak arrogantly”).

Samuel Terrien claims the song is chiastic (a mirrored text joined at the most important verse) focusing on verse 7, which he translates as: Make a miracle of love! That phrase became “Show me the wonder of your love” in this new song, and became my way into the entire Psalm. Once I had the refrain, I built around it with a six-part structure that mirrors the original.

And there you have it, your new favorite musical rendition of Psalm 17!

1. Lord, listen to my cry.
Hear me, O God of might.
Don’t let me suffer defeat.

You know I’ve always tried
to walk the path that’s right
and keep my heart from deceit.

I call on you, O God who listens,
hear my honest plea.
If you don’t save me, no one will.
Come rescue me.
Come rescue me.

Show me the wonder of your love.
Save me when I’m pursued.
Make me a miracle of trust.
Let me find me refuge in you.
Let me find me refuge in you.

2. When I from danger flee,
God, hide me in your wings.
Only your strength keeps me safe.

So many enemies
are all surrounding me,
ready to pounce on their prey.

Rise up, O Lord, and overthrow
the ones attacking me.
God, prove your power. Prove your love
and set me free.
Come, set me free.

Show me the wonder of your love.
Save me when I’m pursued.
Make me a miracle of trust.
Let me find me refuge in you.
Let me find me refuge in you.

Show me the wonder of your love.
Let me look on your face.
Fill me with your holy light.
And remain with me all my days.
And remain with me all my days.

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