Thoughts...

This psalm is not one that stands out, yet when I read it I find it has several of my favorite images, of God and people. The first that stands out is the image in v. 8 " Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings." The 'apple of your eye' phrase is also found in Deut32:10 and refers to God's care of the new nation of Israel which He guarded as the apple of His eye which is the "daughter" or pupil...that special part of the eye which we all guard carefully in order to maintain our sight. Think how you blink when something comes at your eye...it is a reflex, done to protect. The prayer of the psalmist is that God would treat us as precious, as a daughter, as the pupil of His eye; not even needing to think but merely to react in order to protect us.
The second image, of being under the shadow of His wings refers to the way a chicken protects her chicks...sometimes with her life. This image was used by Jesus in Mat. 23:37 to indicate His desire to protect Jerusalem...In the shadow of His wings one is near to Him, protected and cared for. What a lovely thought. The obvious lesson is that we must be near enough to actually be in the shadow. How close do we wish to stay?

There are at least four instances in this psalm in which the psalmist asks God to hear his prayer. The first three are in the first two verses. The psalmist gives his reasons for God to answer him; he is not deceitful in his prayer and in vs 3-4 he states basically that he is righteous, not having followed sin, violence, wayward paths. I have always cringed a bit when the psalmists claim righteousness, as only God is righteous. I am not certain of how to understand this, but do think David, as psalmist is making a case for his effort to obey and follow God. This would include sacrifices for sin and the attendent cost. He is a man of integrity and desires to follow God. He has aligned himself with God as his King and protector and in that vein claims he is loyal, true and trustworthy, seeking God's glory and fame and not his own. This is the basis for his request.
What then is his request? He is trapped as seen in vs9b-12. His mortal enemies have surrounded him...The only way out is through the intervention of God. A reminder to us that when evil comes into our lives, and it does, God is the first one we need to turn to and the only way out...
David's comment in v14 concerning the fate of the men of this world is sobering. He states "whose reward is in this life." That is indeed a pitible state. If the great goodies of this world are all the reward on has to gain how much have they really lost...eternity, joy, love, peace, comfort and on and on. Perhaps this is one great reason to pray for my enemies.
Finally, I really like the last verse of the psalm. "And I-in righteousness I will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness." The idea that David will see the righteous face of God when he awakes...and that will satisfy.
Have you ever known what will bring you joy and contentment and looked forward to it anxiously? Here David knows that God alone will satisfy, will fill him to the place of satisfaction. That is a desire I wish to cultivate.