Psalm 16 (17)
A prayer of David

Listen, O Lord of my righteousness;
Attend to my supplication;
Give ear to my prayer that is not with
Deceitful lips.
From your face let my judgement come;
Let my eyes behold uprightness.
You tested my heart, when You visited
Me in the night;
You tried me in the fire, and found
Nothing unjust in me.
That my mouth might not speak of the
Works of men,
I held to hard ways because of the
Words of Your lips.
Restore my steps in Your paths,
That my footsteps may not slip.
I cried out, because You listened to me,
Oh God;
Incline Your ear to me, and hear my
Words.
Magnify your mercies,
O You who save those who hope in You
From those who rise up against Your
Right hand.
Keep me as the apple of your eye;
In the shelter of Your wings, You will
Shelter me
From the face of the ungodly who
Trouble me.
My enemies surround my soul;
Their fat enclosed them;
Their mouth spoke arrogantly.
Casting me out, they now surround
Me;
They set their eyes to bend down to
The earth.
They seized me like a lion ready to
Tear its prey,
Like a young lion lurking in secret
Places.
Arise, O Lord, outrun them and trip up
Their heels;
Rescue my soul from the ungodly,
And your sword from the enemies of
Your hand.
O Lord, destroy them from the earth;
Scatter them in their life.
Their belly is filled with Your hidden
Things;
They are satisfied with their sons,
And they leave their possessions to
Their children.
As for me, in righteousness I shall
Behold Your face;
I shall be satisfied when Your glory is
Revealed.

Commentary from the Orthodox Study Bible

Ps 16 was prayed by the Lord Jesus to the Father, to teach the Church to pray righteously and not with deceitful lips; for the Lord gives ear to those praying in truth. And we (1) see things the way the Lord sees them; (2) pass the test in the furnace of obedience to the Lord’s words; (3) hope in the Lord in the face of adversity; (4) experience protection from enemies, such as the devil and his angels; and (5) are satisfied by beholding the Lord’s face, that is, His glory.
Psalm 16 is used in the Third Hour Prayers of the Church.

Comments

Yes, Lord, please “magnify your mercies “ and shelter me “in the shelter of your wings.” That sounds so comforting in the midst of pressure we all face day in and day out. God, listen to us and guide us, restoring our steps in Your path so that we may be victorious. Satisfy us by revealing your glory. God, you are so good. Thank you, Lord.

How comforting to think of God sheltering us in his wings as we pray for Him to magnify His mercy. Have a mercy-full week!