Psalms 17:9-12

Whatever the situation in David’s life was to which he referred in this psalm, it is clear from these verses that David’s enemies were surrounding him (figuratively if not literally, cf. Psalms 22:12-18). They determined to kill him. They appear to have been confident of their success, too. Their eyes were on David even as the Lord’s were (Psalms 17:8 a), but there was hatred in their gaze. Rather than protecting him lovingly as a mother bird (Psalms 17:8 b), they were out to tear him apart and devour him as a lion does its prey, by sneaking around and attacking. The lion is a symbol of brute strength and a ferocious appetite (cf. Judges 14:14), and so provides a fitting picture of the wicked (cf. Psalms 7:2; Psalms 10:9; Psalms 22:13).