Psalms 17:15

In contrast to the wicked, David found his greatest delight in God, not in the temporal things of this world (cf. Philippians 3:19-20). Some readers have assumed this verse refers to David’s hope of seeing God after he died. However, the preceding verses seem to point to a contrast: the preoccupation of the wicked with earthly things versus the preoccupation of David with God during their lifetimes. The awaking in view, then, would not be a reference to resurrection but to waking up from sleep day by day. Of course, David would one day really see God, but this verse does not seem to be describing that event. It speaks rather of David’s enjoyment of God’s presence before death (cf. Matthew 5:8; Titus 1:15). David’s concern was more God’s face and God’s likeness than his future resurrection.

In times of opposition from godless people whose whole lives revolve around material matters, God’s faithful followers can enjoy God’s fellowship now. They can also look forward to divine deliverance and to seeing the Lord one day. David’s hope lay in a continuing relationship with God, and so does ours. He did not have the amount of revelation of what lay beyond the grave that we do. He found comfort in his relationship with God in this life as being superior to what the wicked enjoyed. We do too, but we also know that in addition, when we die, we will go into the Lord’s presence and from then on be with Him (2 Corinthians 5:8; 1 Thessalonians 4:17).