Meditating on Body Parts

Psalm 17 contains more references to body parts than it has verses. (The poem is in parts difficult to understand and translate which is why some will interpret some of the verses differently from how I read them here although this does not affect the references to parts of the body as such.)

The psalmist refers to his lips in verse 1, his heart and his mouth in verse 3, his feet in verse 5 and possibly his throat in verse 9 ("my deadly enemies" = "the enemies at my throat"; in verse 13 nefesh ["throat", "neck", "soul"] refers to the life of the psalmist).*

The preposition "from" with which verse 9 opens hints at the face of the wicked (plural) and in verse 13 God is literally asked to confront the face of the wicked (singular) who is forced to his knees. The callousness of the wicked is described in verse 10 as being "inclosed in their own fat" (KJV, modern translation usually speak more freely of "closing their hearts to pity") and their arrogance finds expression in their mouths. Their determination to harm the psalmist is seen in their eyes (verse 11). The share in life of these people is what goes into their belly (verse 14).

God is asked to give ear (verse 1), to incline his ear (verse 6) to the psalmist. The preposition with which verse 2 opens can be rendered more literally "from your face" (= "from your presence," cf. below on the final verse). The verse goes on to refer to God's eyes, later on the pupil of God's eye is specifically mentioned (verse 8). God's lips feature in verse 4, his right hand in verse 7. Verse 14 speaks more generally of his hand. While the danger from the wicked is described in leonine imagery (verse 12), the protection God offers is spoken of in ornithological imagery with reference to wings under which one can find refuge (verse 7).

The psalm concludes, "As for me, being in the right I will see your face; I will be satisfied when I awake [with seeing] your form."

These references allow for various connections and contrasts. The psalmist is caught between the presence of God and the presence of the wicked - both referenced in prominently placed prepositions which hint at the faces of friend and foe (verse 2 using the fuller form than verse 9). The wicked have their eyes on the psalmist for harm (verse 11) who therefore wants to be not only in the sight of his God but to be the very apple of his eye. The salvation must come from God facing up to and facing down the oppressor, bringing him to his knees (verse 13) before the psalmist is cast to the ground (verse 11).

The contrast between the psalmist and the wicked is marked by what comes out of their mouths (verse 3, verse 10). The good use of lips by the person praying is arguably also the result of paying heed to the word that comes from God's lips (verse 4), unlike the arrogant. From this comes confidence that God will incline his ear to what comes out of the psalmist's mouth rather than the mouth of the proud.

Only the feet of the psalmist are explicitly mentioned but the violent have their ways (verse 4), as God has his tracks (or ruts, usually translated "paths," verse 5). This assumes that the feet of the opposing parties have both left grooves between which the psalmist had to decide.(The wicked are now in turn trying to track down the palmist, verse 11.)

The references to the psalmist's heart and throat are unique within the psalm, highlighting his integrity and vulnerability.

The wicked are uniquely characterised by reference to fat and belly, fitting with a concern for the goods of this life without regard to the giver of life whose face the psalmist is keen to see.

The double reference to God's (right) hand stresses his power, the unique reference to wings his protection (cf. the unique reference to the apple of his eye).

What then does it mean to see the form or likeness of God (verse 15)? Does the psalmist expect to see the face of a large bird with hands? Hardly. The verse seems to allude to Numbers 12.

"When there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, will make myself known to him in a vision; in a dream I will speak with him. Not so my servant Moses...with him I will speak mouth to mouth, clearly and not in riddles; the form of the LORD he will see."

The psalmist expects communion with God which is unambiguous and in a state of being awake, not in a dream. He expects to enjoy the presence of God (seeing his face), as he perceives the presence (the form or likeness) of a protective bird rather than an attacking lion. The verse speaks about intimacy and to speak about intimacy the psalmist reaches for bodily language.


* I use "his" in keeping with the gender of the Hebrew terms and the superscription "A Plea of David" and because the use of the singular "their" (which I use in other contexts) seems less appropriate in a discussion of body parts. This should not prevent women from appropriating the language for their own prayers.

Hymns of Grace

This is a table of contents for the hymnal Hymns of Grace published by The Master's Seminary Press. At the time of writing free MP3 files with piano accompaniments of these hymns were available on the website from which this information is gleaned as well. The website also has an alphabetical list of hymns here.

1           Sing Praise to God Who Reigns Above

2           Praise to the Lord, the Almighty

3           Praise the Lord Ye Heavens Adore Him

4           Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven

5           How Great Thou Art

6           The God of Abraham Praise

7           Sing Praise to the Lord

8           We Praise Thee, O God, Our Redeemer

9           Stand Up and Bless the Lord

11         All Creatures of Our God and King

14         Give to Our God Immortal Praise

17         O Father, You Are Sovereign

18         All People That on Earth Do Dwell

19         To God Be the Glory

23         Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee

24         O My Soul, Bless God the Father

25         The Perfect Wisdom of Our God

26         I Sing the Mighty Power of God

29         Creation Sings

31         This Is My Father's World

32         These Great Things

33         Our Sovereign God

35         O Great God

36         Immortal, Invisible

37         How Great Our God's Majestic Name

39         Eternal Light! Eternal Light!

40         Let the Earth Resound

42         Our Great God

44         Come, Praise and Glorify

47         Tell Out, My Soul

48         Holy, Holy, Holy

50         Adoration

51         The Secret Place

52         Dear Refuge of My Weary Soul

53         A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

54         My Lord I Did Not Choose You

55         O God, Our Help in Ages Past

57         God Leads Us Along

58         He Leadeth Me! O Blessed Thought

59         Abide with Me

60         Be Still, My Soul

61         Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah

63         I Asked the Lord That I Might Grow

64         Like a River Glorious

66         Whate'er My God Ordains Is Right

67         Still, My Soul, Be Still

68         When All Thy Mercies, O My God

69         Day by Day

71         Take Thou My Hand, O Father

73         O Lord, Thy Touch Hath Stirred My Soul

75         O Love That Will Not Let Me Go

76         Lord, with Glowing Heart I'd Praise Thee

77         God of Grace

78         Grace Greater Than Our Sin

79         When Trials Come

80         How Deep the Father's Love for Us

81         I Am His, and He Is Mine

83         By Grace Alone

84         Mercies Anew

85         My Song Forever Shall Record

86         Great Is Thy Faithfulness

87         Love of God

88         God Moves in a Mysterious Way

89         Amazing Grace! How Sweet the Sound 

91         The Love of God

92         God of Grace and God of Glory

94         Praise Him! Praise Him!

96         When Morning Gilds the Skies

97         We Will Glorify

98         My Worth Is Not in What I Own

100       O God, My Joy

101       My Heart Is Full of Christ

102       Jesus Is Lord

103       I Greet Thee, Who My Sure Redeemer Art

104       Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing

105       My Savior's Love

106       Let Us Love and Sing and Wonder

107       Fairest Lord Jesus

109       Why Should I Sorrow More

110       Thine Is the Glory

111       We Come, O Christ, to You

112       Complete in Thee

113       Join All the Glorious Names

115       Jesus, Thou Joy of Loving Hearts

116       Rejoice, the Lord Is King

117       King of the Ages

118       Hail to the Lord's Anointed

119       There Is a Higher Throne

120       Jesus Shall Reign

121       Christ Triumphant, Ever Reigning

124       Lead On, O King Eternal 

125       Come, Christians, Join to Sing

126       Behold Our God

127       Look, Ye Saints! The Sight Is Glorious

128       Onward March, All-Conquering Jesus

129       Crown Him with Many Crowns

130       Hail, Thou Once Despised Jesus

131       The Head That Once Was Crowned

133       All Glory Be to Christ

134       Begin, My Tongue, Some Heavenly Theme

135       O Worship the King

136       O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing

138       All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name

140       At the Name of Jesus

141       Lift High the Name of Jesus

143       All Hail the Power of Jesus' Name

144       Glorious Is Thy Name

146       How Sweet the Name of Jesus Sounds

147       I Heard the Voice of Jesus Say

148       Relentless Love

149       Jesus, Thy Boundless Love to Me

150       Wonderful Grace of Jesus

151       Jesus, Lover of My Soul

152       Jesus I Am Resting, Resting

153       Beloved and Blessed

154       Oh, the Deep, Deep Love

155       Jesus, the Very Thought of Thee

156       His Forever

157       Oh, How He Loves You and Me

159       O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus

161       Love Divine, All Loves Excelling

162       Wonderful, Merciful Savior

163       Compassion Hymn

164       What a Friend We Have in Jesus

165       Jesus, Draw Me Ever Nearer

166       I Run to Christ

167       Good Shepherd of My Soul

168       Psalm 23

170       Savior, like a Shepherd Lead Us

171       The King of Love My Shepherd Is

172       All the Way My Savior Leads Me

173       O Thou, In Whose Presence

174       Give Me Jesus

175       My Shepherd, You Supply My Need

176       Be Thou My Vision

177       In Christ Alone

179       'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus

180       And Can It Be?

181       His Robes for Mine

183       Ah, Holy Jesus, How Have You Offended?

184       Come, Behold the Wondrous Mystery

185       Here Is Love

186       A Debtor to Mercy

187       Before the Throne of God Above

188       Jesus, Thy Blood and Righteousness

189       Depth of Mercy

190       What Wondrous Love Is This

191       My Hiding Place

193       Beautiful Savior

194       O Love Divine

195       I Hear the Words of Love

196       I Will Glory in My Redeemer

198       Across the Lands

200       Hallelu Jah! My Redeemer

201       There Is a Redeemer

202       My Song Is Love Unknown

203       O Christ, Our Hope, Our Heart's Desire

204       Free from Guilt and Free from Sin

206       Jesus! What a Friend for Sinners

207       O the Love of My Redeemer

208       My Ransom

209       Rock of Ages

210       I Will Sing of My Redeemer

212       Glorious Day

213       My Hope Is in the Lord

214       Of the Father's Love Begotten

215       Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence

216       Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus

218       O Come, O Come Emmanuel

219       Thou Who Wast Rich

220       Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming

221       Fullness of Grace

222       Angels, from the Realms of Glory

223       The First Noel

224       Joy to the World

225       Go, Tell It on the Mountain

226       Good Christian Men, Rejoice

227       Angels We Have Heard on High

228       We Three Kings of Orient Are

229       Sing We Now of Christmas

230       What Child Is This?

231       O Come, All Ye Faithful

232       Away in a Manager

234       All Is Well

235       Away in a Manager

236       Silent Night, Holy NIght

237       Joy Has Dawned

238       Hark! the Herald Angels Sing

239       While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks

240       O Holy Night!

242       O Little Town of Bethlehem

245       Exult in the Savior's Birth

246       It Came upon the Midnight Clear

247       Once in Royal David's City

249       I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

250       Infant Holy, Infant Lowly

251       The Birthday of a King

252       I Wonder As I Wander

253       He Is Born

254       How Great Our Joy!

255       O Hearken Ye

256       Who Is He in Yonder Stall?

257       Love Incarnate

259       Thou Didst Leave Thy Throne

260       All Glory, Laud, and Honor

261       Hark, the Glad Sound

263       Worthy Is the Lamb

264       Lamb of Glory

265       Lamb of God

266       Come, Let Us Join Our Cheerful Songs

268       Gaze on the Christ

269       I Lay My Sins on Jesus

271       O Sacred Head, Now Wounded

272       The Power of the Cross

273       Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross

274       When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

275       The Old Rugged Cross

276       Go to Dark Gethsemane

277       Lift High the Cross

278       Beneath the Cross of Jesus

279       The Wonderful Cross

280       O Mighty Cross

281       Jesus Paid It All

282       Alas! and Did My Savior Bleed?

283       Were You There?

284       At the Cross

285       In the Cross of Christ I Glory

286       Beneath the Cross

287       Hallelujah for the Cross

288       What Sacred Fountain Freely Springs

289       In the Cross Alone I Glory

290       When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

291       Arise, My Soul, Arise

292       How Rich a Treasure We Possess

293       Alas, and Did My Savior Bleed?

294       O Fount of Love

296       Hallelujah, What a Savior!

298       See the Destined Day Arise

299       Cross of Jesus, Cross of Sorrow

300       My Jesus, Fair

301       There Is a Fountain

302       Nothing but the Blood

303       Stricken, Smitten, and Afflicted

304       He Was Wounded

305       Lead Me to Calvary

307       Christ Arose!

308       Christ Is Risen, He Is Risen Indeed!

309       Jesus Christ Is Risen Today

310       Resurrection Hymn

312       Christ the Lord Is Risen Today

313       Hail the Day That Christ Arose

315       Hail the Day That Sees Him Rise

316       Spirit of God, Descend upon My Heart

317       Light of God

318       Holy Spirit, Living Breath of God

319       Breathe on Me, Breath of God

321       Come Down, O Love Divine

324       God, Our Father, We Adore Thee

325       O Sing, My Soul

326       Come, Thou Almighty King

327       Holy God, We Praise Thy Name

328       Praise Ye the Triune God

329       You Are the Lord!

330       A Triune Prayer

332       Oh, How Good It Is

334       Brethren, We Have Met to Worship

335       Who Is on the Lord's Side?

337       Jehovah's Bride

338       O Church of Christ, Invincible

339       Rise Up, O Men of God!

341       Never Cease to Praise

343       The Communion Hymn

346       A Christian Home

347       So Send I You

348       Facing a Task Unfinished

349       Salvation's Song

350       How Sweet and Aweful Is the Place

352       I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord

353       O Church, Arise

354       The Church's One Foundation

355       Christ Is Made the Sure Foundation

356       I Know Whom I Have Believed

357       Great Is the Gospel of Our Glorious God

358       Ye Servants of God

359       My Soul Finds Rest

361       By Faith

363       Every Promise of Your Word

364       How Firm A Foundation

365       Ancient Words

366       My Soul Longs for the Lord

368       Speak, O Lord

371       O Word of God Incarnate

373       Rejoice, Ye Pure in Heart

374       My Heart Is Filled with Thankfulness

375       Take My Life and Let It Be

376       What Grace Is Mine

377       May the Mind of Christ My Savior

378       Soldiers of Christ, Arise

379       I'd Rather Have Jesus

380       My Jesus, I Love Thee

381       The Solid Rock

382       Dear Lord and Father of Mankind

383       God Almighty, Strong, Secure

385       More Love to Thee, O Christ

386       I Gave My Life for Thee

388       He Will Hold Me Fast

389       All I Have Is Christ

390       God, Be Merciful to Me

391       Come, Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy

392       Today Thy Mercy Calls Us

393       Take My Life and Let It Be

394       Jesus, I My Cross Have Taken

395       Come, Lonely Heart

397       I Plead for Grace

398       God, Be Merciful to Me

399       The Master Has Come

401        Hiding in Thee

402        Rejoice! Rejoice, Believers!

403        Blessed Assurance, Jesus Is Mine

404        My Faith Has Found a Resting Place

405        Not in Me

406        Christ, the Sure and Steady Anchor

407        It Is Well with My Soul

408        My Faith Looks Up to Thee

409        Come, My Soul, Your Plea Prepare

410        The Lord's Prayer

411        All Your Anxiety

413        Merciful God

414        Approach, My Soul, the Mercy Seat

415        Come to Me

416        I Need Thee Every Hour

417        Fill Thou My Life

418        For All the Saints

419        Hear the Call of the Kingdom

420        A Charge to Keep I Have

421        Am I a Soldier of the Cross?

422        See, He Comes

423        On Jordan's Stormy Banks I Stand

424        Come Quickly, Lord

425        Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken

426        He Shall Come Again in Glory

427        The Sands of Time Are Sinking

428        Come, We That Love the Lord

429        For the Beauty of the Earth

431        God of Our Fathers

433        Now Thank We All Our God

435        We Gather Together

436        Come, Ye Thankful People, Come

437        Now unto Him

438        Benediction

439        Doxology (OWENS)

440        Doxology

442        O Breath of God

444       Now Blessed Be the Lord Our God