Their earthly focus ultimately leads them away from spiritual fulfillment.
David, the second king of Israel who reigned from approximately 1010 BC to 970 BC, continues his prayer in Psalm 17 by describing those who trust only in earthly pursuits. He refers to them when he says, “From men with Your hand, O LORD, From men of the world, whose portion is in this life, And whose belly You fill with Your treasure; They are satisfied with children, And leave their abundance to their babes” (v.14). By calling upon the LORD to deliver him from such men, David points to a contrast between those who find their ultimate reward in this world and those who seek intimacy with God. The phrase “whose portion is in this life” draws attention to a limited earthly perspective, emphasizing how some people measure their satisfaction and success solely by the wealth and family they can accumulate.
When David says, “And whose belly You fill with Your treasure” (v.14), he acknowledges that even the earthly blessings these people receive come from God’s provision. Yet they do not honor the Giver; instead, they hold fast to the gifts. Their satisfaction lies in material gain, passing down their fortune to their children in pursuit of a lasting legacy. Here David reveals the temporal nature of worldly prosperity, especially when it is pursued as an end in itself. Echoes of this perspective appear throughout Scripture where Jesus teaches that storing up treasures on earth is fleeting, while storing up treasures in heaven lasts for eternity (reference: Matthew 6:19-20).
This verse also illustrates David’s trust in God to protect him from those who possess power and influence yet remain distant from the LORD’s righteousness. He recognizes that human strength and earthly prosperity, no matter how abundant, cannot satisfy the deepest needs of the heart. By focusing on God’s eternal perspective, David underscores that true security comes from placing one’s hope in the Almighty rather than in our own achievements or material pleasures.
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Psalms 17:14 meaning
David, the second king of Israel who reigned from approximately 1010 BC to 970 BC, continues his prayer in Psalm 17 by describing those who trust only in earthly pursuits. He refers to them when he says, “From men with Your hand, O LORD, From men of the world, whose portion is in this life, And whose belly You fill with Your treasure; They are satisfied with children, And leave their abundance to their babes” (v.14). By calling upon the LORD to deliver him from such men, David points to a contrast between those who find their ultimate reward in this world and those who seek intimacy with God. The phrase “whose portion is in this life” draws attention to a limited earthly perspective, emphasizing how some people measure their satisfaction and success solely by the wealth and family they can accumulate.
When David says, “And whose belly You fill with Your treasure” (v.14), he acknowledges that even the earthly blessings these people receive come from God’s provision. Yet they do not honor the Giver; instead, they hold fast to the gifts. Their satisfaction lies in material gain, passing down their fortune to their children in pursuit of a lasting legacy. Here David reveals the temporal nature of worldly prosperity, especially when it is pursued as an end in itself. Echoes of this perspective appear throughout Scripture where Jesus teaches that storing up treasures on earth is fleeting, while storing up treasures in heaven lasts for eternity (reference: Matthew 6:19-20).
This verse also illustrates David’s trust in God to protect him from those who possess power and influence yet remain distant from the LORD’s righteousness. He recognizes that human strength and earthly prosperity, no matter how abundant, cannot satisfy the deepest needs of the heart. By focusing on God’s eternal perspective, David underscores that true security comes from placing one’s hope in the Almighty rather than in our own achievements or material pleasures.