What does Psalm 17:15 mean?

David presents a vivid contrast between the future of the men of the world and his own future. He has described the future of the men who have no eternal hope through faith in God as empty (Psalm 17:14). Now he describes his own future as glorious. He anticipates seeing God's face. He uses the words, "when I awake," to refer to his resurrection. This parallels the end of Psalm 16, where David rejoiced in knowing his eternal fate was secure (Psalm 16:10–11).

Daniel 12:2 also refers to "awake" as a depiction of resurrection. This verse tells us: "And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt." The Christian's future is also glorious. It includes the promise of resurrection (John 11:25) and the prospect of seeing the Lord face to face and being like Him (1 John 3:2). It is tragic that a person may gain the whole world but lose his own soul (Mark 8:36), but it is glorious if a person believes on Jesus as his Savior and "awakes" to a blissful eternity (1 Corinthians 15:51).