Peace & Blessings Beloved,
TGBTG for allowing us to see another day. I pray all is well with you and yours, and that your week has been fruitful & blessed thus far.
Last week we reviewed Psalm 8. Today, we're going to study Psalm 9.
With that in mind, let's get to it.
Psalm 9
I Will Recount Your Wonderful Deeds
To the choirmaster: according to Muth-labben. A Psalm of David.
I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. 2 I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.
3 When my enemies turn back, they stumble and perish beforeyour presence. 4 For you have maintained my just cause; you have sat on the throne, giving righteous judgment.
5 You have rebuked the nations; you have made the wicked perish; you have blotted out their name forever and ever. 6 The enemy came to an end in everlasting ruins; their cities you rooted out; the very memory of them has perished.
7 But the Lord sits enthroned forever; he has established his throne for justice, 8 and he judges the world with righteousness; he judges the peoples with uprightness.
9 The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. 10 And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.
11 Sing praises to the Lord, who sits enthroned in Zion! Tell among the peoples his deeds! 12 For he who avenges blood is mindful of them; he does not forget the cry of the afflicted.
13 Be gracious to me, O Lord! See my affliction from those who hate me, O you who lift me up from the gates of death, 14 that I may recount all your praises, that in the gates of the daughter of Zion I may rejoice in your salvation.
15 The nations have sunk in the pit that they made; in the net that they hid, their own foot has been caught. 16 The Lord has made himself known; he has executed judgment; the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands. Higgaion. Selah
17 The wicked shall return to Sheol, all the nations that forget God.
18 For the needy shall not always be forgotten, and the hope of the poor shall not perish forever.
19 Arise, O Lord! Let not man prevail; let the nations be judged before you! 20 Put them in fear, O Lord! Let the nations know that they are but men! Selah
Chapter Summary:
Fervent praise acknowledges God's help and righteous judgments. Prayer follows for continued favors.
In knowledge of His present mercy, in forethought of His coming kingdom, let praise be on our lips. Let our constant utterance magnify His doings: past, present, future.
Synopsis:
The Lord is worthy to be praised with all our energies, with all our powers, in every pulse of our affections, in every movement of our minds, in all places, and at all times.
“The past tenses of verses 5-8 are prophetic perfects, a feature of the Old Testament: they describe coming events as if they have already happened, so certain is their fulfillment and so clear the vision.” (Kidner)
God tarries that the saints may stir Him up. Their supplications will be heard. The ungodly shall be taught that at their best they are weak flesh and blood. Their strength is nothing before YHWH's arm.
Key Takeaways:
David recognized that God was worthy of praise with the whole heart. His entire being should be directed in affection toward God.
Simply remembering and telling the great things God has done is a wonderful way to praise Him.
David saw God move against his enemies by defending him on the principle of right and wrong in his conflict.
David assured his enemies that their attempts at evil would end in futility.
God's judgment is always righteous.
God will be a refuge for the oppressed.
David did not see his rescue as the final goal; the goal was always God’s greater glory.
Even the best plans and efforts of those who oppose God end up serving His purpose.
This pattern is demonstrated again and again in the Scriptures:
Esau and Isaac plot against the purpose of God and end up serving it.
Joseph’s brothers fight against the plan of God only to further it.
Haman built a gallows for Mordecai the Jew, only to be executed upon it himself.
Judas betrayed Jesus and became himself a fulfillment of prophecy.
David's hope was that the display of God’s judgment would teach the nations their proper place before God.
Conclusion:
We will always have general and specific things to thank and praise God for
Instead of always looking to see that God is on our side, we should instead endeavor to always be on God’s side, by rigorously conforming ourselves to His word.
May we establish, nurture, and grow a sincere love for the word of God, and study it lovingly & faithfully.
I pray you receive this with the love intended, and apply it to wisdom.
Love you much.
Stay Safe, Stay Healthy, Stay Blessed!
-Humble Servant
P.S- If you have not given your life to Jesus Christ, I implore you to take the time to do so right now. Use John 3:16 & Romans 10:9-10 as a foundation for making your confession of faith. And use Ephesians 2:1-10 to provide proper context for your salvation.