Psalm 9 — Wholehearted Praise
Introduction: The inscription identifies David as the author of this Psalm, and it was designated for the chief musician for worship at the tabernacle of God in Jerusalem. The content does not provide the time it was written, but it may have been composed by David while he was king in Jerusalem. He had many and varied experiences throughout his life that gave rise to the psalms he wrote, from the time Samuel anointed him while Saul was still king, until David had Solomon anointed to become his successor.
NOTE: Scripture passages are from the World English Bible.
A — Praise the Lord with Your Whole Heart
Psalm 9 “1 I will give thanks to Yahweh with my whole heart. I will tell of all your marvellous works. 2 I will be glad and rejoice in you. I will sing praise to your name, O Most High. 3 When my enemies turn back, they stumble and perish in your presence. 4 For you have maintained my just cause. You sit on the throne judging righteously. 5 You have rebuked the nations. You have destroyed the wicked. You have blotted out their name forever and ever. 6 The enemy is overtaken by endless ruin. The very memory of the cities which you have overthrown has perished.”
Comments: David expressed his determination to give thanks to the LORD with full dedication from his heart, each time he recounted all the marvelous works of Yahweh. This thankful attitude caused David to be pleased, delighted, elated, and even thrilled as he rejoiced in singing praise to the name of the Most High God. Since Christ Jesus has defeated sin and destroyed the sting of death to those who trust in him, believers can now offer praise to the name of Jesus in the manner described by David. David wrote that when enemies are turned away, they ultimately stumble and perish in the presence of the LORD, as the Lord maintains the just cause for those who believe in him. When Yahweh exercises his righteous judgment it will be final — “forever and ever” — and the ruin of God’s enemies is “endless.”
B — The Lord Does Not Forsake Those Who Seek Him
Psalm 9 “7 But Yahweh reigns forever. He has prepared his throne for judgment. 8 He will judge the world in righteousness. He will administer judgment to the people in uprightness. 9 Yahweh will also be a high tower for the oppressed; a high tower in times of trouble. 10 Those who know your name will put their trust in you, for you, Yahweh, have not forsaken those who seek you.”
Comments: Yahweh reigns eternally, with his absolute authority existing before the beginning of time. He has prepared his throne for final everlasting judgment of all people, based upon his own sovereign righteousness. Yahweh will also always be like a high tower of secure refuge for the oppressed in times of trouble. Those who know the name of the Lord will put their trust in him, knowing God does not forsake those who seek him. Hebrews 13 “5 He has said, ‘I will in no way leave you, neither will I in any way forsake you.’ 6 So that with good courage we say, ‘The Lord is my helper. I will not fear. What can man do to me?’”
C — I Will Rejoice in the Salvation of the Lord
Psalm 9 “11 Sing praises to Yahweh, who dwells in Zion, and declare among the people what he has done. 12 For he who avenges blood remembers them. He doesn’t forget the cry of the afflicted. 13 Have mercy on me, Yahweh. See my affliction by those who hate me, and lift me up from the gates of death; 14 that I may show forth all your praise. In the gates of the daughter of Zion, I will rejoice in your salvation.”
Comments: It seems at this point in the psalm David is expressing a definite need to cry out to Yahweh for help. Again, though, he first encourages others to sing praises to Yahweh who dwelt in Zion, and to declare among the people what Yahweh had done. The one who has the final vengeance for blood does not forget the cry of the afflicted. David asked Yahweh to have mercy on him, to see the afflictions from those who hated him, and then that he would be lifted up from the gates of death. It was still his fervent desire to display all praise to Yahweh, and to rejoice in the salvation of his God publicly at the gates of Jerusalem.
D — Yahweh Has Made Himself Known and Has Executed Judgment
Psalm 9 “15 The nations have sunk down in the pit that they made. In the net which they hid, their own foot is taken. 16 Yahweh has made himself known. He has executed judgment. The wicked is snared by the work of his own hands. Meditation. Selah.”
Comments: Psalm 57 also shows David’s response to Saul’s death threat, with wording very similar to Psalm 9. “6 They have prepared a net for my steps. My soul is bowed down. They dig a pit before me. They fall into its midst themselves. Selah. 7 My heart is steadfast, God, my heart is steadfast. I will sing, yes, I will sing praises.” David was not at all hesitant to give praise to the LORD for any escape from threats, or victories over his enemies. This is an appropriate place to pause and reflect on our need to always praise our God for his manifold provisions.
E — Unbelievers Will Not Escape the Just Judgment of Yahweh
Psalm 9 “17 The wicked shall be turned back to Sheol, even all the nations that forget God. 18 For the needy shall not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the poor perish forever. 19 Arise, Yahweh! Don’t let man prevail. Let the nations be judged in your sight. 20 Put them in fear, Yahweh. Let the nations know that they are only men. Selah.”
Comments: There is a final judgment coming which will separate all believers from all who have rejected the LORD God. Therefore with everyone who has by faith accepted the eternal promise of blessing in the presence of God, it is not a strange thing to praise Yahweh regardless of circumstances throughout our life. Yahweh does not limit his eternal salvation exclusively to the believers among the people of Israel, nor does he allow any unbelievers of any nations to escape judgment and eternal punishment. Isaiah 45 “22 Look to me, and be saved, all the ends of the earth; for I am God, and there is no other. 23 I have sworn by myself, the word has gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and will not return, that to me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall take an oath.” Christ Jesus arose from the dead to give everlasting hope to the poor and needy who trust him alone for salvation. 2 Thessalonians 1 “8 giving vengeance to those who don’t know God, and to those who don’t obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus, 9 who will pay the penalty: eternal destruction from the face of the Lord and from the glory of his might, 10 when he comes to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired among all those who have believed in that day.”
Reflections in Prayer
LORD, I want to be like David as I give you praise with my whole heart for all the marvelous works in your creation. You are the only true and living God, and you will rescue those who have placed their trust in you rather than in men. Though there may be many trials in this present life for me, I believe that the sure hope of eternal life with you far outweighs all the temporal pleasures enjoyed by those who reject the LORD God. Help me to trust you as I endure any trials that I may face even while it seems the wicked around me have great pleasures without trouble. LORD, I believe that you will never forsake those who seek you in this life, and the judgment of separation from you forever awaits those who scorn your name. When they awake in Sheol with no escape, they will know that they were only men. Hallelujah to my Savior! Amen.
Published 22 March 2017