Psalm 09

Slide 1 It’s amazing to me how many products there are for sell that claim to help people age slower and look younger. There are creams, ointments, shots, and surgeries that all promise to defy gravity and time. Do any of them really work? Can any of them really work?

Concerning getting older, someone said:

If my body were a car, this is the time I would be thinking about trading it in for a newer model. I’ve got bumps and dents and scratches in my finish and my paint job is getting a little dull, but that’s not the worst of it.

My fenders are too wide to be considered stylish. They were once as sleek as a little MG; now they look more like an old Buick. My seat cushions have split open at the seams. My seats are sagging. Seat belts? I gave up all belts when Krispy Crème donuts opened a shop in my neighborhood!

Air bags? Forget it. The only bags I have these days are under my eyes. Not counting the saddlebags, of course and I have soooooo many miles on my odometer.

My headlights are out of focus and it’s especially hard to see things up close. My traction is not as graceful as it once was. I slip and slide and skid and bump into things even in the best of weather. My whitewalls are stained with varicose veins. It takes me hours to reach my maximum speed. My fuel rate burns inefficiently. But here’s the worst of it – almost every time I sneeze, cough or sputter my radiator leaks!

The truth is we’re all aging and it’s easy to look in the mirror and lose heart. However, even though we can’t stop the aging process, we can grow stronger inwardly. That’s what Paul said to the Corinthians when he wrote: SLIDE 2

Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. (2 Corinthians 4:16)

Even if we can’t get a face-lift, we can get a “faith lift.” Since our faith is or at least should be centered in the Lord, it should come from the Lord. Our faith cannot be lifted by outside sources but only by spiritual sources. That means, if we want to experience a faith lift in our lives we need to focus more on God and knowing him personally. We can never get too close to God and we can never have too much faith in him. Growing closer to God, knowing God and knowing his character, dramatically affect our prayer lives.

In his book “Christian Life, Chuck Swindoll has a chapter entitled, “Knowing God: Life’s Major Pursuit.” Swindoll wrote:

Unless God is the major pursuit of our lives, all other pursuits are dead-end streets, including trying to know ourselves. They won’t work. They won’t satisfy. They won’t result in fulfillment. You never really begin the process of coming to know yourself until you begin the process of beginning to know God.

Knowing God is vital to life and our prayers. And once we begin to know God better we can’t help but respond to him and about him. Let’s see what we can learn about God in Psalm 9.

SLIDE 3 Turn to Psalm 9. We’ll look at Psalm 10 next week which you probably could have guessed. I mention it only because some believe that the two psalms were originally one psalm. Here are three reasons for that thought. First, in the first Greek translation of the Old Testament which was made by Jewish scholars, the two psalms were only one psalm. Second, like Psalm 119, the two psalms form an acrostic of the Hebrew alphabet with each line beginning with the next letter. The first half of the alphabet is found in Psalm 9 and the second half of the alphabet is found in 10. And third, between Psalm 3 and Psalm 32, Psalm 10 is the only one that doesn’t have an inscription giving us the author suggesting it may have been a part of Psalm 9.

Psalm 9 begins with the follow inscription:

For the director of music. To the tune of “The Death of the Son.” A psalm of David.

It’s believed this psalm was written following David’s defeat of Goliath, the Philistine’s favorite son.

I came across this outline of the psalm using alliteration and that’s the one I’ll use for this message. LSIDE 4

David’s Praise (9:1-2)

David’s Proclamation (9:3-12)

David’s Petition (9:13-18)

David’s Passion (9:19-20)

SLIDE 5 First, David beings the psalm with the praise of God.

1 I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. 2 I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High. (Psalm 9:1-2)

Too many worship God half-heartedly. The Israelites were certainly guilty of that when they began worshiping God AND the idols of the surrounding countries. They weren’t worshiping God only. But it is easy to still worship God half-heartedly even if we aren’t worshiping idols. We come to worship but we’re distracted by thoughts of other things. We sing the songs without much thought of the words. We go through the motions with not much emotion. We worship half-heartedly. But David declares he is going to worship with all that he has. So in these two verses David proclaims that he will offer praise to God four times and in different ways.

He will give thanks to God with all his heart

He will tell others of all God has done for him

He will be glad and rejoice, and

He will sing God’s praises

He gave his all in the worship and praise of God.

In Mark 14 Jesus was eating when a woman came in and anointed his feet. Taking a jar of very expensive perfume, she broke the jar and poured its entire contents on his feet. The disciples weren’t very happy about this demonstration of love and honor. She could have sold the perfume and used the proceeds to help feed the poor. They couldn’t understand why she’d done this. But Jesus told them to leave her alone. SLIDE 6

8 She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. 9 Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her. (Mark 14:8-9)

This woman, many believe to have been Mary the sister of Martha, showed her wholehearted devotion and worship to Jesus. She held nothing back. Oh to be able to worship God with all that we are. That’s the challenge for us, to be like Mary and David worshiping with a whole heart, with passion and fervency, with sincerity and intensity. We must thank God for all he does for us, but we must also be ready to tell others.

SLIDE 7 A minister concluded that his church was getting into serious financial troubles. While checking the church storeroom, he discovered several cartons of new bibles that had never been opened and distributed. So at his Sunday sermon, he asked for three volunteers from the congregation who would be willing to sell the bibles door-to-door for $10 each to raise the desperately needed money for the church.

Peter, Paul and Louie all raised their hands to volunteer for the task. The minister knew that Peter and Paul earned their living as salesmen and were likely capable of selling some bibles. But he had serious doubts about Louie who was a local farmer, who had always kept to himself because he was embarrassed by his speech impediment. Poor Louis stuttered badly. But, not wanting to discourage Louis, the minister decided to let him try anyway. He sent the three of them away with the back seat of their cars stacked with bibles. He asked them to meet with him and report the results of their door-to-door selling efforts the following Sunday.

Anxious to find out how successful they were, the minister immediately asked Peter, “Well, Peter, how did you make out selling our bibles last week?” Proudly handing the preacher an envelope, Peter replied, “Using my sales prowess, I was able to sell 20 bibles, and here’s the $200 I collected on behalf of the church.” “Fine job, Peter!” The minister said, vigorously shaking his hand. “You are indeed a fine salesman and the Church is indebted to you.” Turning to Paul, “And Paul, how many bibles did you sell for the church last week?” Paul, smiling and sticking out his chest, confidently replied,” I am a professional salesman. I sold 28 bibles on behalf of the church, and here’s $280 I collected.” The minister responded, “That’s absolutely splendid, Paul. You are truly a professional salesman and the church is also indebted to you.”

Apprehensively, the minister turned to Louie and said, “And Louie, did you manage to sell any bibles last week?” Louie silently offered the minister a large envelope. The preacher opened it and counted the contents. “What is this?” the minister exclaimed. “Louie, there’s $3200 in here! Are you suggesting that you sold 320 bibles for the church, door to door, in just one week? Louie just nodded. “That’s impossible!” both Peter and Paul said in unison. “We are professional salesmen, yet you claim to have sold 10 times as many bibles as we could.” “Yes, this does seem unlikely,” the minister agreed. “I think you’d better explain how you managed to accomplish this, Louie.” Louie shrugged. “I-I-I- re-re-really do-do-don’t kn-kn-know f-f-f-for sh -sh-sh-sure,” he stammered.

Impatiently, Peter interrupted. “For crying out loud, Louie, just tell us what you said to them when they answered the door!” “A-a-a-all I-I-I s-s-said wa-wa-was,” Louis replied, “W-w-w-w-would y-y-y-you l-l-l-l-l-like t-t-to b-b-b-buy th-th-th-this b-b-b-b-bible f-f-for t-t-ten b-b-b-bucks ---o-o-o-or--- wo-wo-would yo-! you j-j-j-just l-like m-m-me t-t-to st-st-stand h-h-here and r-r-r-r-r -read it t-to y-y-you?”

Regardless of who we are or how we talk we must tell others about God and of his wonderful deeds. How can we not do this considering all he has done for us and is going to do for us?

SLIDE 8 Second, David makes a proclamation.

3 My enemies turn back; they stumble and perish before you. 4 For you have upheld my right and my cause, sitting enthroned as the righteous judge. 5 You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked; you have blotted out their name for ever and ever. 6 Endless ruin has overtaken my enemies, you have uprooted their cities; even the memory of them has perished. 7 The Lord reigns forever; he has established his throne for judgment. 8 He rules the world in righteousness and judges the peoples with equity. 9 The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. 10 Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you. 11 Sing the praises of the Lord, enthroned in Zion; proclaim among the nations what he has done. 12 For he who avenges blood remembers; he does not ignore the cries of the afflicted. (Psalm 9:3-12)

David observes that when Israel is attacked by enemies these hostile nations are turned back because of God. David is not taking credit for the victory; he is giving all the credit to God. It’s not because of what David or the Israelite has done, but because of what God has done for them. There are just too many stories of success that could only be attributed to God. Here are a few:

Less than three months after they left Egypt and were still making their way to Mount Sinai, the Israelites were attacked by the Amalekites. Moses stood on a hill overlooking the battle. As long as Moses had his arms raised to heaven the Israelites would overpower their enemy, but when his arms would get tired and lower the Amalekites would have the upper hand. Only God could do that.

You’ll remember the instructions God gave for the destruction of Jericho. They were to march around the city once a day for six days in complete silence. Then, on the seventh day they were to march seven times around the city and when they finished the last lap they were to shout. When they did the walls suddenly came tumbling down. Only God could do that.

Gideon attacked the Mideonites who were encamped against the Isrealites and defeated them with only three hundred men. Only God could do that.

David faced off one-on-one with the biggest and strongest man in the Philistine army with just a sling and some stones and won. Only God could have done that.

David understood that it was God intervening on their behalf that their enemies were defeated. David lists five ways God get involved and helped him.

God upheld David’s cause

God rebuked the enemy nations

God destroyed the wicked

God even blotted out their names

Uprooted their cities so the enemies couldn’t come back and attack later

David is affirming that God is a righteous judge who opposes the wicked and defends the righteous.

In verse 9 David describes God as a refuge and stronghold. The word David uses (and it’s the same word in the Hebrew not two different word) refers to fortes high on a mountain that is safe from enemy attack. David encourages us join him in worshiping God who protects us so that those who don’t believe will hear of all God does and come to place their faith in him as well.

SLIDE 9 Third, David offers a petition.

13 Lord, see how my enemies persecute me! Have mercy and lift me up from the gates of death, 14 that I may declare your praises in the gates of Daughter Zion, and there rejoice in your salvation. 15 The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug; their feet are caught in the net they have hidden. 16 The Lord is known by his acts of justice; the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands. 17 The wicked go down to the realm of the dead, all the nations that forget God. 18 But God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish. (Psalm 9:13-18)

David begins this psalm with praise to God. Then he talks about the ways God has delivered him and the Israelites in the past. Now David asks God to act again because once again he is facing an enemy. He knows he can go to God and will intervene because God has done so before. Up till now David has been talking to his audience, but now David addresses God directly. In fact, most of this psalm is about God and not to God. Only four verses: 13-14 and 19-20 are directed to God. Only four of the twenty verses are to God. But here he talks to God asking God for help: “O Lord, see my affliction and how my enemies torment me.” That David mentions the “gates of death” would seem to indicate the situation was pretty severe. So he desperately calls out for help and deliverance from his enemies.

David uses four different terms for his enemies: SLIDE 10

My enemies

The nations (5x)

The wicked (3x)

The enemy

Then there’s a list of those who need God’s help: SLIDE 11

The oppressed

Those who know your name

Those who seek you

The afflicted

The needy

The poor

Notice the reason David gives for why God should help him and deliver him from his foes. David doesn’t say he’s such a great guy that God should help him. Nor does he refer to all he’s done for God so that God might owe him. David asks God to deliver him so that he might be able to offer God praise: “That I may declare your praises.” If God rescues him, he would be able to continue to worshiping God before the people and continue to bring glory to God’s name. When was the last time you told someone what God has done in your life?

SLIDE 12 How certain is David of God’s help? He immediately begins talking about his enemy’s downfall. He’s certain they will be caught in the traps they have set for him. They will be undone by the work of their own hands. David speaks of God’s judgment of his enemies in the past tense as if God has already done it. That’s because David is sure it will happen. David is demonstrating his faith in God. He has faith because he knows God and his promises so well. God will judge the unrighteous; however God will protect those who turn to him. Therefore, even as David is calling on God to help him he talks as if God has already done it. It is this consistent faith in God that sets David’s prayers apart. Right now it looks like the poor are being forgotten. Right now it looks like God is ignoring the cause of the downtrodden. But that will not always be the case. As David said in verse 10, those who know God’s name – those who know him and his promises – trust God. This is the difference between praying and praying with faith.

SLIDE 13 Lastly, we see David’s passion.

19 Arise, Lord, do not let mortals triumph; let the nations be judged in your presence. 20 Strike them with terror, Lord; let the nations know they are only mortal. (Psalm 9:19-20)

Have you ever watched a flower bloom? Each day you watch it opens a little more until it opens completely. Have you ever tried to help it open? You can force it, but it won’t last as long and you might kill it. God makes everything work according to his time. He causes everything to straighten out and line up according to his schedule. If you have a problem in your life you can rely on God to solve it. As we read in Romans: SLIDE 14

Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. (Romans 12:19)

David encourages us to allow God to be the judge. Many of us wonder if God has forgotten about us. When as answer doesn’t immediately come, it is easy to question God’s concern for our lives. What we need to know that when we are persecuted God will come to our rescue. Sometimes this retribution will take place in our lifetime, but often it will come at the final judgment. However, whether no or later, God will make right every injustice. Therefore, we should call upon God when we are attacked and trust in him as our stronghold. And we should always be ready to offer him praise.

SLIDE 15 Luciano Pavarotti, opera great, said, “When I was a boy, my father, a baker, introduced me to the wonders of song. He urged me to work very hard to develop my voice. Arrigo Pola, a professional tenor in my hometown of Modena, Italy, took me as a pupil. I also enrolled in a teachers college. On graduating, I asked my father, “Shall I be a teacher or a singer?”

“Luciano,” my father replied, “if you try to sit on two chairs, you will fall between them. For life, you must choose one chair.”

“I chose one. It took seven years of study and frustration before I made my first professional appearance. It took another seven to reach the Metropolitan Opera. And now I think whether it’s laying bricks, writing a book – whatever we choose – we should give ourselves to it.”

If there is one thing we should choose in life it should be to please and praise our heavenly Father. When we concentrate on doing this, our faith will be lifted.