Psalm 9 I Will Recount Your Wonderful Deeds

Introduction

This evening, as we look at Psalm 9 together,

we understand that Psalm 9 has a close relationship with the psalm that follows it, Psalm 10

Some notable early sources like the greek and latin translations of the Old testament have rendered Psalm 9 and 10 being paired together as one unified psalm, or as Psalm 9.

Where our English translations keep Psalm 9 and 10 separate, they are seen as one psalm in greek and latin.

So, what does this mean for us?

It means, scholars and the rest of the church have to wrestle with why they are unified in these early sources.

And, there are a number of reasons we have to look at in considering the possible unity of these psalms:

Here are the three big reasons that we must consider:

First, we must consider Psalm 9 and 10’s similaties;

the similarities in passage’s content agree on the topics of justice, oppression, and prayer for relief.

Second, Psalm 10 does not have a title like Psalm 9 does, so it can be assumed they both sit under the title of Psalm 9.

here is Psalm 9’s title: To the choirmaster: according to Muth-labben. A Psalm of David.

Third, Psalm 9 and 10 share an acrostic pattern

An acrostic is just the way the writer artistically and poetically built the passage.

Definition of acrostic: A method of structuring a piece of literature where the first letter of the first word of a line or section corresponds to the alphabetical order—consecutively moving through the alphabet with each new line or section.

Here is an example of an acrostic in english on the screen.

Similar to an acronym, this literary construction takes each letter of a word to write a phrase or sentence.

Psalm 119 was written using this construction utilizing the whole Hebrew alphabet.

There is an incomplete acrostic construction of the Hebrew alphabet, beginning in Psalm 9 and finishing in Psalm 10.

This is a strong proof of their unity.

However, these next two weeks, Pastor Dave and I will be splitting them up because as other scholars will argue:

there are many difference between the psalms like themes, the Psalm type and tone of the two psalms.

And this week, as we walk through Psalm 9, you will want to keep this question in mind:

Where can the oppressed find hope? x2

this will be our theme,

so let’s keep that in mind as we read our texts and hear Psalm 9 expounded.

READ TEXT: Psalm 9/1 Peter 3:8-20

Where can the oppressed find hope?

I’ll now ask the same question I set forth before reading our sermons texts:

Where can the oppressed find hope? x2

I set forth this question because Psalm 9 mentions the oppressed in verse 9 and the afflicted in verse 12.

Ps 9:9 “The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.”

Ps 9:12 “For he who avenges blood is mindful of them; he does not forget the cry of the afflicted.”

You will notice that most of Psalm 9 David speaks in greater quantity about the celebration of God’s justice and just character as he recounts God’s wonderful deeds.

However, as see verse in 13, David is in the midst of oppression and affliction from those who hate him.

Ps 9:13 “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,”

In this Psalm the force of David’s praise is undergirded by a plea for grace and mercy.

So though we’ll see David recounting God’s deeds that point us to God’s just Character in this Psalm.

David also gives us the answer to the question of where the oppressed and afflicted can find true hope.

So, as we continue to consider this question and see David answer it in Psalm 9.

Will have to points to guide us in this text:

The Lord of the oppressed is Just (v1-v12)

And the Lord of the oppressed hears (v13-v20)

These two points, as you can see on the screen will focus on two different halves of the Psalm 9.

So we’ll now start with the first point: the Lord of the oppressed is Just

1. The Lord of the oppressed is Just

Starting in verses 1 and 2, we see David giving us an introduction to what he is going to say in the first part of the Psalm

For those of you have taken a speech class, David is, “telling us what he is going to tell us, before he tells us.”

Look at what David says in verses 1 and 2:

Ps 9:1-2 “I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.”

David is telling us that he is going to lift up a public praise, honor and thanksgiving to the most high God for what God has done in the past for David.

Worth making note here is that David says he gives praise and thanks to God with a whole heart.

This reminds us and fulfills the law of God in

Deuteronomy 6:5 “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”

David here, in lifting up his praise is acknowledging it as the purest form that worship and public honor to God can be.

God is Jealous of our praise in the best way and requires an undivided worship towards himself.

And specifically this worship and honor is David delighting in God’s Justice and righteousness.

In answering our theme question: Where can the oppressed find hope?

In this section, David shows us to whom the oppressed and afflicted are to go when they find themselves in trouble and distress.

To be clear, David is directing Israel, the church of Christ and any who are oppressed to the judge who is truly just in character and powerful to deliver.

we see David doing this in the proceeding verses 3 through 12:

First, David recounts God’s delivering him from his enemies in verses 3-6; it says:

Ps 9:3-6 “When my enemies turn back, they stumble and perish before your presence. For you have maintained my just cause; you have sat on the throne, giving righteous judgment. You have rebuked the nations; you have made the wicked perish; you have blotted out their name forever and ever. The enemy came to an end in everlasting ruins; their cities you rooted out; the very memory of them has perished.”

God not only delivered David from his enemies and enemy nations in the past,

But he blotted them out of memory for the sake of David’s just cause.

We must remember, that it wasn’t because David tried hard enough that he was able to have just cause, to be righteous in his deeds.

But both his whole hearted worship and just cause were maintained by God’s sovereign hand.

Second, through verses 7-10, David gives further glory to God’s eternal and just reign on high:

Ps 9:7-10 “But the Lord sits enthroned forever; he has established his throne for justice, and he judges the world with righteousness; he judges the peoples with uprightness. The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.”

Here we also see described how God further demonstrates in his deeds of justice toward the oppressed, providing protection in times of trouble.

in verse 10 specifically, David show clearly the blessing and benefit of those who know God’s name and trust in him.

Protection is also provided to believers, they will always have the assurance that God will never ever forsake them in this age or the age to come...

Having already covered much ground, we’re going to put on the breaks here and go back for a closer look at verse 9.

Ps 9:9 “The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.”

Reminding us of our theme question: “where can the oppressed find hope?”

I have said it enough times already, but I intentionally have not been defining this key term in the theme.

How do we understand the word “oppressed” when David uses it?

This specific word that David uses in Hebrew for oppressed is “Dak,” it’s pronunciation is not important for our uses here.

but this word is used under ten times in the bible.

In most english translations it is oppressed

However, there are other meanings in the root word that can help us here:

These include:

crushed from the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament LXX)

downtrodden in Psalm 74:21 “Let not the downtrodden turn back in shame; let the poor and needy praise your name.”

victims in Proverbs 26:28 “A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin.”

someone who is oppressed by another - Bible Sense dictionary

With these helps, we can understand that David is referring to someone who has become prey to a predator.

Kids, if you had to choose between a lion or a sheep, which one would you choose as the prey and which one as the predator?...

We know the sheep would be the prey and the lion the predator.

So David is referring to all those who are somehow at a disadvantage to a stronger oppressor.

With regards to those who are oppressed, oppression can take several different forms.

We do not have time to cover the different forms of oppression today, and we don’t want to make little of any oppression in the world.

But, we can find even better understanding of oppression from its origin in the Garden of Eden.

For those of you who were in the Sunday school class. You have a leg up here over everyone else again.

Today we finally got to talk about the covenant of works in foundations of covenant theology. (quite exciting!)

And it is here where we’ll go to in the book of Genesis, the Lord had already given the covenant of works to Adam by telling him clearly to take dominion of the Garden, guard the Garden sanctuary and rule it by God’s explicit word, “not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.”

But then following this Genesis Chapter 3, it says in verse 1

Gen 3:1 “Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?””

Already we see the first and great oppressor emerge in the garden, not as boldly as a roaring loin that he is referred to in other parts of scripture.

But more like a slippery yucky oppressor that parents have nightmares about.

This sneaky slippery oppressor doesn’t go to confront the guard and high priest of the garden.

but rather goes after Adam’s flock, Satan goes after Eve.

we can’t say exactly where Adam was, during the temptation,

But what we do know is that at some point Adam was suppose to confront this oppressor who had set to make Eve his prey.

Adam was suppose to come and defend the victim from being assaulted.

Adam was to uphold God’s word as God said it, disarm the oppressor with God’s word and throw Satan out of the garden simultaneously providing refuge for his oppressed wife.

That is what Adam was suppose to do.

However, it did not play out this way.

Instead, Adam allowed Eve to be seduced by the lie of the oppressor and joined her willing in the deception, becoming an oppressed prey with Eve.

From that moment forward, in failing to defend God’s Word and the garden sanctuary.

All those descending from Adam by normal birth are oppressed, oppressors, and many times both.

We see this when God came to judge Adam, at God’s questions in verses 11 Adam answers in verse 12:

Genesis 3:11 “He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?”” 12- The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.”

Here Adam had already become the oppressor, having failed to cast out the slippery slithering oppressor,

In his new found depravity, Adam had turned into the oppressor and predator making his wife prey to the judgement he deserved.

However, praise be to God, God did not come to execute Adam and his wife that day for breaking God’s Word.

This brings us to our second point:

2. The Lord of the oppressed hears

As we see in our Psalm 9 this evening, though the God of scripture is glorified in his justice.

His is also glorified in his grace and mercy. He is the Lord God how hears the oppressed and gives them safety from oppression.

Though Adam broke the covenant of works, God was pleased to make a second.

In the covenant of grace in Gen 3:15.

Genesis 3:15 “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.””

Here from the beginning of scripture, God had made the promise of another Adam who would come and crush the first oppressor and those who align with him, while also perfectly providing refuge and safety for his oppressed people. (and oppressors)

Which brings us to David’s prayer in verse 12 of Psalm 9, it says,

Psalm 9:13 “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,”

David here makes it clear that he is among the oppressed of God’s people

Though God had rescued David from many oppressors and afflictions from enemies and enemy nations before.

He is acknowledging to God once again that he has become prey to a preying predator seeking to afflict him.

So what does David do…?

David goes to the Lord in prayer,

David goes to the Lord who does provide the second Adam and Greater David,

acknowledging his need of undeserved grace as one oppressed and afflicted.

The believer can receive clear application this far in Psalm 9 from David.

As a people of God who are oppressed and afflicted in some way whether in the continued spiritual battle against the great oppressor or against physical oppressors in our world.

Like David in the face of oppression, we are to bring this great need to God both in praise and plead.

God is doesn’t remove himself from our affliction, he knows the suffering of his people

With other parts of scripture we hear this clearly in Exodus 3:7, it says:

Exodus 3:7 “Then the Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings,”

The Lord does not delight in the sufferings of his people, but he hears their cry and makes ample provision for their rescue.

We see this rescue in full expression in our new testament reading tonight.

The Apostle Peter in his letter to the people of God dispersed in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

wrote very clearly about suffering, specifically under persecution and oppression for the name of Christ.

Peter here, gives a heavy application to the church in how they are to respond to persecution for doing good in honor of Christ.

1 Peter 3:13-17 “Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil.”

I don’t know about you but this is a hard text....

It’s one thing to take verse 15 out of it’s context to use as a tool in practicing sharing the gospel with your non-believing friends and neighbors.

But in context, Peter is talking about enduring in presenting hope in the gospel and doing all the other good deeds required of us in scripture, all while under the oppression of the worst persecutions that the great oppressor can afflict on Christ’s church?

this application sounds a bit above my pay-grade...

however, this is the call of the Christian,

whether you are under the great spiritual battle of temptation to sin by the great oppressor, the cutting comments of your college roommate for being a believer, or you are being executed by torture for Jesus.

Peter has set the standard we are to uphold as believers before oppressors.

Let’s be clear here, in your own strength, this is impossible

Even if you were able to do it well on the low end of the scale,

outside of Christ’s powerful gospel you would become conceited, you would use it as a way to congratulate yourself for keeping the law.

Dear Christian Truly we can only follow this standard from a gospel empowered motivation.

Peter provides that in the next verse, verse 18 says:

1 Peter 3:18 “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,”

Peter gives us the gospel here.

It is because Christ the second Adam and greater David suffered persecution and oppression and died for us,

Jesus the righteous one and us the unrighteous,

by his suffering for us, by Jesus coming down from his place as all power judge,

coming down in the form of humanity to be oppressed with and on behalf of sinners, (no refuge from God)(for oppressed and oppressors)

because of that which Christ did, we are able to endure the worst of oppressions both spiritual and physical according to the standard of kindness laid out in scripture.

before his coming we were helpless in the oppression of death.

But because he suffered as a victim and was raised, he has conquered the great oppressor and has freed us to live onto God for his glory.

Being empowered by the Holy Spirit to live out gospel powered suffering, God uses this to get your non-believing friends and neighbors attention.

So my encouragement to you dear Christian, don’t waste your suffering.

And a final application for you to your non-believing friends:

If you haven’t shared the gospel with them before, maybe a good place to start would be to ask them about suffering.

You could ask, “have you ever had something painful, difficult or even despairing happen to you before?”

though we need to be careful to listen and be sensitive to the grief in these situations, ready to say, “i’m sorry,”

or even weep with someone, this could be an open door to sharing the Lord and Savior who suffered more than anyone has.

And you could share 1 Peter 3:18 with them to show them Christ from scripture.

“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,”

Therefore, at the conclusion of Psalm 9 we find David lifting up his voice in plea for justice to the same God of Justice who sent his son to take justice for his church as the ultimate victim and oppressed one.

David knows well in his plea, that this same God has certainly heard David in his oppression by the Just Lord of the oppressed.

And the believer can take comfort in that even under the worst suffering this world can offer.

LET’S PRAY!

Father we thank you for sending Jesus as oppressed and unaided by your refuge and safety that we...

Adam was suppose to protect- Christ does

As a result we have become both oppressed and oppressors

1100 words

Outline

The Lord of the oppressed is Just

praising God for his Justice, yet he cries out for more justice!

v1-v2 praise (David is telling us what he is going to do in this Psalm)

v9, v12 oppressed and afflicted

oppressed in the garden to the oppressor

What do we do as oppressed and oppressors under the great oppressor the devil in Adam?! (helpless and sinful)

The Lord of the oppressed hears

Exodus: I heard their affliction of my people!

luke 4/Isaiah- Set the captives free

1 Peter 3 (what has he done to set us free)

Jesus was oppressed and afflicted to save and heal us from oppression and affliction.

black book for white book illustration (double imputation)

1 Peter 3 (what ought we do?)

1. The Lord of the oppressed is Just

2. The Lord of the oppressed hears

Notes

Origin of oppression in the garden? -Satan-> great oppressor?

Keller on non violence

Trueman on persecution in our age

1 Peter 3.

Chapel on Fallen Condition Focus

Prayer of Petition or Praise Through Petition

These are the Lord’s minutes, thank you Lord for these gifts!

Compton-

The main benefits we receive from God in the Psalm:

joy in Praise (honor to God-public), v1-v2 (THEME)

Justice, personal v3-v4/vengeance (non-violence),

transformed heart through thanks,

removal of the wicked v5-v6 (heavenly age),

protection v9(oppressed, poor),

faith v10,

What we are expected or invited to do in light of these benefits:

When we are feeling oppressed, we are to go to praise,

Oppressed by the ultimate enemy, Eph 6.

Oppressed by the world. 1 Peter 3

on what basis we receive these benefits:

1 Peter 3

Prayer of thanks v1-v12

v1

I will praise thee, O Lord] R.V., I will give thanks unto the Lord, as in Psalm 7:17.

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

with my whole heart] With the heart, not with the lips only ( Isaiah 29:13 ): with the whole heart, acknowledging that all the honour is due to Jehovah. Cp. Deuteronomy 6:5. These conditions of true worship correspond to the divine attributes of omniscience (Psalm 7:9), and ‘jealousy’ (Exodus 34:14).

Is 29:13 “And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,”

Deuteronomy 6:5 “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.”

Ps 7:9 “Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to an end, and may you establish the righteous— you who test the minds and hearts, O righteous God!”

Exodus 34:14 “(for you shall worship no other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God),”

Context

What is it as a need? (Problem)

Justice (through nonviolence)

Why is it good? (Common grace) (Acts 17:22, 23, 27-28) (i.e. 1-It’s good you are religious! 2-Your poets said so!)

Why is it bad? (guilt)(Jer 2:13; Acts 17:24-25, 29)(i.e. 1-God does not dwell in human temples, 2-or is served by humans, 3- nor made by humans!)

Why is the bible the greater/greatest narrative? (Grace- Christ)(Acts 17:31)(i.e. Assurance through resurrection!)

What you are ultimately looking for is in Christ!

or, how does Christ truly and effectually provide this need through the gospel? (Acts 17:22)

What should I do? (Justification/Sanctification)(Gratitude) (Acts 17:30-31; Acts 2:38)(i.e. Repent!)

Template

Context

What is it as a need? (Problem)

Why is it good? (Common grace) (Acts 17:22, 23, 27-28) (i.e. 1-It’s good you are religious! 2-Your poets said so!)

Why is it bad? (guilt)(Jer 2:13; Acts 17:24-25, 29)(i.e. 1-God does not dwell in human temples, 2-or is served by humans, 3- nor made by humans!)

Why is the bible the greater/greatest narrative? (Grace- Christ)(Acts 17:31)(i.e. Assurance through resurrection!)

What you are ultimately looking for is in Christ!

or, how does Christ truly and effectually provide this need through the gospel? (Acts 17:22)

What should I do? (Justification/Sanctification)(Gratitude) (Acts 17:30-31; Acts 2:38)(i.e. Repent!)

Template example

Context

What is it as a need?

Strength/Riches

Why is it good?

Strength is something that protects us like a brick house or a strong army, it gives us safety and security.

without safety and security, you are at the mercy of anyone who has the biggest stick, it’s pure fear in anarchy

if you ask some who were in the soviet union, they would say that the soviet union was far better than chaos.

Riches are the abundance of materials so that you have no material needs. This gives us a sense of provision.

to have have lack of provision is scary, ask anyone from the great depression or the holocaust. Imagine not having enough food to eat, no bed to sleep on, no shelter from the elements.

or, strength is given from above quote:

point of contact

Why is it bad? (Guilt)

When we make strength and riches the ultimate thing, taking the place of worship. We find ourselves both sinning against God and man!

This is exactly what the Corinthians were doing.

By making strength and riches ultimate they were treading Christ underfoot.

By making strength and riches ultimate they were treading each other underfoot. (destroyed unity)

point of confrontation

Who does the gospel provide that need? (Grace)

Christ provides this strength and riches in a way that it cannot be taken from you.

Through Christ’s setting aside all his strength, security, and protection in becoming weak to the point of being, defenseless, attacked and defeated to death, he has caused us to become undefeatable by our greatest enemies: sin, death and the devil.

Through Christ’s being stripped of all his riches becoming poor, he has allowed you to become rich with the greatest inheritance, the inheritance of God.

2 Cor 8:9 “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.”

What should we do? (Gratitude)

psalm 73:9 “They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue struts through the earth.”

Deuteronomy 1:28 “Where are we going up? Our brothers have made our hearts melt, saying, “The people are greater and taller than we. The cities are great and fortified up to heaven. And besides, we have seen the sons of the Anakim there.” ’” “Where are we going up? Our brothers have made our hearts melt, saying, “The people are greater and taller than we. The cities are great and fortified up to heaven. And besides, we have seen the sons of the Anakim there.” ’ Then I said to you, ‘Do not be in dread or afraid of them.”

ps 148:3 “Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars!”