An Adopted Cause

Psalmist wordings

Read Psalm 9:1-2, “

1  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.

Of course, David, would be recognized as the author here. Such words represent the character of so many of the Psalms. “With my whole heart”, not just a bit, or half. But God must have and he deserves the entire heart. It’s why David also struggled, when his heart was divided. To praise God, to literally bring to mind and remember the deeds of God, are a theme that is seen in the Psalms. David here worships, and states that he can find firm gladness in God and so to exalt in him. And in this also to sing to him, to his name - the Most high.

My Enemies - Your Presence

Read Psalm 9:3-6, “

3  When my enemies turn back,

they stumble and perish before your 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. “

What a bold prayer and statement. What an amazing prayer and statement! What astounding implications that we see here and can learn about partnership with God. David has brought, at this point in his journey and life, his will into right alignment with God. So much, that he could say that he has been adopted into God’s cause in the earth. In the world. This is so evident that David identifies his “my just cause” against his enemies as being the cause that God is working against His - God’s - enemies.

David has astounding assurance, in stating that God, has maintained his cause. Based on the fact, that God would not work against his own purpose, and that since David’s purpose, and God’s is one and the same in the fact of the 2 parties being united in purpose, it means that David has complete confident faith to say such things like, “When “my” enemies turn back, it is before the presence of GOD that they in fact fall. If God were not with David, and if David were not purposed with God’s purpose, such fruits of joint occasions would not take place.

And no wonder, David seeing such privileged graces from God to experience such pleasure from God, and such fulfillment's in life, causes him to begin the Psalm with praise and glory statements of God.

The enemies of God either are in the process of loosing their grip, and their powers to do the things that identify themselves as being enemies of God and of David. God has determined that the wicked will perish. He has determined that they will not even be remembered. Can you imagine, that part of the terrors of hell, will be that you will be so alone, and will be unable to find any companions, and the more you try, the more you will despair, and then realize, this is part of God’s plan of destruction of the wicked. So better, for you, today, to seek to make your cause, God’s like David.

Known Name

Read Psalm 9:7-20, “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  nd 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 “

The Lord, is in the absolute current, now, present, exalted and glorified. and this experience is enjoyed by those who know the name of God now. The others, and probably the majority of the world, just miss out. God is exalted, worshiped, Zion, in the kingdom worship, is manifested in the Spirit, right now, and those who know the name of God, put their trust in him, and know him.

God is a God that can be sought, and he is a God that can be approached, if done so truthfully and humbly, and this means, God will not forsake you, if you seek him. The troubled, can seek him for refuge, the thirsty can seek him to satisfy the meaning to life, and the follower, can make God’s cause, adopted as their own. Those who have united their cause with God’s, and those who honor him, their names, will not be forgotten.

In suffering, God can be sought and called on. Purity of the kingdom and relationships that are restored to God’s original intention in creation, can be restored. Justice can be sought, deliverance can be sought, as God has made himself known, and said, “Here I am World, you don’t have to miss Me!”

But David ends this Psalm, encouraging himself, so as not to become deceived that the wicked in the present time that push off God’s grace, that they will one day come crawling to God, and to no avail, will find themselves slipping away, with no ability to stop them from falling into darkness.

David also asks God to judge the world - to do something. To make something happen for God’s cause, and also then for Davids cause. Judgment also means that God give people a chance. David asks God to show mercy to his suffering from those who oppose the cause of God. David speaks to his heart and strengthens himself by teaching his mind to believe that the wicked will be caught in their own net. That they will ultimately not get away with their open treachery even though they boast about it. David does this, to assure himself, that he is safe with God, because his cause and God’s are united. And David ends the Psalm by pleading for justice and revelation of God’s truth in the world. The needy, even if taken advantage of, will not be forgotten of God. God will keep their hope aflame. And God will act for the poor, who call on his name, just as much as any.