Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Once again we are looking at a Psalm of David, and this one is one of the first of nine Psalms that is what is known as an acrostic.

Each line beginning with a letter from the Hebrew alphabet.

This one deals with only the first half of the alphabet.

Now Septuagint has it together with Psalm 10 (also and acrostic) but while there are similarities (both are on the Justice of God) there are enough differences to treat it on its own.

This Psalm has its original Hebrew title in the CSB as “for the choir director: according to Muth-labben.

A Psalm of David”.

Scholars are unsure of what Muth-labben means - whether its a tune or an instrument.

The New King James version renders the title “Death of the Son” the ancient Chaldee version “Concerning the death of the Champion who went out between the camps” referring to Goliath.

Perhaps this Psalm is David reminiscing on his victory over Goliath many years removed from that triumph.

Psalm 9 would then be a Psalm of conquest or victory.

In this Psalm we find not only hope and help but assured victory.

It is a Psalm of faith where faith doesnt know how things will go but trusts in the One Who works all things out.

Look to God and His faithfulness through the past for confidence in the future.

Those who focus on and trust in the Lord enter a refuge of victory.

Come In Praise

Those who wish to find refuge of victory enter in through praise.

Praise carries a positive and upbeat connotation of worship a celebration and these things cannot be forced they must be from one’s own heart.

David had such a heart of praise and celebration for the Lord, and we know it was completely unforced because of the repeated phrase “I WILL” Through this repeated phrase David identifies several ways in which he will come in, by praise of the Lord.

Never did anyone find victory by doubting the Lord, complaining of the Lord or by anything other than worshipping and praising His name.

I will THANK the Lord.

This requires recognizing the things the Lord does in order that we might thank Him. David says he will thank the Lord with his WHOLE heart.

David knows that God is worthy of praise of his whole heart.

The entire being of a person should be directed in affection and affirmation of God.

“Half-heart is no heart.”

Spurgeon.

Only those of a thankful heart will find a refuge of victory for the Lord.

I will DECLARE ALL Your wondrous Works.

David here puts his finger on what is most often a neglected but yet important way to praise the Lord.

Telling of all His great works.

Simply remembering and then re-telling the great and wonderful things the Lord has done.

Wondrous works is a single word in the Hebrew and is frequent in the Psalms used of redemptive miracles for sure but also of the more everyday experience and also of the hidden glories of scripture.

Thats what this level of praise takes is for us to open our eyes or have our eyes opened by God that we might see all that He has done and continues to do.

Every work of God is wondrous.

I will REJOICE and BOAST about You.

Another way to praise God is to boast about Him and express gladness and joy within Him.

If we boast may we boast about the Lord.

Many want to boast of what they do but those who want a refuge of victory boast in the Lord and what He has done rejoice in the Lord

Whatever may come from our hands or our ministry, we have no reason to boast because, humanly speaking, we are “weak,” “foolish,” “lowly,” and “despised.”

All the glory goes to God and God alone.

I will SING ABOUT YOUR NAME, Most High.

El Elyon - this particular name of God stresses out certain Characters and qualities or truths of God.

His power as the All Powerful One, His sovereignty as the Almighty One, and His Supremacy Most High - exalted and lifted up.

Those who desire a refuge of victory must first come through wholehearted praise.

Recognize Who Delivers

David is resolved to praise the Lord and there are many ways He will use to accomplish this and to continue in this.

David says when my enemies retreat they stumble and perish before You.

The work of the triumph over the enemy is all attributed to the Lord and His doing.

A refuge of victory is found when we acknowledge our deliverance comes from the Lord - David knows he didnt do it and we must recognize we didnt do it either.

The Lord has done it.

David acknowledges the Lord’s hand and we can see this by the repeated phrase “You Have”

YOU HAVE upheld my just cause.

God didnt automatically side and give deliverance because it was David’s cause, and He wont do it just because it is our cause.

God will not uphold injustice but only upholds justice for He is seated on His throne as a righteous judge.

God is not on our side but if we are on His side He is a refuge of victory!

YOU HAVE rebuked the nations

YOU HAVE destroyed the wicked

YOU HAVE erased their name forever and ever With these declarations we remember that before the Lord and His deliverance our enemies are temporary all of these are proof that the Lord has upheld David’s just cause.

The enemy has come to eternal ruin before God.

Seek the Righteous Judge

David recognized that God seemed to be on his side only because David was on God’s side - the side of righteousness.

The Lord sits enthroned forever as the eternal one.

He judges the world with righteousness and executes judgment with fairness.

If you want the judge and the judgment to be on your side be on the side of righteousness and then seek the righteous judge.

Unrighteous judges are unpredictable for you dont know if they will judge righteously and fairly or if they will bring a travesty of justice and judge unrighteously.

The Lord always judges in righteousness and therefore we can seek His righteous throne as a refuge of victory - for His throne is eternal and forever.

It is for this reason that the Lord is a refuge for the persecuted and a refuge in times of trouble.

Refuge is (misgab in the Hebrew) and this word speaks of God being the believer’s “stronghold”, “refuge” speaking of defense.

The allusion is to the fact that in the ancient world, safety to either the one fleeing or to the one at rest was synonymous with reaching and remaining upon some fortified height which would be inaccessible to beast and enemy alike.

This is seen to be a precise picture of the believer’s safety and security in God and His victory.

God does more than judges the wicked He is a refuge for those oppressed by the wicked.

Again God’s protection isnt given because favors some and opposes others capriciously.

It is because God’s people know His name and trust in Him.

This is an exercise of faith in God - knowing He does not abandon those who seek Him.

Declare His Works

David takes a turn in this Psalm by closing the praise section here with a final call to praise and declare the the wondrous works of the Lord.

Remember the works of the Lord and proclaim them.

He will reckon the bloodshed and remember His works and He does not forget the cry of the oppressed.

There are times where we may begin to tire or weary out - perhaps David was tiring out and wearying feeling perhaps under attack and like there was no way out - maybe thinking that the Lord had failed Him.

To find our refuge of victory we cannot let go of God we must continue to hold fast to Him for there is no hope without Him.

One way to regain that strength in trusting Him is to Look again to the Lord and His works and again Sing praises.

What a privilege we have and a joy we can share.

We get to sing praises to the Lord and the Lord has promised a defense to be provided within the praises.

David moves on from praising the Lord to coming into prayer before the Lord - praising the Lord for what He has done leads us to come and petition the Lord for what we need and look to what He will do.

David says be gracious to me Lord - consider my afflictions and lift me up rescue me.

David seemed to be at the gates of death but He called out to the Lord for deliverance.

When we consider in wondrous praise God’s previous works, His eternal throne and His enduring justice we come to a place where we know we can call out for His grace because that is what we need.

David called out for God’s grace - it is an open ended declaration of dependence upon God and a recognition of His power and our weakness.

In our time of trouble we must call out for grace to lifted up.

It is only there in God’s grace that we find salvation

Remember the Lord

David declares that the nations have fallen into the pit they themselves have made and their foot is caught in their own net they set and concealed.

No one falls before the Lord because He wants them too it is their own choice and their own wickedness.

The Lord has made Himself known - there is know claim of ignorance - we didnt know wont work.

He has executed justice and snares the wicked by the work of their own hand.

God displays not only His justice but also His sovereignty by using their own means and their own wickedness to ensnare the wicked.

Higgaion Selah — these two words together Meditate and pause.

The picture here is remembering the picture of the Lord’s overwhelming judgment of His enemies and their destruction - the call is put to pause and meditate on it.

Literally consider and tune your instrument — consider these things solemnly and adjust your hearts accordingly.

The wicked will go to Sheol all the nations that forget God - we didnt know is not an excuse but rather reveals we chose to not know you or to forget you.