Psalm 9 Study

Psalm 9 Study

Introduction

God is the living God, active now in history and human life. He is not locked into some past dispensation where He once chose to do miracles, but no longer does. He is not excluded from His universe by a closed system of cause and effect. He is the present, living God. At any moment He may move upon us or upon our enemies. Psalm 9:1–2 (Psalms 1–72 (Preacher’s Commentary)):

Psalm 9 is usually identified as a psalm of praise. Its traditional authorship, held here, is given to David. This is supported by its royal substance. Psalm 9:1–2 (Psalms 1–72 (Preacher’s Commentary)):

Psalm 9 is written in crisis. David’s enemies hate him and have pushed him to the “gates of death” (v. 13). In his hour of peril, he turns to the Lord. As he begins his prayer, however, he reveals neither terror nor fear. He refuses to rush into God’s presence with panic demands. Rather, he begins in praise and worship. We too would do well to start with the Lord when we are in crisis, when we usually demand “justice now.” The movement of thought goes from:

worship (vv. 1–2) to God’s judgment, including both vindication and security (vv. 3–10).

a call to worship and witness (vv. 11–12),

a call for mercy (vv. 13–14).

and the judgment of the nations (vv. 15–16).

ending with resolution (vv. 17–20). Psalm 9:1–2 (Psalms 1–72 (Preacher’s Commentary)):

Personal Worship (vv1-2)

Psalm 9:1-2 “I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works. I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.”

Psalm 9 begins with David’s declaration of intent: “I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart.” His thanksgiving is total and comes with all his heart. Since the heart is considered by the Hebrews to be the seat of thought, David worships with full consciousness, engaging his mind and his memory. This is no rote prayer or mumbled hymn. He invests himself totally in his worship. Both the majesty of God and the urgency of the hour call forth his best. Psalm 9:1–2 (Psalms 1–72 (Preacher’s Commentary)):

Psalm 9:1–2 (JPCS Ps 1-88): David was no theorist—most of his psalms were written in times of great affliction. There is a tremendous difference between praising with the lips and praising with the heart; between mechanically singing a hymn and singing it from an overflowing soul..

In praise the one being praised is elevated; we are directed toward the one whom we praise. Psalm 9:1–2 (Psalms 1–72 (Preacher’s Commentary)):

“Marvelous works” comes from a verb meaning “to be surpassing, extraordinary, wonderful.” Psalm 9:1–2 (Psalms 1–72 (Preacher’s Commentary)):

Recalling God’s works opens up David’s heart. He continues: “I will be glad and rejoice in You; / I will sing praise to Your name.” The memory of God’s miracles brings David to God Himself. The mighty acts of God reveal the character of God. We do not worship the works, however; we worship the Worker.

Psalm 9:1–2 (JPCS Ps 1-88): That is the kind of victory that infuriates the hosts of hell. What can Satan do with a man who turns a prison into a palace, a crucifixion into a coronation, a torture into a triumph?

2) Judgment & Exoneration(vv3-5)

Notice the astounding confidence David has in the power of God’s presence:

First — enemies will retreat!

Second — They will then stumble, fall, collapse.

Third — They will perish; this can only happen when God goes to battle for you.

Exodus 33:14 “14 And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.”

(v4) God’s maintaining work is not because David had some kind of racial privilege.

David’s “right” speaks to his moral integrity.

David’s “right” is held up by the God who is “right.”

God defeats David’s enemies through exercising His justice against their unjustice.

GOOD REMINDER — David’s justice was determined and executed by the justice of God.

(v5) Think about all the nations who apposed Israel:

Babylon, Assyria, Persia, Greece, Rome, etc...

(v5) Thus as our enemies are destroyed, as the power of sin and Satan over us is broken, our faith in the living God is vindicated. Now Jesus is our righteousness; in His name we are saved and healed, and our enemies perish in the presence of God’s powerful Holy Spirit. Donald Williams and Lloyd J. Ogilvie, Psalms 1–72, vol. 13, The Preacher’s Commentary Series (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1986), 88.

3) Judgment & Haven (vv6-10)

David now addresses his enemy with authority. Almost seems like a prophetic word.

David does not deny the greatness of his adversary.

However, he declares that the final analysis will be God destroying them.

They removed the memory of others, God will soon remove the memory of them from the world.

Verse 10 provides the positive meaning of the “refuge” metaphor: “And those who know Your name will put their trust in You.” Those who “know” (yāda˓, “have intimate communion with”) God’s name are God’s people. He calls them by name and they call Him by name. Their relationship is secured, for to know Yahweh is also to trust Him. The verb for “trust” means “to feel secure, be unconcerned.” The op pressed feel secure in God as their refuge because He is trustworthy. Donald Williams and Lloyd J. Ogilvie, Psalms 1–72, vol. 13, The Preacher’s Commentary Series (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1986), 89.

REFUGE — never leave nor abandon those who seek, inquire.

Matthew 7:7 “7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:”

This section of scriptures gives those who trust in the Lord hope for the destruction of our enemy by God. He is our fortress and our source of mercy.

Ephesians 3:20-21 “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”

Psalm 10:8-9 “He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: In the secret places doth he murder the innocent: His eyes are privily set against the poor. He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: He lieth in wait to catch the poor: He doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net.”

Proverbs 3:34 “Surely he scorneth the scorners: But he giveth grace unto the lowly.”

God is to be worshiped as He executes His judgment and redemption promised in verses 3–10. Here is realized eschatology. Here is the God who acts. This call to worship is based on the assumption that things will be different now because God is carrying out His sentence; He is saving His people. (