A Study in Psalms Psalm 9

1 ¶ <<To the chief Musician upon Muthlabben, A Psalm of David.>> I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.

• There is some debate over the meaning of muth-labben. Some believe it refers to the death of Goliath, the Philistine champion whom David slew, or to his triumph over Nabal, or over Absalom while others believe it refers to the type of music or notes used for this psalm.

• A song of praise when David triumphed over the Philistines and the other nations around him that opposed him setting up his throne in Jerusalem.

• Our attitude to life should show forth the marvellous work of God in our hearts

2 I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.

• We can chose to be glad and rejoice in the Lord when we put our trust in him. If we trust God in all situations, we will be glad and rejoice in all situations, but if we are trusting in the flesh, circumstances will drag us down.

3 When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence.

• God is our strong fortress “ Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort: thou hast given commandment to save me; for thou art my rock and my fortress.” Ps 71:3 All who come against God's children will fail and fall at his presence: “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” 1Jo 4:4

4 For thou hast maintained my right and my cause; thou satest in the throne judging right.

• God keeps us from falling from grace, causes us to do what is right and good, gives us true purpose which he will sustain, and judges righteously from his throne “ Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” Jude 1:24 – 25

5 Thou hast rebuked the heathen, thou hast destroyed the wicked, thou hast put out their name for ever and ever.

• God loves all men and does not immediately destroy his enemies, but first rebukes them – that is, he gets their attention and shows them that they are on the wrong path

• Those who refuse to repent and trust God through his Son, Jesus Christ, will be destroyed and cast out of the presence of God forever “ And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Mat 25:30

6 O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end: and thou hast destroyed cities; their memorial is perished with them.

7 But the LORD shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment.

• Wickedness, though it so often seems strong and victorious, will come to a final end at the judgment seat of God

8 And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.

• God is ready to judge, fully prepared, fully righteous, and will eventually judge the world righteously

9 The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.

• “will be” here refers not to a future event, but to an ongoing event: God IS a refuge for the oppressed and troubled; it means that whenever there is oppression and trouble, God will be there.

10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.

• Those who trust God will trust him in times of difficulty and God is with them

11 ¶ Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings.

• Praise the Lord at all times and tell others all about him

• Zion, a type or picture of the Church,

• Remember that God dwells in a special place on Earth – in the heavenly Church which is in the heart of every believer

12 When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.

• God will bring judgment and wrath on the wicked who have harmed his children; when we suffer at the hands of the world, we can be sure that God sees and cares about what is going on and will not forget

13 Have mercy upon me, O LORD; consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death:

• Pray in agreement with God; do not tell him what to do, but let him be God and ask him to do what is best

14 That I may shew forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in thy salvation.

• Our desire should be to glorify God

15 The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken.

• Those who do not trust God are caught by their own sin

16 The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah.

• God is known by what he does

• Here a special note is added to draw special attention to the words and to make us stop and think about it

17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.

• All who refuse to trust God will be cast into hell in the end

18 For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever.

• God will remember those whom the world is against

19 Arise, O LORD; let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged in thy sight.

• Man will not triumph over God, but God will judge sinful man

20 Put them in fear, O LORD: that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah.

• The wrath of God will be poured out on all men who refuse to trust him. Think about it.