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PSALM

CHAPTER 9

1 To the chief Musician upon Muth-lab'-ben, A Psalm of David. I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works. 2 I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High. 3 When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence. 4 For thou hast maintained my right and my cause; thou satest in the throne judging right. 5 Thou hast rebuked the heathen, thou hast destroyed the wicked, thou hast put out their name for ever and ever. 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. 8 And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.

The word "Muth-lab-ben means "death of the son." Perhaps David was writing this song in praise to God for the death of Goliath. Perhaps he was writing this song in praise to God for the death of the Philistines whom God had helped him defeat.

It is most definitely a "praise" song, written to praise God for His justness in destroying the enemies of righteousness.

Notice that God is called "Most High" (verse 2). God is exalted above all we could ever imagine. He is holy, just, righteous, and perfect. He is also omnipotent - or having all power.

God will uphold the righteous (verse 4). In the final judgment day God will send all enemies of His and His people to an eternal burning pit which endures forever (verse 5).

Even in this present world today God is upholding righteousness. Though the "tares" certainly are growing alongside the "wheat" (Matthew 13), God is always insuring righteousness in the world.

Our Lord is eternal (verse 7), and He is the judge of all mankind (verse 8). His "judgment" is deliverance and eternal salvation to those who belong to Him.

9 The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. 10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee. 11 Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings.

God is a "refuge" for people who are troubled and oppressed in the world today. Psalm 46:1 says, "God is our refuge and strength, a very present hellp in trouble."

When we are experiencing difficulty in the world, we can always go to God in prayer and find comfort from His presence.

This is indeed a joy, and a worthy reason for giving God "praise" (verse 11).

12 When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble. 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: 14 That I may shew forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in thy salvation. 15 The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken. 16 The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah. 17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God. 18 For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever. 19 Arise, O LORD; let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged in thy sight. 20 Put them in fear, O LORD: that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah.

God is the "avenger" of the righteous who are persecuted (verse 12). It is He and He alone Who will vindicate those who follow Him. God does NOT forget how those who have despised Him have treated His people.

Christians suffer "trouble" in today's world (verse 13) just as David did because of his stand for God. Our only consolation is that God has MERCY upon us and allows us to live so that we can continue praising Him.

God is KNOWN (verse 16) because of His righteous judgment, and His ultimate salvation of those who love Him.

The term "Higgaion" may refer to changing instruments for a more quiet tone. And "Selah" means a break in the song for meditation upon what has been stated. God's MERCY toward the righteous and His ultimate judgment of the wicked are worthy of our MEDITATION!

David's plea, and that of all Christians, is that God "Arise" and show His mighty power. Indeed, the Bible ends with a call for God to "Come" and reveal Himself to all men (Revelation 22:17). It is the cry of the Spirit of God that men come to know the Almighty God. It is the call of the church of God that men come to know the Almighty God. It is the call of all who have been saved that others come to KNOW the Almighty God.

Because God is our ONLY "refuge" from the sinful world in which we live today.

CHAPTER 10

1 Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble? 2 The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined. 3 For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth. 4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts. 5 His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them. 6 He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity. 7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity. 8 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. 9 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. 10 He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones. 11 He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.

Sometimes it seems that God is standing back and allowing the proud and wicked non-believers to rule over believers (verse 2).

It is because of self-pride that men will not seek after God's love and mercy (verse 4). Men mock and scorn God's laws and even the sacrifice of Jesus for our sins.

And there are millions, even billions of people who absolutely refuse to be "moved" by the gospel story (verse 6).

But the REASON for God allowing these things is because of MERCY.

"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." (2Peter 3:9)