Psalm 9

Praise to the Lord (vs. 1-2)—Most of the early psalms have a recurring theme of praise to Jehovah for salvation from enemies; the repetition is not bad, of course, because we need these themes enforced in our minds consistently. David establishes in the very first statement what we ought to be doing all the time: “I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart.” Whole-hearted devotion to God is what He deserves and is our due.

There are basically three reasons given, in this psalm, why David offers this adulation of the Lord.

Justice (vs. 3-5)—“You have maintained my right and my cause” (v. 4). “You have rebuked the nations, You have destroyed the wicked; You have blotted out their name forever and ever” (v. 5). Jehovah is a loving God, but He is also a just God, and unrepented of sin will be punished. David is thankful that the Lord has vindicated him.

Judgment (vs. 6-8)—Justice leads to judgment. Some of that is noted in the verses above, but stated openly in verses 7-8: “He has prepared His throne for judgment. He shall judge the world in righteousness, and He shall administer judgment for the peoples in uprightness.”

Refuge (vs. 9-12)—Thus, just as He punishes the wicked, the Lord will protect His people: “The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; for You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You” (vs. 9-10). “He does not forget the cry of the humble” (v. 12). Note that He is a refuge for us; we can trust Him; He will never forsake us; and He will always hear us when we cry to Him. Very comforting words, indeed. Thus, “Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion! Declare His deeds among the people” (v. 11).

A plea for mercy (vs. 13-20)—There seems to be a little change of tone in these last few verses, as if David is in some distress; the confidence of verses 1-12 is not as overpowering. If the Lord will have mercy upon him (v. 13), then David will be able to speak of His praise and salvation (v. 14). The judgment of God is once again mentioned in verse 16, because “the nations have sunk down in the pit which they made; in the net which they hid, their own foot is caught” (v. 15). This is a theme we’ve seen before; we often dig the sinful pit into which we ourselves fall. The end result of those who “forget God” is manifest: “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God” (v. 17). The Lord remembers those of His righteous who have been oppressed (v. 18).

Yet, David needs help, or perhaps sees injustice that needs to be corrected: “Arise, O LORD, do not let man prevail” (v. 19). Man, ultimately, will not prevail, of course, but it does seem to us humans that, at times, the Lord’s cause is taking a beating. David pleads for God to act: “Let the nations be judged in Your sight” (v. 19). Yes, we would all like to see that, but God works in His own time and in His own way. The final verse imparts a thought that the world would be wise to learn before it is too late: “Put them in fear, O LORD, that the nations may know themselves to be but men” (v. 20). About 300 years later when Israel was being threatened by Assyria, they made an alliance with Egypt. The Lord told them that such an action was vain. Why? Because “the Egyptians are men, and not God” (Isaiah 31:3). When the Lord comes in judgment upon a nation, all the horses, chariots, swords, shields—or bombs and bullets—won’t do one bit of good.