Thursday 9th January
Read Psalm 9
“I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart;
I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.
2 I will be glad and rejoice in you;
I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High.
3 My enemies turn back;
they stumble and perish before you.
4 For you have upheld my right and my cause,
sitting enthroned as the righteous judge.
5 You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked;
you have blotted out their name for ever and ever.
6 Endless ruin has overtaken my enemies,
you have uprooted their cities;
even the memory of them has perished.
7 The Lord reigns for ever;
he has established his throne for judgment.
8 He rules the world in righteousness
and judges the peoples with equity.
9 The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.
10 Those who know your name trust in you,
for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.
11 Sing the praises of the Lord, enthroned in Zion;
proclaim among the nations what he has done.
12 For he who avenges blood remembers;
he does not ignore the cries of the afflicted.
13 Lord, see how my enemies persecute me!
Have mercy and lift me up from the gates of death,
14 that I may declare your praises
in the gates of Daughter Zion,
and there rejoice in your salvation.
15 The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug;
their feet are caught in the net they have hidden.
16 The Lord is known by his acts of justice;
the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands.
17 The wicked go down to the realm of the dead,
all the nations that forget God.
18 But God will never forget the needy;
the hope of the afflicted will never perish.
19 Arise, Lord, do not let mortals triumph;
let the nations be judged in your presence.
20 Strike them with terror, Lord;
let the nations know they are only mortal.” (NIVUK)
David is writing a song that is a reminder of the character of God and the implications for those who would oppose God thinking themselves to be more than mere mortals (vs20). It is a reminder what is needed when we begin to think we are ‘king’ and God can be ignored. The list of words that describe God’s character and for which David gives thanks and praise (worship) include, wonderful deeds, righteous judge, righteous ruler, eternal ruler, refuge, faithful (never forsaken, never forgotten), saviour. Verse 11 is a little bit of a surprise, ‘avenges’ doesn’t sound right in the mix! However, it captures the truth that God doesn’t ignore or forget, He is always aware of injustice and evil and will ultimately bring about justice (the consequence of mankind’s actions, vs 15-16) and restore (have mercy on) His people. The psalm looks back to the past (vs1-6), at the present (vs 7-10) and to the future (vs11-19). There are times when we need to remind myself of who God is, that we are created and loved by Him and therefore when the ‘wheels seem to be falling off’ we can be assured (hope of the afflicted will never perish, vs18) of His presence and victory and bring our praise and thanks to Him.
Geoff Hinch
