9:1ffPraise is expressing to God our appreciation and understanding of his worth. It is saying thank you for each aspect of his divine nature. Our inward attitude becomes outward expression. When we praise God, we help ourselves by expanding our awareness of who he is. In each psalm you read, look for an attribute or characteristic of God for which you can thank him.
Life Application Study BiblePsalmsChapter 9
Psalm 9
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 850, 851
A few verse numbers on this page were hard to read in the scan and are marked with a dotted underline — compare with the original page image if in doubt.
9Psalm 9
1I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done.
2I will be filled with joy because of you.I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.
3My enemies retreated;they staggered and died when you appeared.
4For you have judged in my favor,from your throne you have judged with fairness.
5You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked;you have erased their names forever.
6The enemy is finished, in endless ruins;the cities you uprooted are now forgotten.
7But the LORD reigns forever,executing judgment from his throne.
8He will judge the world with justiceand rule the nations with fairness.
9The LORD is a shelter for the oppressed,a refuge in times of trouble.8:4 Hebrew what is man that you shoutd think of him, / the son of man that you should care for him? I 8:5a Or Yetyou made them only a little lower than the angels; Hebrew reads Yet you made him|i.e., man] a little lower thanElohim. 8:5b Hebrew him {i.e., man]; similarly in 8:6.
10Those who know your name trust in you,for you, O LORD, do not abandon those who search for:
11Sing praises to the LORD who reigns in Jerusalem.*Tell the world about his unforgettable deeds.
12For he who avenges murder cares for the helpless.He does not ignore the cries of those who suffer.
13LORD, have mercy on me.See how my enemies torment me.Snatch me back from the jaws of death.
14Save me so I can praise you publicly at Jerusalem’s gates,so I can rejoice that you have rescued me.
15The nations have fallen into the pit they dug for others.Their own feet have been caught in the trap they set.
16The LORD is known for his justice.The wicked are trapped by their own deeds.
17The wicked will go down to the grave.*This is the fate of all the nations who ignore God.
18But the needy will not be ignored forever;the hopes of the poor wil! not always be crushed.
19Arise, O LORD!Do not let mere mortals defy you!Judge the nations!
20Make them tremble in fear, O LORD. Let the nations know they are merely human. Theme: Why do the wicked succeed? Although God may seem to be hidden at times, we can be assured that he is aware of every injustice. Author: Anonymous, but probably David. Many ancient manuscripts combine Psalms 9 and 10, and Psalm 9 was written by David. 1 0 10 LORD, why do you stand so far away?
Textual footnotes
- 9:11 Hebrew Zion; also in 9:14.
- 9:16 Hebrew Higgaion Selah. The meaning of this phrase is uncertain,
- 9:17 Hebrew to Sheol.
Life Application Notes 6 notes
9:4God upholds our just cause; he is olir vindicator (one who clears us from criticism and justifies us before others). in this life, we may face many injustices: (1) we may be falsely accused and misunderstood by friends and enemies; (2) we may not be truly appreciated by others for the love we show; (3) the true value of our work and service may not be duly rewarded; (4) our ideas may be ignored. But God is to be praised, for he sees and remembers all the good we do, and it is up to him to decide the timing and the appropriateness of our rewards. if we do not trust him to vindicate us, then we will be susceptible to hatred and self-pity. If we do trust him, we can experience God’s peace and be free from the worry of how others perceive us and treat us.
9:10God will never abandon those who seek him. God’s promise does not mean that if we trust in him we will escape loss or suffering; it means that God himself will never leave us no matter what we face.
9:11God does not live only in Jerusalem {or Zion, another name for Mount Moriah, the hill on which the Temple was built); he is everywhere all the time. The focal point of Israelite worship, however, came to be Jerusalem and its beautiful Temple. God was present in the Tabernacle (Exodus 25:8, 9) and in the Temple built by Solomon (2 Chronicles 7:16). From this central place of worship, the Jews were to tell the world about the one true God.
9:13,14All of us want God to help us when we are in trouble, but often for different reasons. Some want God’s help so that they will be successful and other people will like them. Others want God's help so that they will be comfortable and feel good about themselves. David, however, wanted help from God so that justice wauld be restored to Israel and so that he could show others God’s power. When you call to God for hetp, consider your motive. is it to save yourself pain and embarrassment or to bring God glory and honor?
9:18The world may ignore the plight of the needy, crushing any earthly hope they may have. But God, the champion of the weak, promises that this will not be the case forever. Wicked nations, which forget the LORD and refuse to help their people, will be judged by God. He knows our needs, he knows our tendency to despair, and he has promised to care for us (see also 9:9, 12). Even when others forget us, he will remember.
Charts, profiles & sidebars from the printed pages
Study feature · page 851
YOu.
🗺 This feature includes a map, chart or picture — view the original page image.
Study feature · page 851
Quiet Interlude*
Study feature · page 851
Interlude