Psa. 9:0 ¶ To the chief Musician upon Muthlabben, A Psalm of David.
Some think that David is instructing that this psalm be sung to the melody of a song by that name.
NLT: For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be sung to the tune “Death of the Son.”
Commentators are all over the place concerning what this title represents. In light of all their comments, I think verse 11 negates the possibility of this psalm being penned before David was ruling as king in Jerusalem, effectively ruling out many of their conclusions. The NLT translation makes sense to me.
Psa. 9:1 ¶ I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.
Psa. 9:2 I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.
This song begins with David praising the LORD with his whole heart—his feelings, his will and his intellect. His words are thoughtful and meaningful; he is not just going through a ritual. He wants his praise to declare to others the wonderful things God has done for him; it’s a personal testimony. His heart is full of joy; and as a musician, it was natural for him to express his joy in song.
Music is an expression of the heart, and praise music provides a great way to express our joy in the Lord.
Spurgeon: “If thou canst not be glad in anything else, be glad in thy God, — be glad that thou hast a God, and such a God, and that he is thy God still. Whatever else thou mayest have lost, thou hast not lost him.”
Psa. 9:3 When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence.
Psa. 9:4 For thou hast maintained my right and my cause; thou satest in the throne judging right.
Psa. 9:5 Thou hast rebuked the heathen, thou hast destroyed the wicked, thou hast put out their name for ever and ever.
David is praising God for protecting him from his enemies. David knows that God will act on his behalf because he is acting according to what is right. He understands that it is only in God’s power that he can be victorious over his enemies, identified as ungodly Gentiles (wicked, heathen).
It’s interesting to me that the wording implies that David expects to defeat his enemy with God’s help, then goes on to describe his enemy as already defeated. This is a powerful example of the attitude that every Christian should have when they pray. We can know that when we pray with the right motives and in accordance with God’s will, we will receive accordingly.
1 John 3:22 “And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.”
James 4:3 “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.”
Psa. 9:6 O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end: and thou hast destroyed cities; their memorial is perished with them.
Psa. 9:7 But the LORD shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment.
Psa. 9:8 And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.
The fate of David’s enemy, described in the previous verse as ungodly, is destruction. They will be forgotten to history. The LORD, however, is eternal and will judge every person in righteousness.
These verses recognize the fact that the wicked will establish strongholds and will seem to prosper in this life, but we must understand that God is still on the throne. The time is coming when the wicked will be destroyed, and the LORD will rule on earth in righteousness.
Jeremiah 23:5-6 “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.”
Spurgeon describes God’s righteous judgment as follows in The Treasury of David: “In this judgment tears will not prevail, prayers will not be heard, promises will not be admitted, repentance will be too late; and as for riches, honourable titles, sceptres, and diadems, these will profit much less…. Oh, how many which now sin with great delight, yea, even with greediness (as if we served a god of wood or of stone, which seeth nothing, or can do nothing), will be then astonished, ashamed, and silent!”
Psa. 9:9 The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.
Psa. 9:10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.
A refuge is a place of strength and security that protects one from danger. David had personally experienced taking refuge in the LORD when Saul treated him unjustly and posed a danger to his life. In context, to “know” God’s name is to understand the character, power and authority behind that name. One who has that understanding will confidently be able to put their trust in Him. He knows that the LORD never forsakes those that worship (from the Hebrew for seek) Him.
Ironside: “God has never gone back on His Word, and He has never failed His people. But someone says, “He has left them to die; He has allowed them to be tortured and afflicted.” Yes, that is true, but that was not defeat; for the very moment the soul left the body it was present with the Lord, and for all one ever suffered on earth He makes up abundantly yonder.”
Psa. 9:11 ¶ Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings.
David took great comfort in knowing that the LORD had set apart Jerusalem, Zion, as His own. Although he wasn’t allowed to build the temple, he was the one to whom God revealed the pattern that was to be followed in building the temple and organizing the priesthood. He wants all the nations of the world to know the mighty works of God on behalf of His people.
1 Kings 11:36 “And unto his son will I give one tribe, that David my servant may have a light alway before me in Jerusalem, the city which I have chosen me to put my name there.”
1 Chronicles 28:11–13 “Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlours thereof, and of the place of the mercy seat, And the pattern of all that he had by the spirit, of the courts of the house of the LORD, and of all the chambers round about, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries of the dedicated things: Also for the courses of the priests and the Levites, and for all the work of the service of the house of the LORD, and for all the vessels of service in the house of the LORD.”
Psalms 132:13–14 “For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation. This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it.”
Psa. 9:12 When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.
God is the only one invested with the authority to exact vengeance for the shedding of innocent blood. Though it may seem to us sometimes that murderers are getting away with their foul deeds, God is keeping an account. He does not forget, and He declares that vengeance is His.
Deuteronomy 32:35 “To me belongeth vengeance, and recompence….”
I like the way the NLT presents the truth in Paul’s letter to the Romans.
Romans 12:19 “Dear friends, never avenge yourselves. Leave that to God. For it is written, “I will take vengeance; I will repay those who deserve it,” says the Lord.”
Ironside: “God never forgets. You may say, ‘But others have treated me so badly.’ He knows all about that….He takes note of every sorrow that His people have to go through, and in the day of judgment there will be stern retribution for those who have caused suffering to His people.”
Psa. 9:13 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:
Psa. 9:14 That I may shew forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in thy salvation.
David is very humble before the LORD. He is pleading with God to take note of those that are intent on harming him. He knows that God has the power and authority to rescue him from death. He declares his motive to be to glorify God; he wants to continue to sing God’s praises and publicly proclaim His mighty deliverance.
The Old Testament saints knew that God took pleasure in the honor of His name.
Exodus 20:7 “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.”
Isaiah 48:11 “For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.”
They also knew that God honored true humility. Israel was spared God’s wrath during Josiah’s lifetime because he humbled himself before God.
2 Chronicles 34:27–28 “Because thine heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before God, when thou heardest his words against this place, and against the inhabitants thereof, and humbledst thyself before me, and didst rend thy clothes, and weep before me; I have even heard thee also, saith the LORD. Behold, I will gather thee to thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered to thy grave in peace, neither shall thine eyes see all the evil that I will bring upon this place, and upon the inhabitants of the same.”
Scripture everywhere affirms that God is ready to give grace to the humble.
Isaiah 57:15 “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.”
Matthew 18:4 “Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
Psa. 9:15 The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken.
Psa. 9:16 The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah.
These two verses are basically a restatement of the law of sowing and reaping. Those who do not acknowledge the one true God will reap the results of their evil lives.
Job 4:8 “Even as I have seen, they that plow iniquity, and sow wickedness, reap the same.”
Proverbs 22:8 “He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity: and the rod of his anger shall fail.”
Galatians 6:7–8 “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.”
The LORD is known for righteous judgment.
Psalms 19:9 “The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.”
Psalms 98:9 “Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.”
Jeremiah 9:24 “But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.”
“Higgaion” = a musical sign, denoting probably a pause in the instrumental interlude. (Easton’s Dictionary)
“Selah” = a pause—Stop and think about this.
Psa. 9:17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.
Psa. 9:18 For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever.
Though we may not always understand why God seems to allow the wicked to prosper; we can trust in the truth that He is Sovereign and working out His plan for His people according to His will. The lives of the wicked will end up in the grave only to face God’s righteous judgment. This judgment is described in the book of Revelation.
Revelation 20:12–15 “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”
Verse 18 is basically restating the principle declared in verse 12. The humble and poor have an expectation, a longing for right to prevail; and God will execute righteous judgment in the end.
Psa. 9:19 Arise, O LORD; let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged in thy sight.
Psa. 9:20 Put them in fear, O LORD: that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah.
David closes this psalm with a prayer for the LORD to hold the wicked accountable and pronounce judgment upon them. They act with such pride and arrogance, and David is ready for them to be put in their place. He wants them to recognize their insignificance before Almighty God, the God of Israel.
Spurgeon: “They boast that they are men, and that they quit themselves like men. Yet let them know that, although they are men, they are only men, with all the infirmities and imperfections of men, and that there is a God who will, in due time, let men know that they are but men, and that the best of men are but men at their best.”
Again—pause and think about this.
Spurgeon: “Pause again, think over what we have been reading, and lift up your heart in prayer to God, seeking the aid of the Holy Spirit to apply the truth to your soul.”
Commentators note that Psalms 9 and 10 were combined into one in the Septuagint.
Psa. 10:1 ¶ Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?
I think most of us can relate to the thoughts of the Psalmist when we suffer from the mistreatment of evil men and watch as evil men seem to prosper with seeming impunity. Without the rest of scripture to enlighten me, I would be approaching the LORD today with this same prayer in light of the times in which we live. We are blessed to have the whole of God’s word to help us face such times with the knowledge that God is ever in control and working in the lives of those that love Him.
Psalms 99:1 “The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble….”
Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”
From our perspective it sometimes seems that the LORD is hiding because he does not respond to our prayers for intervention or deliverance according to our desire or expectation. We need to focus on the truth that His purposes are always for the greater spiritual good, and He knows what is needed to conform us to the image of His Son.
Romans 8:29 “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son….”
Psa. 10:2 The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.
In God’s sovereignty, He chose to give man the privilege of choice—a privilege that resulted in yielding to the temptation of sin. Because of that choice, our adversary, Satan, has established an ever-growing sphere of influence that God is allowing for a short period of time in accordance with His purposes—especially from a heavenly perspective.
Psalms 90:4 “For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night.”
2 Peter 3:8 “But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.”
That truth doesn’t keep those that have placed their faith in God from wanting to protect the poor from persecution by those that are wicked. It’s just natural to want to see the wicked suffer in like manner as they have caused suffering. The psalmist was not privileged to have the example and teachings of Jesus to guide him.
In looking at the word for poor in the Hebrew, it notes, “depressed, in mind or circumstances…humble…needy.” In other words, it is much more than a reference to one’s economic status.
Psa. 10:3 For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.
The psalmist continues to describe the wicked man as a man of pride who boasts about all he has achieved or accumulated and shows favor to those that are covetous—a thing that the Lord hates. The Hebrew for covetous makes reference to plunder, greed and wounding. In other words, it is inflicting harm on others to satisfy one’s own desires.
Sadly, this is an apt description of the mindset of many in our country today that want to force their morals and way of life on those that choose to obey God in accordance to His word.
Psa. 10:4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.
Psa. 10:5 His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.
The pride of the wicked person is the root cause of his actions. It is the primary reason he refuses to seek God; He does not want to submit to any authority than his own. Without benefit of God’s love and empowerment, it is only to be expected that his ways are perverted and harmful to others (from the Hebrew for grievous). He reasons that he is invincible since God has not judged him, and lords it over his enemies.
Again, it is hard for the follower of God to understand why the LORD allows such sin to flourish, but we can find strength in the truth that His ways are far beyond our understanding and are always righteous.
Isaiah 55:8–9 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.”
Psalm 145:17 “The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.”
Spurgeon: “It is an admirable arrangement that the heart is often written on the countenance, just as the motion of the wheels of a clock find their record on its face. A brazen face and a broken heart never go together.”
Psa. 10:6 He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.
Psa. 10:7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.
Because his evil has been allowed to go unchecked, the wicked man often becomes quite cocky. He is quick to curse and swear at others and to take advantage of others by using deceit, oppression or cruelty (from Hebrew for fraud). He uses words as weapons to cause worry, injury and sorrow to others.
John Gill makes note that the phrase “under his tongue” is a reference to serpents that have little bags of poison under their teeth. The wicked man uses words to poison the hearts and souls of men.
Psa. 10:8 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.
Psa. 10:9 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.
Psa. 10:10 He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.
Wicked people like to act in secret to murder the innocent and take advantage of the weak and helpless. The psalmist compares the wicked person to a lion lying in wait to catch his prey and a hunter using a trap. Like a lion he crouches low, waiting to catch his victims when they are most vulnerable. Luke hunter using a trap, he lures his victims by appealing to the lust of their eyes, desires of the flesh and their pride.
I can’t help but think of politicians in particular that so like to project a certain type of public persona and agenda that is in total contradiction with the person they are behind the scenes and their true agenda.
Psa. 10:11 He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.
The wicked person is convinced that God takes no notice of his actions.
I liked the way the psalmist phrased it. He knows that the wicked man realizes that there is a god; he just thinks that God pays him no attention (from the Hebrew for forgotten). He thinks God does not see him. The scripture tells us differently.
Proverbs 5:21 “For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.”
Hebrews 4:13 “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”
Psa. 10:12 ¶ Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble.
The psalmist lifts up a prayer for God to intercede on behalf of those that are helpless before the wicked.
Psa. 10:13 Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it.
The psalmist questions why the wicked person scorns, blasphemes and provokes (all from the Hebrew for contemn) God. It is basically because he feels like he is prospering and suffering no consequences for his actions. This logic is identified in the writings of Solomon.
Ecclesiastes 8:11 “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.”
Psa. 10:14 Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless.
The psalmist knows that the LORD God is aware of all the actions of the wicked. He knows that the LORD will eventually hold the wicked accountable. He knows that the poor can trust in Him as their Father.
Psa. 10:15 Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none.
Psa. 10:16 The LORD is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land.
The psalmist can’t help but call out for God to judge the wicked and subdue all evil. He is eager for the LORD to establish His kingdom and get rid of the wicked forever.
My heart is certainly in tune with the psalmist on this point. I can hardly wait to see Jesus on the throne and the wicked forever subdued and eventually eliminated from our presence for eternity.
These verses also bring to mind the martyrs under the altar in Revelation.
Revelation 6:9–11 “And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.”
The LORD does not rebuke these saints for their desire for God to avenge them. They know that vengeance belongs to God, and He will exact His vengeance on the wicked in accordance with His perfect plan.
Psa. 10:17 LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:
Psa. 10:18 To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.
I liked the simple wording of the NLT for these verses: “LORD, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will listen to their cries and comfort them. You will bring justice to the orphans and the oppressed, so people can no longer terrify them.”
How blessed we are to know that this is true! The LORD does know our hopes and needs. He does listen to those that cry out to Him for comfort. He will bring justice to the fatherless and the oppressed. The day is coming when all who have placed their faith in Him will no longer suffer at the hands of the wicked.
2 Peter 3:13 “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.”