Good Morning,
Psalm 9 (The Message) A David Psalm
1-2 I'm thanking you, God, from a full heart, I'm writing the book on your wonders.
I'm whistling, laughing, and jumping for joy;
I'm singing your song, High God.
3-4 The day my enemies turned tail and ran,
they stumbled on you and fell on their faces.
You took over and set everything right;
when I needed you, you were there, taking charge.
5-6 You blow the whistle on godless nations;
you throw dirty players out of the game,
wipe their names right off the roster.
Enemies disappear from the sidelines,
their reputation trashed,
their names erased from the halls of fame.
7-8 God holds the high center,
he sees and sets the world's mess right.
He decides what is right for us earthlings,
gives people their just deserts.
9-10 God's a safe-house for the battered,
a sanctuary during bad times.
The moment you arrive, you relax;
you're never sorry you knocked.
11-12 Sing your songs to Zion-dwelling God,
tell his stories to everyone you meet:
How he tracks down killers
yet keeps his eye on us,
registers every whimper and moan.
13-14 Be kind to me, God;
I've been kicked around long enough.
Once you've pulled me back
from the gates of death,
I'll write the book on Hallelujahs;
on the corner of Main and First
I'll hold a street meeting;
I'll be the song leader; we'll fill the air
with salvation songs.
15-16 They're trapped, those godless countries,
in the very snares they set,
Their feet all tangled
in the net they spread.
They have no excuse;
the way God works is well-known.
The cunning machinery made by the wicked
has maimed their own hands.
17-20 The wicked bought a one-way
ticket to hell.
No longer will the poor be nameless—
no more humiliation for the humble.
Up, God! Aren't you fed up with their empty strutting?
Expose these grand pretensions!
Shake them up, God!
Show them how silly they look.
I'm whistling, laughing, and jumping for joy;
I'm singing your song, High God.
3-4 The day my enemies turned tail and ran,
they stumbled on you and fell on their faces.
You took over and set everything right;
when I needed you, you were there, taking charge.
5-6 You blow the whistle on godless nations;
you throw dirty players out of the game,
wipe their names right off the roster.
Enemies disappear from the sidelines,
their reputation trashed,
their names erased from the halls of fame.
7-8 God holds the high center,
he sees and sets the world's mess right.
He decides what is right for us earthlings,
gives people their just deserts.
9-10 God's a safe-house for the battered,
a sanctuary during bad times.
The moment you arrive, you relax;
you're never sorry you knocked.
11-12 Sing your songs to Zion-dwelling God,
tell his stories to everyone you meet:
How he tracks down killers
yet keeps his eye on us,
registers every whimper and moan.
13-14 Be kind to me, God;
I've been kicked around long enough.
Once you've pulled me back
from the gates of death,
I'll write the book on Hallelujahs;
on the corner of Main and First
I'll hold a street meeting;
I'll be the song leader; we'll fill the air
with salvation songs.
15-16 They're trapped, those godless countries,
in the very snares they set,
Their feet all tangled
in the net they spread.
They have no excuse;
the way God works is well-known.
The cunning machinery made by the wicked
has maimed their own hands.
17-20 The wicked bought a one-way
ticket to hell.
No longer will the poor be nameless—
no more humiliation for the humble.
Up, God! Aren't you fed up with their empty strutting?
Expose these grand pretensions!
Shake them up, God!
Show them how silly they look.
Psalm 9 Discussion and Thoughts to Ponder:
Verses one and two give us an example of how we should come to God with praise and thankfulness. First, one should come to God with their whole heart. Second, we should come to God in with thankfulness. David has experienced and witnessed God at work because His eyes were steadfast on God both in trouble and triumph; he walked with the Lord in sadness and in joy. This why he had such loyal praise and thankfulness. When he sinned sleeping with Bathsheba, He came to God and made it right. The consequences to this sin were great, but God was with David even in this. David thanked Him and was grateful for His love.
This made him sing, whistle, and leap for joy. At the time that David is writing this, David was singing God’s song and remembering His wondrous deeds (vv1-2). But there are times when he was not. For example, when David lusted after Bathsheba and eventually committed adultery, he was singing his own song and letting his desires guide his life. Taking matters into his own hands and setting a destructive ball in motion, the affair led to a pregnancy. The baby died. If we are smart, we could learn from David and not repeat his actions. We could also apply this lesson beyond adultery and apply it to other aspects of our lives. Take note if you are off singing your own song, trouble is around the corner.
When we find ourselves singing our “own” songs, we must understand that this is not living a life of service to God. It leads to detours and ugly consequences that can get us off track completely. So how can one keep this from happening? If we start the day asking God what he wants us to do etc, we are on the right track. When we receive a check in our spirit, like I think David did when he saw Bathsheba on a rooftop and lusted after her, we have the opportunity to stop and make the right decision. God always gives us a choice. The Bible tells us to think on good things, whatever is praiseworthy, and to sing and music in our hearts making melodies to the Lord. This pattern teaches us that if we are focused on God and disciplined, we can keep ourselves out of trouble with God’s help. The other lesson here is to praise God in all things, look to God, and keep your heart pure and open before God. Finally, David writes about making a book of remembrances of what the Lord has done (vv 1-2). We could learn from David and do the same thing. When troubles roll in, how quick can we forget what God can do? We can also learn to tell of God's wondrous deeds as some translations of this Psalm suggest!
If you read on beyond verse one and two and the concepts of praise and gratefulness, you will see some other common themes that written in many of David’s Psalms. God is in control (vv 3-4). God puts “messes” in order (vv 7-8). God will deliver David from his enemies because God has done it for David so many times (vv 5-6 & vv13-14). Verses 11 and 12 report that “God can track down killers” and still watch over us. Perhaps my most favorite theme of all in this Psalm is found in verse nine and ten: “God's a safe-house for the battered, a sanctuary during bad times. The moment you arrive, you relax; you’re never sorry you knocked.” This is so true. Like David, I always feel safe when I come to God. His presence is a “safe-house” for the broken; where peace is a gift you receive as you enter!
Please take the time to reflect and comment:
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