One thing that can be missed when doing a verse by verse look at the Psalms is that the entire thing is a unit. I’m going to try to relay that here, but the psalm is twenty verses long, so it’s easy to slip into just looking at each individual verse, or a group of verses. Scholars and researchers are unsure as to what exactly the inscription means but one of the translations for “Muth-Labben” (מות לבן) is “death of a son”. I’m going to read this as if this is the case and try to draw out the heart of David. I’ll also try to do this in a way that, even if one of the other translations are correct (and there are a few, if you’d like to look them up) then this commentary will still promote a proper look at the characteristics of God. It should be noted that many believe that “death of a son” was actually a pre-existing song which David was instructing the reader to sing this psalm to the tune of.
For the choir director; on Muth-labben. A Psalm of David.
1 I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonders. 2 I will be glad and exult in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.
Sometimes this is one of the hardest things in the world to do. Sometimes everything is fine and you feel joyous and you want to thank God and praise Him. But sometimes your world is crashing in on you and it’s so difficult to thank God for all you have. Especially when you feel like you don’t really have anything left. The truth is that this is the time when we need to thank Him the most.
3 When my enemies turn back, They stumble and perish before You. 4 For You have maintained my just cause; You have sat on the throne judging righteously.
When we focus on our “enemies”, we have the tendency to dwell on them. We let them take up a place in our brain and we let ourselves see the good things that they have. Why do we give them that much of our headspace? Focus on God, and on what He has done for you. First, make sure that your cause is just. If your seeking righteousness, rest assured that you are an instrument God is using to send out His righteousness and justice into the world. If you’re not sure that your cause is just, seek God. In fact, this brings to mind a verse that we have all heard (probably) but few of us heed its advice. Matthew 6:33 says, “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Is our first response in every situation to view the predicament through the constitution of the Kingdom? I know that I can admit that I don’t always act this way.
5 You have rebuked the nations, You have destroyed the wicked; You have blotted out their name forever and ever. 6 The enemy has come to an end in perpetual ruins, And You have uprooted the cities; The very memory of them has perished.
Just remember that while we are worrying about the things around us, God is working from His throne. God has your back, even when it seems like the enemies are closing in around you. Maybe it even seems like the attacks have begun. One thing we know is that, in the end, God is going to destroy the wicked. And even though God doesn’t want anyone to perish, many people choose to come against God and His people, and they are choosing their side. The convicting thing for me is that I don’t pray for my enemies nearly as often as I should. More often than not, I don’t see the abysmal future my enemies are in for and I think only of my own situations. This isn’t the way I should be doing things.
7 But the LORD abides forever; He has established His throne for judgment, 8 And He will judge the world in righteousness; He will execute judgment for the peoples with equity.
Does this scare you as much as it should? He’s going to judge the world in righteousness. The righteousness of God is not something easy to get passed. If you want a quick overview of how God feels about unrighteousness then you may want to read the first couple chapters of the book of Romans. This is why we, followers of the Messiah, must cling to the teachings of Jesus and do our best to walk out the same faith that He walked in. We’re not saved by these actions. We’re saved by the grace of God because we place our faith in Him. Roman 3:21-26 spells this out pretty clearly but if you read on to verse 31 we see that our faith doesn’t remove our works. What it really does is emphasize the need for a righteous walk of faith.
9 The LORD also will be a stronghold for the oppressed, A stronghold in times of trouble; 10 And those who know Your name will put their trust in You, For You, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.
The deeper you look into the Kingdom of God the more you find that the Kingdom is all about relief from oppression and the eventual freedom from all bondage. When man was first created, he was created to live in the freedom of the Garden and to walk freely with God. But then we took on the yolk of sin and we started down our path into bondage. At every turn God has been taking away bondage from us. From Abraham’s separating from the gods of his fathers to Israel’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt, to Jesus’s releasing us from our bondage to sin, the chains have been breaking since the very beginning. And as we walk out our faith the way Jesus did, it’s our ministry to restore freedom to those who are oppressed.
11 Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion; Declare among the peoples His deeds.
It may, at first, be easy to overlook this verse but, are you? Are you declaring the deeds of your King to the people around you? Do the people you interact with every day know how much you appreciate the blessings you’ve been given by our King? Or do you just accept it and walk out the same steps as those around you who aren’t in covenant with our God and King?
12 For He who requires blood remembers them; He does not forget the cry of the afflicted.
The cries of the afflicted echoed out for thousands of years. For generations upon generations you can imagine a seen like we see in the sixth chapter of Revelation where the souls under the altar cried out, “How long…”. And after those thousands of years there was finally an answer to the cries of the afflicted. Blood was required and our perfect Passover Lamb offered himself up so that we could come close to Him.
13 Be gracious to me, O LORD; See my affliction from those who hate me, You who lift me up from the gates of death, 14 That I may tell of all Your praises, That in the gates of the daughter of Zion I may rejoice in Your salvation.
There’s something that we should pay attention to here. Do you notice why we should be expected to be lifted up from the gates of death? It’s so that we can tell people about all that God has done for us. When He lifts you out of the muck and mire, do you sing His praises? I ask all of these questions because I know that I’ve been guilty of not following the prescribed pattern. I’ve bene the one who just let it go. Who said, “thank you,” and then moved back into the same formula which got me in the muck and mire to begin with.
15 The nations have sunk down in the pit which they have made; In the net which they hid, their own foot has been caught.
This verse is of special concern. So often today we let ourselves be caught up on politics (whether they be on the right or on the left) and we argue with others with the audacity of religious zealots, but always remember that our battles are not against flesh and blood. Our arguments are not with Democrats or the Republicans. Our King has a Kingdom, and our residence is in the Kingdom. Don’t let yourself get caught up in the squabbles of the nations or you may get dragged down with them also.
16 The LORD has made Himself known; He has executed judgment. In the work of his own hands the wicked is snared. Higgaion Selah.
In today’s culture, this is something that is longed for. One might remember the verse in Revelation where the souls are under the alter, crying out, “how long, O Lord, holy and true.” We see God’s work all around us, and surely He’s preparing a snare for the wicked, but how long will it be before the trap is sprung? How long will those following after His Light have to endure? My life, though I sometimes face hardship, is easy compared to those truly facing tribulation. There are countless Christians facing persecution. So, yes, sometimes you wonder how long until the wicked are snared. In the end, the truth is that we know that they will be snared by the work of His hands. And , for now, that will have to be the solace we use. The other thing to remember is that we should also ask for the salvation of our enemies. What greater testimony could there be than our enemies coming to know the salvation of our God, and fighting for His Name.
17 The wicked will return to Sheol, Even all the nations who forget God. 18 For the needy will not always be forgotten, Nor the hope of the afflicted perish forever.
The end will come, in due time. Our greatest duty is to move forward every day, advancing the Kingdom of our Lord. What will you do with what you are given?
19 Arise, O LORD, do not let man prevail; Let the nations be judged before You. 20 Put them in fear, O LORD; Let the nations know that they are but men. Selah.
There is no world in which men are greater than God. Notice that throughout this plea for God’s vindication David is always asking God to move. He’s not moving himself, he’s letting God do His thing. Rest in the Word of the Lord and let Him be the one to take righteous action, because there is no righteous action outside of His will.
I hope that this has been of some insight to you. I hope that you find some degree of peace by reading it. But, the more important thing is the reading of the actual Scripture. Allow yourself to reflect on these psalms. Ask the Holy Spirit to provide the insight that the Father wants you to receive.
Shalom!
This was first posted on my personal blog at the following address:
http://thepoiema.blogspot.com/2018/01/the-psalms-9-i-will-recount-your.html