Psalm 9

Psa 9:1

SUPERSCRIPTION: "A PSALM OF DAVID".

See Lesson, Acrostics.

PSALMS 9,10: Really one psalm (NEB heading): similar theme, coincidences of phrasing, one psalm in LXX, partial acrostics, Psa 10 has no title.

From this point up to Psa 149 the versions differ in the numbering of the Psalms, since LXX and Vulgate -- followed by Roman church -- count 9 and 10 as a single psalm, while the Protestant churches follow the Heb reckoning.

HISTORICAL SETTING: (a) A psalm of David; (b) Zion is the center of the psalmist's devotion (vv 11,14); (c) V 13 implies a grievous illness, such as afflicted David at the time of the ark being brought to Zion, and about the time of Absalom's rebellion (cp Psa 30; 41); (d) Emphasis on Gentile enemies. Thus prob related to 2Sa 6-10: David's great campaigns against the nations or Gentiles.

I WILL PRAISE YOU, O LORD: "Praise should always follow answered prayer; as the mist of earth's gratitude rises when the sun of heaven's love warms the ground. Hath the Lord been gracious to thee, and inclined His ear to the voice of thy supplication? Then praise Him as long as thou livest. Let the ripe fruit drop upon the fertile soil from which it drew its life. Deny not a song to Him who hath answered thy prayer and given thee the desire of thy heart. To be silent over God's mercies is to incur the guilt of ingratitude; it is to act as basely as the nine lepers, who after they had been cured of their leprosy, returned not to give thanks unto the healing Lord. To forget to praise God is to refuse to benefit ourselves; for praise, like prayer, is one great means of promoting the growth of the spiritual life. It helps to remove our burdens, to excite our hope, to increase our faith. It is a healthful and invigorating exercise which quickens the pulse of the believer, and nerves him for fresh enterprises in his Master's service" (CHS).

WONDERS: Used esp of the great redemptive miracles (ie Psa 106:7,22) but also of their less lofty counterparts in daily experience (Psa 71:17), and of the hidden wonders of Scripture (Psa 119:18). It is a word reserved for God, and never used of man's feeble and temporary efforts.

Psa 9:2

YOUR NAME: God at work, whether in past, present, or future: Rev 1:8.

Psa 9:3

The authority of God in the Last Days. Alluded to in Joh 18:6, where those who attempt to arrest Christ are temporarily befuddled and driven back. Thus there is suggested -- even at his "weakest moment" -- the truth about the Man they were attempting to arrest.

Psa 9:4

ON YOUR THRONE: In Zion (v 11).

Psa 9:5

AND DESTROYED THE WICKED: Cp v 6: the destructions the enemy has wrought are ended for ever.

YOU HAVE BLOTTED OUT THEIR NAME: Like Absalom, the godless rebel: 2Sa 18:18; Deu 29:20.

Psa 9:6

EVEN THE MEMORY OF THEM HAS PERISHED: See Deu 25:19. God's memorial is His covenant name Jehovah or Yahweh (v 7). The memorial of every rival god perishes for all time.

Psa 9:9

"The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe" (Pro 18:10).

Psa 9:12

Add "saying" at the end of this verse, thus introducing the prayer of v 13. See also Psa 22:7; 30:8; 39:3; 41:5; 52:6; 132:2,11.

Psa 9:13

THE GATES OF DEATH: A deliberate ct with the "gates of Zion" (v 14). See Psa 6:5; 107:18; Gen 22:12,17; Rev 1:18; Mat 16:18.

Psa 9:14

THE DAUGHTER OF ZION: A favorite phrase of Isa for Jerusalem (Isa 1:18; 52:2).

Psa 9:16

HIGGAION: One of the mystery words of the Psalms, translated "meditation" (Psa 19:14), "a solemn sound" (Psa 92:3), and "device" (Lam 3:62). The Heb rt means "to talk", which is the best way to meditate.

See Lesson, Selah.

Psa 9:17

THE WICKED RETURN TO THE GRAVE: Either in the sense of Gen 3:19 or as the fate of those raised and rejected (Mat 25:26,32,41). For such, Death is their "native element". Cp Psa 104:29; 146:4.

Psa 9:18

BUT THE NEEDY WILL NOT ALWAYS BE FORGOTTEN: Of course not! Even the sparrows are not forgotten by God (Luk 12:6).

NOR THE HOPE OF THE AFFLICTED EVER PERISH: See Lesson, Double negative, Hebrew.

HOPE: "Expectation" (AV); Heb "tiqvah": "hope", sw Jos 2:18 (line). How well the experience of Rahab illustrates this verse! 1Th 1:3 ("patience of hope") refers to both Heb and LXX readings of this v.

Psa 9:19

The Heb text has a superb paradox which is quite obscured here: "Let not frail mortal man (v 20, sw) show himself strong!" Cp Joel 3:10: weak say they are strong!

Psa 9:20

STRIKE THEM WITH TERROR: The LXX has "Place a lawgiver over them."

See Lesson, Selah.