Psalm 9

Psalm 9

Comments: Psalm is too long to tackle it verse by verse. So, we’ll pick up the main themes.

Thankfulness to God (my whole heart). Even though the psalm will tackle some tough themes, David begins with the words of thanksgiving. If I have to limit the signs of godliness to one element it would be “thankfulness” – a missing link in the Garden story. If we compare what Jesus does at the Last Supper and Adam and his wife, we can notice the lack of thankfulness. Because it is impossible to be thankful for a stolen fruit…

Enemies in life of a believer – who are they? This is tri-folded question. First, we need to think about people wo opposed the rule or life of David. His life was a life of struggle. His father-in law brought him closer only for a single purpose – it would be easier to get rid of a young lad. Then he had to face armies and armies of neighbors – Philistines, you name it… There was a moment when his own son became a mutineer. Many people can be marked in the life of David as “enemies.” Second, there is a spiritual aspect of these assaults. From the time of the Garden the “enmity” is between the humans and the serpent… (no wonder Goliath is armed or covered with scales, which makes him look like a snake/serpent). Sometimes the lives of people are the battleground for God and diabolical forces (see the evil spirit attacking king Saul, 1 Samuel 16). Third, there are inner sinful inclination with a person – in theology it’s called fleshly desires. David’s story with Bathsheba is not a conspiracy of the Philistines or an attempt to compromise his kingship by some court provocateurs… No, it was his own inability to overcome sexual passions. So, there are three types of enemies: people/world, demons, and flesh.       

Another very big theme in the psalm is the actions of the nations or, saying it differently, a global scale of God’s influence. After the Flood and rebellion at the Tower of Babel, God chose a single family – Abram and Sarai. Through their descendants He developed them into a nation – people of Israel. He gave them the land. After the loss of the land and going through the Babylonian exile, they became a part of the empires that God erected. Then with the coming of Jesus Christ everything found its consummation – He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. But throughout of all the periods of salvation history the people of God should’ve been witnessing to their neighbors. David, who lives in the period of the kingdom of Israel in the land, brings the good news to some Philistine territories (see 1 Samuel 27:1-7). So, even when the nations conspire against God and His anointed (see psalm 2:1-2), God will turn the tables, and they will sing in their own pits (v. 15). Reflecting on the beginning of the psalm: nations have the same choice as individuals – giving thanks or to sing to the pit of our own makings.     

Death and resurrection. The more I read Psalter, the more I see this theme. Every person should have the answers for the ultimate questions – purpose of life, what will happen after death etc. v. 17 says that the wicked will go to Sheol – a place of abandonment. The reason is – they forgot God, on the national level. There ungodly nation has godly people (see Genesis 18, an argument of Abraham and God over the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah). Their spiritual needs and hopes will be answered (v. 18), but it is important to share the Gospel with the people on a national level. For the countries and nations can come and go – the Church is going to stand forever.      

Man vs. God. The psalm presents a strong case for rebellious human anthropology. On national and individual level men rebel against God (vv. 5, 19, 20). They try, try hard to set their own plans in motion, but God is stronger, and justice is His. That’s why David, being a man, asks the LORD to rise (v. 19). Risen Lord Jesus is the One Who prevails over men (see Acts 9 – meeting of Saul and Jesus on the road to Damascus), and He judges the nations according to His standards.