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Psalm 9 (ESV)
I Will Recount Your Wonderful Deeds
to the choirmaster: according to Muth-labben. A Psalm of David.
9 I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. 2 I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High. 3 When my enemies turn back, they stumble and perish before your presence. 4 For you have maintained my just cause; you have sat on the throne, giving righteous judgment. 5 You have rebuked the nations; you have made the wicked perish; you have blotted out their name forever and ever. 6 The enemy came to an end in everlasting ruins; their cities you rooted out; the very memory of them has perished. 7 But the Lord sits enthroned forever; he has established his throne for justice, 8 and he judges the world with righteousness;
he judges the peoples with uprightness. 9 The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. 10 And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you. 11 Sing praises to the Lord, who sits enthroned in Zion! Tell among the peoples his deeds! 12 For he who avenges blood is mindful of them; he does not forget the cry of the afflicted. 13 Be gracious to me, O Lord! See my affliction from those who hate me, O you who lift me up from the gates of death, 14 that I may recount all your praises, that in the gates of the daughter of Zion I may rejoice in your salvation. 15 The nations have sunk in the pit that they made; in the net that they hid, their own foot has been caught. 16 The Lord has made himself known; he has executed judgment; the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands. Higgaion. Selah
17 The wicked shall return to Sheol, all the nations that forget God. 18 For the needy shall not always be forgotten, and the hope of the poor shall not perish forever. 19 Arise, O Lord! Let not 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
Has God already brought justice or is David just confident of his prayer being answered?
Holy Father, as Christians, we face opposition, repression, and discrimination from the media, activist groups, work associates, friends, and family who don’t understand our faith in You or who disagree with what we stand for. The higher the profile we have, the more criticism we can expect. But this isn’t new. Your people have always faced opposition. It is painful and difficult but You promised that we will ultimately overcome. David faced great opposition and had enemies that were after his life. David reflected on past victories to give him strength and courage as he trusted You for future victories. Lord help me be like David. Help me to remember answered prayers and former mercies. While I wait for Your hand for justice let me praise You for all that You have already done in my life and confidently proclaim Your glory. Let me pray for others that are hurting and persecuted so that they are given strength. You are the God of truth and faithfulness, and I will rejoice in Your promise, and rest in that. I will trust You with my soul. You have saved me from spiritual and eternal death. I, therefore, have hope, that in all my distresses You will be present to help me. Lord, thank you that you do not ignore my cries and that I can confidently trust in you. Thank you that I can relax and let you be God.