A Prayer For When God Stands Far Off (Psalm 9-10) Series

Today, we will work through Psalms 9 and 10. Originally, these two psalms were probably one single song, and they are treated as a single song in the Greek OT (LXX). So we are going to try to work through both, in one sitting. I have total confidence that this will work out.

This song divides up into four different sections. You can think about this as a pop song, with four verses. If you look at the outline, you can get a feel for the big picture (this is slightly changed from Goldingay, Psalms 1-41, 167):

Statement of faith and praise for Yhwh's past acts (9:1-12)

Plea (9:13-14)

Statement of faith and praise for Yhwh's past acts (9:15-18)

Plea (9:19-10:3) [Goldingay puts verse 3 with what follows; I'm changing it slightly]

Lament at the present (10:4-11)

Plea (10:12-15)

Statement of confidence: God has heard; rescue is coming (10:16-18).

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

For the last section, Goldingay has instead: "Statement of faith and praise for Yhwh's past acts (10:16-18)."

--------------------------------------------------------------

What this big picture should do, hopefully, is help you get a feel for the rhythm of this song. And actually, I'm building the application off of it, as well. So the outline is really the key to everything today.

Let's start by reading verses 1-12. The psalmist starts his song/prayer by reminding himself about who God has been for him in the past:

Of/for the director. According to Muth. Of/For the son. A psalm of/for David.

(1) I shall praise, Yahweh, with all my heart;

I shall recount all of your wonders;

(2) I shall rejoice,

and I shall exalt in you;

I shall sing praise to your name, Most High.

(3) When/As my enemies turn, they stumble and they perish/are destroyed from your presence.

(4) For you have made my judgment and my legal case;

You have sat on your throne, exercising righteous authority.

(5) You have rebuked the nations;

you have destroyed the wicked;

their name you have blotted out forever and ever.

(6) The enemy has come to ruins forever,

while [their] cities you have uprooted.

It has been destroyed, their memory-- they,

(7) while Yahweh forever dwells;

He establishes for authority/judgment his throne,

(8) while He rules/exercises authority over the world in righteousness;

He judges the peoples in/with uprightness/integrity,

(9) and Yahweh is a high refuge for the oppressed;

A high refuge for times of distress,

(10) and they trust in you-- the ones knowing your name--

because you have not abandoned the ones seeking you, Yahweh.

(11) Sing praises to Yahweh, the One Dwelling in Zion;

Tell/declare among the peoples his deeds,

(12) because He seeks/requires blood;

them He remembers.

He hasn't forgotten the cry of the needy/afflicted.

Let's pause, and think about what we've read so far. The focus has been on God. Yahweh is "Most High." He has reigned supreme over all. And what kind of king has He been, historically?

Yahweh is the kind of king who rebukes, and punishes, the wicked. Yahweh is the kind of king who fights on behalf of the weak, and needy. Yahweh is the kind of king, who is utterly reliable. Verse 11. Yahweh hasn't abandoned the ones who seek him. If you have sought him, in the past, He has helped. He hasn't forgotten the needy. And all of this is something God has proven over and over, in the past. You can look at his history, and the world's history, and you can know exactly what God is like.

Now, let's pause for a minute. Why does the psalmist sing/pray all of this about Yahweh, to Yahweh?

You could answer this at least three ways.

(1) In part, the psalmist does this, because this is how you praise God. When you sing about what God has done in the past, you are praising him. When we sing songs about Jesus, and the cross, and his resurrection, and ascension to God's right hand, we are praising God our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

(2) In part, the psalmist does this, as a way to invite others to join him (verse 11, in particular). This song, is an invitation to corporate prayer/worship. Join me, as I sing, and pray, to my God in heaven.

(3) The other way to explain this, is when we sing songs like this, or pray like this, we are reminding God about what kind of God He is.

And this, I think, is an essential part of prayer. This is something many of us need to learn how to do.

When you approach your heavenly Father in prayer, needing his help, part of prayer can be reminding God, that He is a God who helps. He is a God who remembers the poor in Spirit. He is a God who doesn't let the wicked do their thing, oppressing the innocent, forever.