Psalm 9 - Praise For The Power Of God Series

-Again, the superscription proves to us the purpose of this psalm. It is to the chief musician and it is to be used in public temple worship either by the Levitical choir or a worshiping congregation. Open your heart and sing. . . Note I said that we should open our heart and sing. . . The Lord said that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth will speak (Matt. 12:34; Luke 6:45). . . we must sing with our heart and not merely our mouth!

-This psalm puts an emphasis on praise and we see it immediately in the first two verses:

• I will praise thee. . . I will give thanks . . . with my whole heart!

• I will shew forth. . . I will tell. . . of the wonderful works of the Lord!

• I will be glad and rejoice. . . in Thee!

• I will sing praise to Your Name. . . O Lord, Our Lord, how excellent is Your Name in all the earth!

-The praise that comes from the heart and pen of David is in response to what the Lord had done for them. His protection for them and his provision for them is made clear.

-If you will notice in v. 11, there is also a connection that not only will David sing praise to the Lord in his heart (v. 1), he is also going to venture into a public place in Zion (v. 11). It is at the gates of Zion that this will take place.

J. J. Stewart Perowne (The Book of Psalms, 1878)—We cannot pray the psalms without realizing in a very special manner the communion of the saints, the unity of the Church militant and the Church triumphant. We cannot pray the Psalms without having our hearts opened, our affections enlarged, our thoughts drawn heavenward. He who can pray them best is nearest to God, knows most of the Spirit of Christ, and is ripest for heaven.

-This book of Psalms is indeed praises and prayer! If we would put a church in a mindsight for worship it will be enhanced when we open the Psalms. It has much toward developing our spiritual life, to serve as a model for songs of praise, and instruction in praying. That is what David is putting forward for us in this passage.

Allen P. Ross—Since prayer and praise—indeed, worship—must be informed, these psalms must be interpreted correctly, taught clearly, and preached convincingly. The church is missing one of its richest experiences if it ignores the Book of Psalms or relegates it to a routine reading in a service without any explanation.

B. Psalm 9:4, 7-8—God’s Righteous Rule Over the Earth

Psalms 9:4 KJV For thou hast maintained my right and my cause; thou satest in the throne judging right.

Psalms 9:7-8 KJV But the LORD shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment. [8] And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.

-Not only will the Lord redeem, He will also rule. He will endure forever and his throne will be perpetual.

-Through these verses (vv. 4, 7-8), David proves to us how the Lord will do this:

• He will rule justly

• He will rule eternally

• He will rule fairly