Psalms 9-10
Dear RTB’ers,
A header in my NASB translation referred to Psalm 9 as “Thanksgiving for God’s Justice”. And when we see wickedness and righteousness set against each other in Psalm 9 (much like yesterday’s Psalm 7), then that sounds like a good title. The header for Psalm 9 is followed up by my NASB header for Psalm 10, “A Prayer for the Overthrow of the Wicked”. Given that these two Psalms are one in the Septuagint (as noted in STS), thanksgiving for justice followed by the overthrow of the wicked seems appropriate! Pray for justice, then watch the results!
I’m always surprised / confused by what seems (to me) to be David’s excessive focus on the wicked and on his enemies. We have seen it already quite a bit in earlier Psalms, then today in Psalm 9 (Ps. 9:3, 5b-6, 15-17) and an entire passage in Psalm 10 (Ps. 10:2-11). The focus on the wicked and his/her/their deeds is strange (again, to me) in that most of us don’t see these people or their deeds in our everyday lives. We read articles in the newspapers and magazines. We see horrible behaviors – violence, lust, corruption, etc. – in movies and on television. But we tend not to see these behaviors ourselves unless our jobs or our volunteerism take us there. Presumably, King David actually saw these people and their behaviors. Because of his position he had evildoers in and around his throne, although certainly not of his making or his desire! All that, yes, but to be fair David’s concern for wickedness today is overwhelmed by his praise to the Lord for His goodness and His deliverance (many, many verses in both Psalms). In spite of wickedness, God’s righteousness overwhelms.
I was especially touched by David’s personal motivation for deliverance, “Be gracious to me, LORD … so that I may tell of all Your praises, that … I may rejoice in Your salvation.” (Ps. 9:13-14) His focus is on praising the Lord. It should be clear to us that when David is finally delivered, that his first action will be thanksgiving and praise. Even yesterday I noted David asking the Lord not to die, for how could he praise God if he were dead?
David closes today’s combined Psalm with his consistent confidence in the Lord’s working: O LORD, You hear the desire of the afflicted; You will strengthen their heart; You will incline Your ear to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more. (Ps. 10:17-18) Justice. Done.
Blessings!