Psalms 9:1 - Meaning and Application

The title of this psalm gives only a uncertain clue about when it was written. It says, “Muth-labben,” which some think refers to the death of Goliath, others to Nabal, and others to Absalom. But I think it likely names a tune or musical instrument for singing this psalm. In that case, the enemies David is celebrating over are the Philistines and the nearby nations that fought against his rise to the throne. He defeated them and secured his kingdom at the start of his reign (2 Samuel 5:8).

In these verses, David stirs himself to praise God for his mercy and for the great things God had recently done for him and his rule (Psalms 9:1, Psalms 9:2). God expects fitting praise from those for whom he has done wonderful things. If we want to praise God rightly, we must do it sincerely, with our hearts, not just with our lips, and with real eagerness. When we thank God for one mercy, we should use that chance to remember earlier mercies too, and so tell of all his wonderful works.

Holy joy is the life of thankful praise, and thankful praise is the voice of holy joy, “I will be glad and rejoice in you.” Whatever makes us glad, our joy must pass through it and end in God alone. We should rejoice in the giver more than in the gift. Joy and praise are also fitly expressed by singing psalms. And when God shows himself higher than the proud enemies of the church, we should give him glory as the Most High. The victories of the Redeemer, the one who saves, should be the victories of the redeemed, those who are saved (Revelation 12:10; Revelation 19:5; Revelation 15:3, Revelation 15:4).

David also acknowledges the almighty power of God, which even the strongest enemies could not resist or stand against (Psalms 9:3). They are forced to turn back, because their plans and courage fail them. They cannot keep moving forward in their evil schemes, but flee in panic. And once they turn back, they fall and perish. Even retreat becomes ruin for them, and flight saves them no more than battle. If Haman begins to fall before Mordecai, he is a lost man and will not recover his position (Esther 6:13).

The presence of the Lord, with the glory of his power, is enough to destroy his enemies and the enemies of his people. A man can do much just by being present, and God’s presence is enough to confound his foes. This was shown when our Lord Jesus, with only the words “I am he,” made his enemies fall back before him (John 18:6). At that same moment, he could have made them perish. When the enemies of God’s church are put to shame, we must give the credit, not to human tools, but to God’s presence, and give him all the glory.

David also gives God the glory for his righteousness in taking David’s side (Psalms 9:4). “You have maintained my right and my cause,” he says, meaning his just cause, “you sat on the throne, judging rightly.” God sits on the throne of judgment. It belongs to him to settle disputes, hear appeals, defend the wronged, and punish those who do wrong, for he has said, “Vengeance is mine.”

We can be sure that God’s judgment is always true and that there is no wrong in him. Far be it from God to twist justice. If at times his providence seems uneven to us, that should not shake our trust in his justice. Instead, it can strengthen our faith in the final judgment, which will set everything right. Whoever abandons a just and injured cause, we may be sure that the righteous God will uphold it and defend it with care. He will never let it be crushed.

David then joyfully records the triumphs of the God of heaven over all the powers of hell, and he praises him for them (Psalms 9:5). God’s power and justice had moved against the nations and wicked people who were enemies of the king he had set on Zion, his holy hill. First, he had rebuked them, giving clear signs of his displeasure. He did this before destroying them, so they might take warning from his providence and avoid their own ruin. Then he had destroyed the wicked. The wicked are marked for destruction, and some are made examples of God’s just anger and destroying power in this world. Finally, he had buried them in lasting shame and forgetfulness, wiping out their name forever so they would not be remembered with honor.

David also rejoices over the enemy whom God has judged (Psalms 9:6). “You have destroyed cities.” This can mean either that the enemy had planned the destruction of Israel’s cities, or that God had destroyed the enemy’s cities by laying waste their land. Either way, David wants the enemy to understand two things. Their destruction is just, because God is only settling accounts for all the harm they did and planned against his people. Their ruin is also complete and final, a destruction that makes a lasting end of them, so that even the memory of their cities disappears with them.

The nearby enemies of Israel, such as the Philistines, Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, and Syrians, had often attacked Israel when there was no king to fight for them. They had destroyed cities and done all they could to erase Israel’s memory. But now the turn had come. Their ruin of Israel had come to an end. They would no longer spoil others and would themselves be spoiled (Isaiah 33:1). This is the kind of devastation time can bring about, and even more, the righteous judgments of God can bring upon sinners. Great and crowded cities have been reduced to such ruins that their memory has vanished, and people searching for them could not find where they once stood. But we look for a city with stronger foundations.

David then comforts himself and others in God, and he takes delight in thinking about him. He reflects first on God’s eternity. On this earth, nothing lasts. Even strong cities are buried in rubble and forgotten, but the Lord will endure forever (Psalms 9:7). His being never changes. His happiness, power, and perfect nature are beyond the reach of all the joined forces of hell and earth. They may end our freedoms, our privileges, and even our lives, but our God remains the same, and he still sits above the floods, unshaken and undisturbed (Psalms 29:10; Psalms 93:2).

He also thinks of God’s rule, both in governing and in judging: he has prepared his throne, fixed it by his infinite wisdom, and established it by his unchanging plan.

It is a great support and comfort to God’s people, when the church’s enemies seem strong and the state of things looks dark and confusing, to remember that God still rules the world and will soon judge it.

He does everything now, and he will do everything at the last day, according to the eternal and unchanging rules of justice (Psalm 9:8). He will judge the whole world, all people, and every dispute. He will decide each person’s place, in this life and in the life to come, with righteousness and uprightness, so that no fair objection can be made against his judgment.

We should also think about the special favor God has for his own people and the protection he gives them. The Lord, who lives forever, is their lasting strength and shelter. He will make sure to judge for them when they are harmed or in trouble (Psalm 9:9). He will be a refuge for the oppressed, a strong and safe place for them in times of trouble.

God’s people are often oppressed in this world, and troubled times are part of their path. God may not appear at once as their deliverer and defender, but in their distress they can still run to him by faith as their refuge. They can trust his power and his promise, and no true harm will come to them.

We should also think about the deep peace and rest of mind that belong to those who make God their refuge (Psalm 9:10). “Those who know your name will trust in you, as I have done,” and they will find, as I have found, that you do not abandon those who seek you. God’s favor toward all his saints is the same.

The more we know God, the more we trust him. Those who know him as infinitely wise will trust him even when they cannot see the way ahead (Job 35:14). Those who know him as almighty will trust him when every human support fails and they have nothing else to lean on (2 Chronicles 20:12). Those who know him as full of grace and goodness will trust him even if he allows suffering, as Job did (Job 13:15).

Those who know God as true and faithful will rejoice in his promises and rest on them, even when the promise seems delayed and events around them seem to argue against it. Those who know him as the Father of spirits and an everlasting Father will trust him with their souls, their greatest concern, and will keep trusting him to the end.

The more we trust God, the more we will seek him. If we trust him, we will come to him in faithful and earnest prayer, and we will also work to live in a way that pleases him in all that we do. God has never disowned or deserted anyone who truly seeks him and trusts him. He may correct them, but he will not leave them without comfort. He may seem to hide himself for a time, but he will gather them again with his lasting mercy.