Psalms 9

Psalms 9 AND 10THEME: Satan’s manWe were climbing an ascending stairway between the first two messianic psalms (2 and 8). Psalms 8 was the pinnacle, and now we are starting down the mountain on the other side. The descent will be through seven psalms that tell out a prophetic story. We will get glimpses of the suffering of the Jewish remnant at the end time and also a glimpse of the “man of sin,” also called “the lawless one,” who is yet to appear upon the earth. Psalms 9 and Psalms 10 are very closely connected. There is a certain alphabetical structure, an acrostic, that is not seen in our translation, but which can be seen in the original. As a result, you will find that the Septuagint and the Vulgate put these two psalms together and consider them as one. This psalm is addressed to “the chief Musician upon Muth-labben.” What does this word mean? It means “death for the son,” a subject that some authors identify with Psalms 8 as we have seen. I think it is generally accepted to be the inscription for Psalms 9.

This psalm is ascribed to David, the sweet singer of Israel. There are those who see the death of Goliath in this psalm. Others identify it with the death of Bathsheba’s son. It means “death of the son, the firstborn”; and I rather think that it refers to what happened in the land of Egypt when Israel was delivered from slavery through the death of the firstborn of Egypt. It begins with a note of praise.

Psalms 9:1

This psalm begins with praise just as Psalms 7 begins with praise. As in the seventh psalm, so in Psalms 9 the praise is in anticipation of the coming victory so beautifully predicted in Psalms 8, when all things will be put under the feet of Him who was made a little lower than the angels. In fact, the first section of this psalm is a prophetic forecast of what earthly conditions will be when the Son of Man has received the throne in righteousness and in peace. In view of the future deliverance, we have this great song of praise in which all earthly people will join in that day. We have a picture of this in the Book of Revelation when that great company out of the nation Israel, the church, and the twenty-four elders will share in a time of great praise unto God.

Psalms 9:3

Once again we move into the time of the kingdom that is mentioned in Psalms 8, when all things will be put under His feet. Martin Luther put it like this: “One with God is a majority.” He was not so much concerned about having God on his side, as he was making sure he was on God’s side. The important thing to David was that his cause was right. Let’s make sure, my friend, that we are on God’s side. Now he speaks of the coming judgment.

Psalms 9:5

“Thou hast rebuked the heathen” is better translated, “Thou hast rebuked the nations.” What a psalm this is!

Psalms 9:6

This is a strong declaration of the judgment that is coming. The question arises, Is there enough preaching today about judgment? I would say that there is enough preaching of a certain kind of judgment, but there are very few sermons on the subject of hell. Lately I have had the opportunity to hear more sermons than I have heard for years, and I notice two things about them. Most sermons are designed to comfort God’s people. In fact, many sermons are geared for those who seem to have some sort of a complex or are just looking for a shoulder to cry on. However, a sermon I heard the other day was on the subject of hell; but the bitterness of the preacher came through.

I feel that before a man preaches on hell he ought to search his own heart to make sure that the subject affects himthat his heart is broken because men are lost. An unbeliever made the following statement about Dwight L. Moody when he was told that Moody preached a sermon on hell: “I don’t like to hear sermons on hell, but if there is any man who can preach on that subject, it is Dwight L. Moody.” May I say to you, not only should there be sermons on hell, but the right kind of men should preach them. I suppose one of the reasons I don’t preach more sermons on hell is because I think I should be deeply moved in my heart when I do talk about this subject. The psalmist makes it clear that all the enemies of Israel are to be conquered. This is God’s victory for the remnant that will be on His side. I think what we have here is the death of the son, the firstborn, in Egypt. This takes us right down to the place where anti-Semitism was bornit started in the land of Egypt. A new king in that land enslaved God’s chosen people, and he tried to exterminate the whole race which would frustrate the grace and purpose of God in redemption. Ever since that time the nations have been Israel’s enemies. They will continue to hate Israel until the day of deliverance comes. At this present moment there is a feeling of hatred toward the Jews. In this next passage the kingdom and the throne of righteousness is established.

Psalms 9:7

“He shall judge the world in righteousness"that is important. It is my feeling today that we are short on judges who will follow the law and assess a penalty when a penalty should be assessed. We have too many judges who are softhearted, and I sometimes think softheaded, who are trying to be popular. Righteousness is what is needed today. The One who makes the right is God. Right is not necessarily what you think or what I think.

It was God who divided the light from the darkness. I have never been able to separate them. I have never gotten up before daylight, waved a wand, and brought up the sun. God does that. He is the One who declares what is right. If you don’t think so, you are wrong.

That is just the way it is. It is as simple as that. Someone has to make the rules. God makes the rules for this universe, and He is running it. God is going to be around for a long time, and I think He has that prerogative. Now, moving down a few verses, we have a picture of the condition before Christ comes to establish His kingdom.

Psalms 9:13

“Have mercy upon me, O LORD"I don’t know about you, but I need mercy from God. You may question that since I said there will be justice when He comes. But, you see, justice has already been established in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ when He bore our sins, and He has been made unto us righteousness. What I need today is mercy, and mercy is extended to us in the person of Jesus Christ.

Psalms 9:14

And we need more folk to rejoice in God.

Psalms 9:15

The heathen is better translated “nations"“The nations are sunk down in the pit that they made.” Look at the nations of the world today. Even the great nations of the world, including our own nation, have sunk down into a pit. We seem to be caught. This is the condition of the world at the present hour.

Psalms 9:16

This is a tremendous verse!

Psalms 9:17

A cry goes out: “The wicked shall be turned into hell [Sheol, that is, unto death], and all the nations that forget God.” This is a great principle that God has put down.

Psalms 9:18

“The needy shall not alway be forgotten"they are today. Oh, there are poverty programs, but the man at the top always seems to get it before it reaches the poor. The poor will receive justice when the Lord Jesus comes. You know, we poor people ought to be more interested in the Lord. There are so many people in poverty who are turning to political parties and certain political candidates for help. Unfortunately, they are not going to receive much help.

What the candidates are trying to do is to get into office. The Lord Jesus is not running for officeHe is King of kings and Lord of lords. He is not anxious to please any party or any group on this earth. When Christ came to earth the first time, He came to do God’s will. Since He is God, when He comes again He is going to do His own will. My friend, “the needy shall not always be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever.” They are expecting a great deal from man, but only God will meet their need.

Psalms 9:19

“Let the nations be judged"the nations are yet to be judged, according to our Lord (Mat_25:31-46), “…and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats” (Mat_25:32).

Psalms 9:20

There are some today who feel that they are operating in the position of God. Remember that the inscription of this psalm is “Muth-labben,” meaning death for the son. If you consider the son to be Goliath or Pharaoh, both of them are little pictures of the Antichrist who is yet to come. He will be Satan’s man, and he will put himself in the position of God. God will ultimately put him down. Now when we come to Psalms 10, we still see Satan’s man, the man of the earth, which closely identifies Psalms 10 with Psalms 9. Notice how the wicked one is described: