Psalm 9:1-10

Rachel Workman: I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart;
    I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done.
² I will be filled with joy because of you.
    I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.

I love how David says this. I will be filled with joy because of you. Our joy comes for God. I don’t believe anyone can be happy let alone joyful without the peace and love of God.

³ My enemies retreated;
    they staggered and died when you appeared.
⁴ For you have judged in my favor;
    from your throne you have judged with fairness.
⁵ You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked;
    you have erased their names forever.
⁶ The enemy is finished, in endless ruins;
    the cities you uprooted are now forgotten.

⁷ But the Lord reigns forever,
    executing judgment from his throne.
⁸ He will judge the world with justice
    and rule the nations with fairness.
⁹ The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed,
    a refuge in times of trouble.
¹⁰ Those who know your name trust in you,
    for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.

I really love these last few verses. He will judge the world with justice. This verse hits home for those of us who may be wondering where our justice is. The Lord will judge with fairness. When we are oppressed we want the comfort of someone whom we can trust, someone who will comfort us and help us. It's easily forgotten that our Lord is that being. He is the one being who will never fail us or leave us alone in our distress. If there was anyone who you would want to have your back it would be God. He is pretty awesome in what he gives us. It makes me wonder what do I give to him in return? There is nothing I could give that would ever compare.

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Krista Cook:  We have so many reasons to praise Him and rejoice.  But do we take the time to do this daily!  Or even more? He has done and continues to do so very much for us.  

I really like vs 10 - do we truly know His name? (For those who get my daily emails, keep that thought!!)  Are we trusting and seeking Him?

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Allen Michaels:  I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart;
    I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done.
² I will be filled with joy because of you.
    I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.

³ My enemies retreated;
    they staggered and died when you appeared.
⁴ For you have judged in my favor;
    from your throne you have judged with fairness.

God upholds our just cause; He is our vindicator. In this life we may face many injustices. But God is to be praised, for He sees and remembers all the good we do, and it is up to Him to decide the timing and the appropriateness of our rewards. If we do not trust Him to vindicate us, then we will be susceptible to hatred and self-pity. If we do trust Him, we can experience God’s peace and be free from the worry of how others perceive us and treat us.

⁵ You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked;
    you have erased their names forever.
⁶ The enemy is finished, in endless ruins;
    the cities you uprooted are now forgotten.

As we experience God’s help and begin to change our life for the better, we have the responsibility to carry the message of deliverance to others so their lives can be changed, too. As we allow God to help us overcome the defects in our character, others will see what God has done for us and may also receive the gift of hope. Our painful struggles with our addictions and compulsions and our victories through God’s help can be a source of encouragement and guidance to others whose lives are headed toward destruction.

⁷ But the Lord reigns forever,
    executing judgment from his throne.
⁸ He will judge the world with justice
    and rule the nations with fairness.
⁹ The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed,
    a refuge in times of trouble.

¹⁰ Those who know your name trust in you,
    for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.

God will never forsake those who seek Him. To forsake someone is to abandon that person. God’s promise does not mean that if we trust in Him we will escape loss or suffering; it means that God Himself will never leave us no matter what we face.