Psalm 9
English Standard
Version (ESV)
9 I will give thanks to the Lord with
my whole heart;
I will recount all of your (A)wonderful deeds.
2 I will be glad and (B)exult in you;
I will (C)sing praise to your name, (D)O Most High.
I will recount all of your (A)wonderful deeds.
2 I will be glad and (B)exult in you;
I will (C)sing praise to your name, (D)O Most High.
3 When my enemies turn back,
they stumble and perish before[c] your presence.
4 For you have (E)maintained my just cause;
you have (F)sat on the throne, giving righteous judgment.
they stumble and perish before[c] your presence.
4 For you have (E)maintained my just cause;
you have (F)sat on the throne, giving righteous judgment.
5 You have (G)rebuked the nations; you have
made the wicked perish;
you have (H)blotted out their name forever and ever.
6 The enemy came to an end in everlasting ruins;
their cities you rooted out;
the very memory of them has perished.
you have (H)blotted out their name forever and ever.
6 The enemy came to an end in everlasting ruins;
their cities you rooted out;
the very memory of them has perished.
7 But the Lord sits
enthroned forever;
he has established his throne for justice,
8 and he (I)judges the world with righteousness;
he (J)judges the peoples with uprightness.
he has established his throne for justice,
8 and he (I)judges the world with righteousness;
he (J)judges the peoples with uprightness.
9 The Lord is (K)a stronghold for (L)the oppressed,
a stronghold in (M)times of trouble.
10 And those who (N)know your name put their trust in you,
for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.
a stronghold in (M)times of trouble.
10 And those who (N)know your name put their trust in you,
for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.
11 Sing praises to the Lord,
who (O)sits enthroned in Zion!
Tell among the peoples his (P)deeds!
12 For he who (Q)avenges blood is mindful of them;
he (R)does not forget the cry of the afflicted.
Tell among the peoples his (P)deeds!
12 For he who (Q)avenges blood is mindful of them;
he (R)does not forget the cry of the afflicted.
13 (S)Be gracious to me, O Lord!
See my affliction from those who hate me,
O you who lift me up from (T)the gates of death,
14 that I may recount all your praises,
that in the gates of (U)the daughter of Zion
I may (V)rejoice in your salvation.
See my affliction from those who hate me,
O you who lift me up from (T)the gates of death,
14 that I may recount all your praises,
that in the gates of (U)the daughter of Zion
I may (V)rejoice in your salvation.
15 The nations have sunk in (W)the pit that they made;
in (X)the net that they hid, their own foot has been caught.
16 The Lord has made himself (Y)known; he has executed judgment;
the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands. Higgaion.[d] Selah
in (X)the net that they hid, their own foot has been caught.
16 The Lord has made himself (Y)known; he has executed judgment;
the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands. Higgaion.[d] Selah
18 For the needy shall not always be forgotten,
and (AB)the hope of the poor shall not perish forever.
and (AB)the hope of the poor shall not perish forever.
19 (AC)Arise, O Lord! Let not (AD)man prevail;
let the nations be judged before you!
20 Put them in fear, O Lord!
Let the nations know that they are but (AE)men! Selah
let the nations be judged before you!
20 Put them in fear, O Lord!
Let the nations know that they are but (AE)men! Selah
In times of trouble there are two different types of
responses. For those who know the Lord
there is hope, trust, and ultimately peace.
For those who do not know Him there is total despair. Recently there has been a string of tornados
not too far from where I live. In the
Oklahoma City area there was a large tornado that destroyed two elementary
schools. One of the elementary schools lost
many people both teachers and children.
It is a very sad moment in that city.
Yet for those who know the Lord they can recognize His power, His
wonders, and His majesty.
How? How in
the time of distress can be see the wonders of the Lord? We think of seeing the wonders of the Lord when
we look at the awe inspiring mountains of Colorado or look at the large expanse
of the universe. When we see the stars
in the sky through a telescope and realize there is something far beyond what
our naked eye can behold, that is when we see the Glory of God. Yes, those are the times when we can see what
He has done and can see His glorious works but is that really when we see
Him? Is that really how we get to know Him?
When we put our trust in Him we seek Him. When we seek Him that is when we find peace
in the midst of trouble. If we simply
look at the great things He has done we will never fully understand His
majesty. When we look at His power
through times of destruction we realize that He is a God who brings peace to
those who know Him and we see the One who should be feared. So many times we seem to think that because
God is so powerful He owes us something.
Yet because our God is so powerful we need to fear Him. We need see our vulnerability during times of
destruction and we need to see His mighty power during those times. It brings us back to reality that we are not
the ones in control but He is.
I pray for those today, Father, who are facing loss
today. Loss of family, loss of property,
but I pray dear Father that they have not lost their trust in you. I pray Father that through this time of utter
despair that they will cry out to you and you will hear their cries. I pray that you will touch their lives with
peace that comes only from you Father. I
pray that they will seek You Father and they will find you there in their midst
giving them comfort and strength to make it through this most difficult
time. I do not know these people but
Father I know You and I thank You for giving us hope in times of trouble. Destroy the enemy and give peace to those who
put their trust in You. In the precious
and Holy name of Jesus I pay, Amen.
Seek Him and know that He is near.
Seeking Him with all my heart,
Sheila
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