Psalm 9:I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. 2I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High. 3My enemies turn back; they stumble and perish before you. 4For you have upheld my right and my cause, sitting enthroned as the righteous judge. 5You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked; you have blotted out their name for ever and ever. 6Endless ruin has overtaken my enemies, you have uprooted their cities; even the memory of them has perished. 7The Lord reigns forever; he has established his throne for judgment.8He rules the world in righteousness and judges the peoples with equity. 9The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. 10Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you. 11Sing the praises of the Lord, enthroned in Zion; proclaim among the nations what he has done. 12For he who avenges blood remembers; he does not ignore the cries of the afflicted. 13Lord, see how my enemies persecute me! Have mercy and lift me up from the gates of death, 14that I may declare your praises in the gates of Daughter Zion, and there rejoice in your salvation. 15 – 20 contd.
Today’s Three Pearls
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I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds – v.1: When we give thanks to God with all our hearts, we distinguish ourselves from those who thank God with half of their hearts, (because they secretly ascribe the deliverance at hand to their own abilities and actions); and those who praise God only with their lips, (straight out hypocrites). Whole-hearted praise is seen here paired with sharing the story of deliverance with others. We who have experienced supernatural blessings from God are obliged let the world know what God does. Have mercy and lift me up…..that I may declare your praises – v.13-14
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He rules the world in righteousness and judges the peoples with equity – v.8: Most people are uncomfortable talking about judgment day, it always seems so far off. Maybe, maybe not. But here is what we know: On that day, tears can’t prevail; prayers are not heard; promises are not accepted and repentance is too late. The diligent and curious inquisition shall include our thoughts and motives, as well as every idle word ever spoken.
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Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you-v.10: We never trust a man, until we get to know him well. We get to know people well by hanging out with them, observing or studying their character and sharing experiences with them. It is likewise impossible to have experiential knowledge of who God is and not trust Him. If we sometimes feel that our trust is wavering, we need to go back to those basics: Spend time with God, study His character and re-live our past experiences of His mercies. ‘For I know whom I have believed’ 2 Tim.1:12
Ref: Treasury of David
Hilltop Thoughts, Valley Strengths 