Psalm 9 ~ He does not ignore the cry of the afflicted

Psalm 9 (New International Version)

Audio Link, Psalm 9

To the chief Musician upon Muth-labben - Here at the head of Psalm 9, appears the subscription. Muth-labben means literally, "the death of the Champion" and also belongs to Psalm 8 - a Psalm of David dedicated to his victory over Goliath, the giant of flesh.

1 I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart;
I will tell of all your wonders.

² I will be glad and rejoice in you;
I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

³ My enemies turn back;
they stumble and perish before you.

⁴ For you have upheld my right and my cause;
you have sat on your throne, judging righteously.

⁵ You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked;
you have blotted out their name for ever and ever.

⁶ Endless ruin has overtaken the enemy,
you have uprooted their cities;
even the memory of them has perished.

⁷ The LORD reigns forever;
he has established his throne for judgment.

⁸ He will judge the world in righteousness;
he will govern the peoples with justice.

⁹ The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.

¹⁰ Those who know your name will trust in you,
for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.

¹¹ Sing praises to the LORD, enthroned in Zion;
proclaim among the nations what he has done.

¹² For he who avenges blood remembers;
he does not ignore the cry of the afflicted.

¹³ O LORD, see how my enemies persecute me!
Have mercy and lift me up from the gates of death,

¹⁴ that I may declare your praises
in the gates of the Daughter of Zion
and there rejoice in your salvation.

¹⁵ The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug;
their feet are caught in the net they have hidden.

¹⁶ The LORD is known by his justice;
the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands.
Higgaion [musical device representing meditation, solemn sound]
Selah.

⁷ The wicked return to the grave,
all the nations that forget God.

¹⁸ But the needy will not always be forgotten,
nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish.

¹⁹ Arise, O LORD, let not man triumph;
let the nations be judged in your presence.

²⁰ Strike them with terror, O LORD;
let the nations know they are but men.
Selah

Biblical historians say this Psalm is David giving his victory over Goliath to God. David proclaims the nature of God is steadfast love and justice. David comments on the aspects of trouble - at God's rebuke, the wicked are destroyed forever. The wicked ensnares himself.



Pottery shard found in Gath, Goliath's hometown. With the Phoenician word Goliath written on it.

1 Samuel 17:4
A champion named Goliath, who was from Gath, came out of the Philistine camp. He was over nine feet tall.


The tiny shard was unearthed at the site, near a destroyed Phoenician fort, where the Bible says the shepherd boy David killed the giant Goliath. The pottery shard, written in the language used by the Hebrews at the time, has been dated to as early as 975BC, based on burned olive pits found nearby that have been carbon-dated at Oxford University. Researchers have not yet been able to decipher the full text of its five lines but they have translated the words for "king", "judge", and "slave," suggesting it was written by a trained scribe in the king's court.

Father God, You are present in the joyful times and the times of trouble. When our troubles seem as large as Goliath, we trust in You for help and deliverance. In the name of Jesus. Amen.

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