Reliable Refuge

Places of refuge are necessary.

The song that David sings in Psalm 9 recognizes this. It is a song of refuge. A song that acknowledges the reality of enemies. A song that still resounds with giving thanks. It is a song that orders things well. The tricky thing is keeping things in order.

In the Psalm it is God that provides the refuge. It is God that deals with the enemies. It is God in whom we place our trust. At least that is how the song goes. The question is whether or not this is the song we sing, or if we have altered the lyrics. Do you ever find yourself doing the judging? Do you ever find yourself placing your trust in some other entity to provide you with refuge? When your enemies are pressing in upon you, where do you turn? As you listen to the song you sing, do you recognize the lyrics of this song?

This is the music, the song, that Pastor Pablo invites us to listen to, reflect upon, and perhaps learn to sing a little better as we do so. If you would like to listen to his reflections once again in the sermon, or perhaps hear it for the first time, you can access our sermon library here, or access the livestream version here.

Psalm 9

1 I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart;

I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.

2 I will be glad and rejoice in you;

I will sing the praises of 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,

sitting enthroned as the righteous judge.

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 my enemies,

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 rules the world in righteousness

and judges the peoples with equity.

9 The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed,

a stronghold in times of trouble.

10 Those who know your name trust in you,

for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.

11 Sing the praises of 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 cries of the afflicted.

13 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 Daughter 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 acts of justice;

the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands.[c]

17 The wicked go down to the realm of the dead,

all the nations that forget God.

18 But God will never forget the needy;

the hope of the afflicted will never perish.

19 Arise, Lord, do not let mortals triumph;

let the nations be judged in your presence.

20 Strike them with terror, Lord;

let the nations know they are only mortal.