Psalm 9:11-20

A Song of Praise for Victory over the Enemies

Sing praises to the Lord, which dwelleth in Zion, intoning psalms to Yahweh, as He dwells in the midst of His people, His Church; declare among the people His doings, every believer feeling constrained to publish the facts pertaining to his salvation. V. 12. When He maketh inquisition for blood, He remembereth them, rather, “For the Avenger of blood, He who avenges bloodshed by punishing the murderers, remembers them”; He forgetteth not the cry of the humble, those who are subject to violence at the hands of the wicked.

V. 13. Have mercy upon me, O Lord, showing him His divine favor or grace; consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, being afflicted by them on all sides, Thou that liftest me up from the gates of death, where he was almost ready to be imprisoned, as the enemies sought his life, v. 14. that I may show forth all Thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion, proclaiming it in public, making it known to numbers of people everywhere. I will rejoice in Thy salvation, happy over his deliverance from the hands of all enemies, whether physical or spiritual.

V. 15. The heathen, the enemy nations who hoped to gain a victory over Israel, are sunk down in the pit that they made, being plunged down suddenly; in the net which they hid, hoping to snare the members of the Lord’s people, is their own foot taken.

V. 16. The Lord is known by the judgment which He executeth, in overthrowing the plans of the wicked; the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands, his plans resulting in his own detriment. Higgaion, that is, meditation, a long pause being made here in order to impress the truth of the last statements upon the hearers. Selah.

V. 17. The wicked shall be turned into hell, to suffer everlasting punishment, and all the nations that forget God. V. 18. For the needy shall not alway be forgotten,though it may often seem that his misery will never be ended; the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever, those humbled by strokes of affliction will finally see their deliverance.

V. 19. Arise, O Lord, David’s usual powerful appeal; let not man prevail, grow strong to carry out his evil designs; let the heathen be judged in Thy sight, the condemnation striking them and preventing their wicked designs. V. 20. Put them in fear, O Lord, constant terror keeping them in subjection, that the nations may know themselves to be but men, a fact which ought to keep them from every form and show of conceit and arrogance, ever humble in the sight of Yahweh. Selah.

The prayer of all afflicted believers is this, that God would make the enemies realize their puny strength and keep them from harming the Church of God.