Declare His Deeds of Salvation!

Psalms 9:11-20

11 Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion!
Declare His deeds among the people.
12 When He avenges blood, He remembers them;
He does not forget the cry of the humble.

13 Have mercy on me, O LORD!
Consider my trouble from those who hate me,
You who lift me up from the gates of death,
14 That I may tell of all Your praise
In the gates of the daughter of Zion.

I will rejoice in Your salvation.

15 The nations have sunk down in the pit which they made;
In the net which they hid, their own foot is caught.
16 The LORD is known by the judgment He executes;
The wicked is snared in the work of his own hands.

Meditation. Selah

17 The wicked shall be turned into hell,
And all the nations that forget God.
18 For the needy shall not always be forgotten;
The expectation of the poor shall not perish forever.

19 Arise, O LORD,
Do not let man prevail;
Let the nations be judged in Your sight.
20 Put them in fear, O LORD,
That the nations may know themselves to be but men.

Selah

God’s righteous judgment is further sung about in the second half of the psalm.  Praise is to be given to the one enthroned over His people in Zion.  His great works done for them and for His glory are to be declared, including the recompense of those who are enemies, for God hears and heeds the cries for help from the humble.  He turns His wrath and vengeance on the proud. The psalmist then begs for mercy and deliverance in the middle of the troubles of his enemies who hate him so, much as Job did.  God does deliver David from the gates of death’s door, all so he can praise God even more, finding great joy in his salvation, and in telling that to others as a witness of God’s grace and mercy.  We also are saved from the Adversary and the sin brought by that one to Adam and Eve which we inherited.  That should move us to bear joyful witness to others and move us to constantly praise our Savior.  Those opposed to God and His Anointed Redeemer are as the nations set against God’s people in the past - they will stumble and fall into the pit of unending suffering and torment in everlasting fear and regret for their disbelief and disobedience.  They ensnare themselves as they try to catch God’s people. They ignore, forget, and deny their creator and Lord to their own destruction, sadly (Philippians 3:19, Romans 3:11-12, 16-18).  They are led to hell, to the lake of fire, in the end because they choose to forget God.  But He does not forget those in need or lacking everything; no, He will reward and fill those hungering and thirsting for righteousness (Matthew 5:6, John 6:35).  Therefore we echo David’s cry to the Lord that He might swiftly judge the world by His word with fear to turn before it is too late (John 3:17-18,  Matthew 25:46, 1 John 4:18).  Knowing and needing the gospel, understanding that His word has already judged us all, should move the rebellious to humility and trust in God’s word of reconciling grace in Christ Jesus.  May we be faithfully bearing witness to that truth in the face of trials and tribulations, declaring His deeds of salvation among the people (Isaiah 12:4).