Psalm 1-9

Bible Reading

1 Blessed is the man

who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,

nor stands in the way of sinners,

nor sits in the seat of scoffers;

2 but his delight is in the law of the Lord,

and on his law he meditates day and nigh

3 He is like a tree

planted by streams of water

that yields its fruit in its season,

and its leaf does not wither.

In all that he does, he prospers.

4 The wicked are not so,

but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,

nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;

6 for the Lord knows the way of the righteous,

but the way of the wicked will perish

Discussion

If you want meaning in your life, you need to be careful where you seek it.  It is essential, not to listen to the wicked.  Nor to follow the actions of  sinful people, people who are proud of their poor actions. Or often want you to join them in their pain. Finally, you need to make sure you are not standing with those who scoff.  It is  easy for people to be negative but very difficult to be constructive.

If you want meaning in your life, you don't seek it in the negativity  of people, rather you reflect and seek it where the suggestions are positive. It is not in people who are critical, rather in the writings of those that are positive and seek your improvement and understanding of the God that made this world. The world is not random it is God planned.  it is not chaotic, rather it has a direction that is clear and purposeful.

It is interesting, that the first psalm begins with the very word that Jesus uses in the Beatitudes (Matt 5:3ff). What is also fascinating is that the word ‘blessed’ is plural, which refers to the largess of the term ‘blessings’. This is important because the Psalm not only considers the present, but  discusses the judgement of our world, and it flows into eternity.  

In our world, the scoffers and the sinners outnumber us. We are a minority. So sometimes there is pressure to stand with the scoffers or remain silent as they try to tear apart aspects of Scripture. For example they criticise the  miracles, or creation. What we need to realise, when we criticise one particular point in the scriptures, it's like a domino effect, other promises also become doubtful as well. So things that are special to us are  then maligned in the discussion. For example if Adam is considered fictional  then Christ's death and some of the letters are misguided and doubtful. This is unfortunate, when we see that the scoffers are like chaff blown in the wind. Their ideas are not reliable due to the nature of their doubtful character. 

It is  important and fascinating to see,  that when we meditate on the law, we are actually seeing the story of Jesus and his salvation.  Jesus came to fulfil the law. It is more than a law to be obeyed it is a law that tells a story, from which the blessings of eternity flow. It is a very important story for us to know and to learn about.

Chaff is burnt so there is no eternal security for the wicked. They will perish. Interesting passages  in this regard is psalm 37:10 (A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found.) and is contrasted in John 10:28,27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 

The Psalm also is a fascinating contrast it doesn't say anything good about the scoffer, but is extremely positive of the person who is prepared to follow Jesus, to read his word and to pray.  

Finally, people of faith are recipients of grace and we have the privilege in the world to be able to show that grace, they may be scoffers but through grace that can be changed. In our dealings we do not sit, we do not stand, but when we speak we need to show grace.  having experienced the  grace of Christ we should  always be thankful of opportunities to  reflect it.

Prayer

Dear Father, help me to stand in the place of righteousness where the forgiveness and eternal life of Jesus Christ offers is of prime importance. Help me to understand the story of Jesus as it is revealed  book by book in the Scripture. Show me how to share the wonders of the blessings with those I come in contact through this week. Amen.

 Bible Reading

Psalms 2:1-4  The Reign of the Lord's Anointed

1 Why do the nations rage

and the peoples plot in vain?

2 The kings of the earth set themselves,

and the rulers take counsel together,

against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying,

3 “Let us burst their bonds apart

and cast away their cords from us.”

4 He who sits in the heavens laughs;

the Lord holds them in derision.

 Discussion

These verses demonstrate the hatred of human nature against the Christ and the Trinity generally. Acts 4:27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel.One of the  things that surprises me, is just how cross and angry atheistic and non-Christian people can be with Christians. Surely they could ignore those who believe and just let them get on with what they do. However, that is not the case. We have had decades of people trying to suppress the faith. We have had Communism, Nazism, both of which have been party to killings in their thousands. Christians are the most persecuted group in the world today. 

Strangely the kings of the world focus on the shackles they feel we are bound by,  because of our belief. Strangely it is belief in Christ that gives us freedom. US National Bureau of Economic Research

 Published a paper in 2017 titled ‘Is Religion Good for You? One topic suggested that doubling the  rate of religious attendance  raises household income by 9.1%, decreases welfare participation by 16% from baseline rates, decreases the odds of being divorced by 4% and increases the odds of being married by 4.4%. There are many studies that show that religious people are happier than nonreligious people. However, popular culture says the opposite. 

That which has encouraged our path to freedom, that is  faith in Christ, is now being challenged. In challenging faith they are in reality challenging Christ himself. Creator God, the Father and the Son and Holy Spirit laugh.

We do not need to be Intimidated.

Prayer

Father give me the strength to stand up for you each day and the love to reach those who seek you. May I be thankful and notice the smallest things you do for me. Amen

Psalms 2:5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath,

and terrify them in his fury, saying,

6 “As for me, I have set my King

on Zion, my holy hill.”

7 I will tell of the decree:

The Lord said to me, “You are my Son;

today I have begotten you.

8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,

and the ends of the earth your possession.

9 You shall break them with a rod of iron

and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.”

10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise;

be warned, O rulers of the earth.

11 Serve the Lord with fear,

and rejoice with trembling.

12 Kiss the Son,

lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,

for his wrath is quickly kindled.

Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Discussion

Again, the contrast continues between the righteous and the  unrighteous  and  the  character of the unrighteous  is made  abundantly clear.

David  could  go to the temple  because of  the abundance  of God’s  steadfast  love.  But we  go to  the temple,  that is Jesus,  who is a picture  of God's steadfast love and is  the true temple.  As seen in the verse below.

John 2:20 The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” 21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 22 When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

Such a picture should  bring  a sense of  awe  and wonder. David, like us should  praise God and be thankful for being lead in paths of  righteousness.  Why,  because of his enemies.  Our enemies  are all around us.  Their only chance,  is to notice the difference  between us and them  as we follow paths of righteousness.

When considering scripture we should always look for contrasts. 

This psalm (psalm 2) goes a little further than Psalm1 because it goes beyond the ordinary person and considers those in authority.  It contrasts the kings of the world with the king that the Father installs who is Jesus. In verse 6 God says I have set my King on the Throne therefore people including the Kings of the world should quiver. At the same time it talks about Jesus and being begotten in history. And finally the whole world will be his possession; which it is. We see an interesting picture of this in Genesis 47 beginning in verse 18. In this story Joseph brings the ownership of all the lands of Egypt under Pharoah's control so the people themselves no longer owned their land. This is what God achieves for his Son. Once this happens we who follow Jesus will given responsibilty in his Kingdom. This is when we see the parable of the talents come to fruition. You may remember the statement "You who have been faithful over little will be rule over much."

Lord Jesus there are many times in a day when I need my path corrected and need to see your steadfast love and walk into your temple. Often my joy is very sombre. Give me the sense of Joy of your eternal protection. May  I pass it on  to those around me.

Lord Jesus there are many times in a day when I need my path corrected and need to see your steadfast love and walk into your temple. Often my joy is very sombre. Give me the sense of Joy of your eternal protection. May  I pass it on  to those around me. Amen

Psalm 3 (ESV) A Psalm of David, when

he fled from Absalom his son.

1 O LORD, how many are my foes!

Many are rising against me;

2 many are saying of my soul,

“There is no salvation for him in God. Selah

3 But you, O LORD, are a shield about me,

my glory, and the lifter of my head.

4 I cried aloud to the LORD,

and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah

5 I lay down and slept;

I woke again, for the LORD sustained me.

6 I will not be afraid of many thousands of people

who have set themselves against me all around.

7 Arise, O LORD!

Save me, O my God!

For you strike all my enemies on the cheek;

you break the teeth of the wicked.

8 Salvation belongs to the LORD;

your blessing be on your people! Selah

Discussion

David acted dishonourably with Bathsheba and lost the love of many who had supported him, Including some of his generals. He also failed his children. Lack of discipline as a trade-off for their  love, is a recipe for  trouble. And his son Absalom makes a tilt for power and David has to  flee. Sometimes when people look at our behaviour they doubt the power of God’s forgiveness and think that you cannot be a saved person. We are not saved because we deserve it, but because redemption is a gift of God.

It is God who is the lifter of my head.

In times like these we often need to remind ourselves of this truth. It is when we know 'God who is the lifter of my head',  we can sleep well and rise securely despite those that surround us. What Absalom forgot was;  it is God who anoints. We need to remember that God owns Salvation but the blessing of that salvation falls on those who are his servants and call upon his name.

David reminds us in verses 4 and 5, of a very powerful technique; to pray in times of trouble and then go to sleep. When you wake up, the  issues you slept on, are often a lot smaller.

Remember, Jesus  crossed the Kedron, as David did, and there is a picture here of Jesus in this.

Prayer

May I walk today in a manner that brings glory to your name. May those that may be critical of my actions see that my actions do not determine the extent of your love and grace. May I be assured that it is you that lifts up my head and while I work at my best, that is never earns the wonder of the gift of  your grace. It is your love that lifts my head not my abilities. Amen

Psalms 4 (ESV) 1 Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness You have given me relief when I was in distress. Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!

2 O men, how long shall my honour be turned into shame? How long will you love vain words and seek after lies? 3 But know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the LORD hears when I call to him.

4 Be angry, and do not sin;

ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent.

5 Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the LORD.

6 There are many who say, “Who will show us some good? Lift up the light of your face upon us, O LORD!”

7 You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.

8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep;

for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

David asked God to listen to him, on the basis of what God has done in the past.  Previously, when he has been in distress, God has answered the call.  Therefore he can expect God to answer in his present situation.

Verses from 2 to 8 are a terrific contrast between the life of faith and the rest that can be found in it, with the turmoil of those who have not discovered the real truth of God.

Without God  there is a seeking after lies and a vainness  or arrogance in the way life is lived. In contrast David is able to sleep well, and rise refreshed. Another key difference  is the existence of joy and peacefulness which David and the faithful experience. This is a practical promise, David is able to sleep easily and experience joy in abundance in his heart. We need to note that David is actually telling the ungodly exactly what to do and what the difference is. He addresses them very clearly in verse two. And that is a challenge to us.

We also need to listen carefully to his challenge about making scrifices and make the right ones in the correct way.

The other challenge of this particular passage is to be angry but sin not. We need to take on board the issues in our society that are contrary to the directions of God. At the same time we need protect ourselves and not  be consumed by them; rather to rest in the control God has of every situation.

Prayer

Bible Reading

Psalms 5: 1 Give ear to my words, O LORD;

consider my groaning.

2 Give attention to the sound of my cry,

my King and my God, for to you do I pray.

3 O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice;

in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.

4 For you are not a God who delights in wickedness;

evil may not dwell with you.      

5 The boastful shall not stand before your eyes;

you hate all evildoers.

6 You destroy those who speak lies;

the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man

Discussion

In previous psalms, we have had to ponder the contrast between  people of faith and people without belief. When a person comes to know the grace that is in Jesus Christ, there is a definite change in character, aspiration and practice.

There are two sorts of prayers – those expressed in words, and the uttered longings, which abide in silent meditations. Words  are not the essence of what we pray about, but the garments by which we dress our prayers. We use language to prevent the distracting of our minds. But here David uses both: prayer with language, groaning and craving. So prayer contains not only the language, but the attitude of our heart.

Looking at the pronouns that David uses! We note that he seeks the attention of "my King and my God". It refers to the way we hold the Trinity in our heart. Is that foremost, or secondary to us? To David it was primary. Kingship talks about rules and obedience. Who do I obey? It is Jesus who is the King. God refers to the focus of our worship. We need to learn to give the foremost position of our heart to a loving Father. 

Notice it was early in the morning, that God heard his voice. How we start the day it is really important.  To acknowledge God in those first few moments of wakefulness is a great beginning.

Prayer:

Dear father I thank you that you always listen to my cries of pain. You also listen very carefully to the words I say. Help me to use words that mean something to you and are said with sincerity. May my life, always be one of seeking your love, your truth and your guidance. May I learn to be able to hear what you are saying to me. Amen

Bible Reading

Psalms 5:7-12 But I, through the abundance of

your steadfast love, will enter your house.

I will bow down toward your holy temple

in the fear of you.

8 Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness

because of my enemies;

make your way straight before me.

9 For there is no truth in their mouth;

their inmost self is destruction;

their throat is an open grave;

they flatter with their tongue.

10 Make them bear their guilt, O God;

let them fall by their own counsels;

because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out,

for they have rebelled against you.

11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;

let them ever sing for joy,

and spread your protection over them,

that those who love your name may exult in you.

12 For you bless the righteous, O LORD;

you cover him with favour as with a shield.

Discussion

Again, the contrast continues between the righteous and the  unrighteous  and  the  character of the unrighteous  is made  abundantly clear.

David  could  go to the temple  because of  the abundance  of God’s  steadfast  love.  But we  go to  the temple,  that is Jesus,  who is a picture  of God's steadfast love and is  the true temple.  As seen in the verse below.

John 2:20 The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” 21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 22 When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

Such a picture should  bring  a sense of  awe  and wonder. We, like should be pleading to be lead in righteousness.  Why?  David wanted to be lead in righteousness because of his enemies, and so should we.  Our enemies  are all around us.  Their only chance,  is to notice the difference  between us and them  as we follow paths of righteousness.

Prayer

Lord Jesus there are many times in a day when I need my path corrected and need to see your steadfast love and walk into your temple. Often my joy is very sombre. Give me the sense of Joy of your eternal protection. May  I pass it on  to those around me. I pray that you will lead me into your righteousness for the sake of those around me may they benefit because of my faith. I thank you that a shield of your favour covers me where ever my path leads. Amen

Bible Reading

Psalms 6  To the choirmaster: with stringed

instruments; according to The Sheminith.

A Psalm of David.

1 O LORD, rebuke me not in your anger,

nor discipline me in your wrath.

2 Be gracious to me, O LORD, for I am languishing;

heal me, O LORD, for my bones are troubled.

3 My soul also is greatly troubled.

But you, O LORD—how long?

4 Turn, O LORD, deliver my life;

save me for the sake of your steadfast love.

5 For in death there is no remembrance of you;

in Sheol who will give you praise?

6 I am weary with my moaning;

every night I flood my bed with tears;

I drench my couch with my weeping.

7 My eye wastes away because of grief;

it grows weak because of all my foes.

8 Depart from me, all you workers of evil,

for the LORD has heard the sound of my weeping.

9 The LORD has heard my plea;

the LORD accepts my prayer.

10 All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled;

they shall turn back and be put to shame in a moment.

Reading this psalm there are two clear sections. The first section is from verse 1 to 7 and the second is verses 8 to 10. The change in these two sections is quite spectacular.-from drudgery to Joy. In verses 1-4 the writer wants the very answer that we have in Christ, the forgiveness of sins. It is good to recognise that we need forgiveness, and that in fact we do not really deserve the wonder we have.

What the psalmist has found that when he is languishing in self-pity, he is bound by fear, his physical health (bones) is affected and his mental and spiritual  state is destitute (soul). His behaviour becomes one of moaning and tears.

He calls on God’s steadfast love. That love that gave us Jesus whom David was looking  forward  to Jesus,  while we  look back to what God has done  in Jesus.

The other facet relevant for us is that we can shift our focus, we  can be on prayer for healing  which may or may not see as our immediate need and in doing that our soul can become frustrated . Often our first  need is to become aware of the wonderful provision and the eternal blessing we have. The positive attitude gained, and what we  seek as a consequence, may well promote not only the healing of our soul but our body as well.

Prayer

God when the world seems against me and trauma holds sway in my heart, help me to turn towards Jesus and see that the cross lead to resurrestion and that lead to eternity. The health of eternity is were tears become history and the veneration of the Father becomes " Well done, enter in to the Joy of the Lord." May I be such that my  ememies and friends can find the peace and comfort that Jesus brings. Amen

Bible Reading

Psalms 7:1-5  A Shiggaion of David, which he sang to the LORD concerning the words of Cush, a Benjaminite.

1 O LORD my God, in you do I take refuge;

save me from all my pursuers and deliver me,

2 lest like a lion they tear my soul apart,

rending it in pieces, with none to deliver.

3 O LORD my God, if I have done this,

if there is wrong in my hands,

4 if I have repaid my friend with evil

or plundered my enemy without cause,

5 let the enemy pursue my soul and overtake it,

and let him trample my life to the ground

and lay my glory in the dust. Selah

Discussion

In this  psalm David appears before God to plead with him against the accuser, who had charged him with treason and treachery. The case is opened with a statement of confidence in God. It is interesting and challenging that David can refer to God as "my God". And I can do the same, I can say my God spoke to me this morning through the Scripture. This underlines that regardless of what situation we face, God is the personal belonging to each of us. Because we can all say "My God’’ it amazes me that God can be so  personal to each of us.  It is this way because  of a special  covenant, sealed by Jesus’s blood and resurrection, and ratified in my own soul by a sense of union with God the Father and the son and the spirit.

People that criticise can have devastating impacts on aspects of our life. The sense that we know that we are not guilty adds to the trauma. However sometimes we act without the realisation of what we do. So for David there is a whole lot of ifs, if I have done this. The key factor in this is that God is a forgiving God. While we may think that if we were guilty we deserve punishment God says I forgive. We may have to say were sorry, we may have to prove that we were not in the wrong but whatever happens the issue is in God's hands. Our reputation remains intact. It is God's opinion that counts the most.

Prayer

Dear Father, when people criticise, may I remember that I am a child of God. I may have hurt the person who is being critical, but my behaviour also hurts you. I thank you that through my life there has been the forgiveness that Jesus won on the cross. And may I always remember that when you look at me, you look through the glass that is the cross of Jesus. Amen

Bible Reading

Psalms 7:6 Arise, O LORD, in your anger;

lift yourself up against the fury of my enemies;

awake for me; you have appointed a judgment.

7 Let the assembly of the peoples be gathered about you;

over it return on high.

8 The LORD judges the peoples;

judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness

and according to the integrity that is in me.

9 Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to an end,

and may you establish the righteous—

you who test the minds and hearts,

O righteous God!

10 My shield is with God,

who saves the upright in heart.

11 God is a righteous judge,

and a God who feels indignation every day.

Just a reminder of what this happening in the psalm. David has been accused falsely. He seeks God's judgement of him and of his accusers.  He feels that he will shine under that judgement and the accusers will find judgement not so pleasant  but  despite that, he realises retribution it is the province of God.

 One phrase that is interesting is  "you have appointed a judgement" Many suggest  that David is referring to Saul and that his time was appointed. This raises an interesting issue in the Scriptures.  in the verse  below we see God's appointed judgement:

Acts 17:26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place,

 Parallel to this  David recognises that God judges in a manner that is responsive  to prayer. So he continues to pray and recognise that God is always active  and protective of the righteous.

The other statement which is very powerful is that ‘God feels indignation every day’ that whatever we do, and every time we get hurt God feels and responds in his own heart as to the trauma that you and I may go through.  he is a suffering God who draws people to himself.

John 12:32 And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”

Prayer

 Dear Father I pray that I might remember that you are suffering God,  wronged by scoffers and faithful alike. May I have a heart of forgiveness .  May I recognise  that retribution it is your prerogative. May I be encouraged to follow your pathway and to pray for those  that are  nearby, regardless of the actions they may take that causes me stress.

Bible Reading

If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword;

he has bent and readied his bow;

13 he has prepared for him his deadly weapons,

making his arrows fiery shafts.

14 Behold, the wicked man conceives evil

and is pregnant with mischief

and gives birth to lies.

15 He makes a pit, digging it out,

and falls into the hole that he has made.

16 His mischief returns upon his own head,

and on his own skull his violence descends.

17 I will give to the LORD the thanks due to his righteousness,

and I will sing praise to the name of the LORD, the Most High.

 Discussion

One of the difficulties  that we have is identifying  sin. Generally we repent  after the event. The crux of the matter is that we should repent before the event. In fact sin occurs at the very point of conceiving the possibility of an act that is not of God. If we look at the Genesis passage the problem for Eve is that she was prepared to carry on the conversation with the serpent. The sin was  at beginning of the process, at its conception. It is those initial thoughts where sin begins  and is when we need to repent. In verse 14 we see that the conception is the beginning of evil. Then the action happens and it gives birth to lies and mischief.

Gen1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made.

He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?”

Note that God may have his bow ready but he needs to do nothing because the consequences of sin is serious in itself. A  pit is made into which  the sinner falls. Mischief  returns to its maker  and violence  descends.

So if repentance at the appropriate time  we avoid the pitfalls.

What we need to see is that God in all he does is righteous and we need to praise God for his righteousness and be thankful for his leading and in his action  of providing  the provision of being able  to believe in the Lord Jesus and his blood  cleanses us from  our  sins.

Prayer

Bible Reading

Psalms 8 To the choirmaster: according to The Gittith. A Psalm of David.

1 O LORD, our Lord,

how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory above the heavens.

2 Out of the mouth of babies and infants,

you have established strength because of your foes,

to still the enemy and the avenger.

3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,

4 what is man that you are mindful of him,

and the son of man that you care for him?

5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings

and crowned him with glory and honour.

6 You have given him dominion over the works of your hands;

you have put all things under his feet,

7 all sheep and oxen,

and also the beasts of the field,

8 the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea,

whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

9 O LORD, our Lord,how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Discussion

We often underestimate the ability of children to understand. In the temple the priests were indignant and didn't understand. But the children sang hosannas to the son David.

Matthew 21:14 And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant,

So the Psalm becomes prophetic.

If you go out into the bush, away from town lights and cars et cetera and you look up into the sky when it is clear. It is beyond comprehension.  You feel insignificant. yet the reality is we are significant. It is seen in that before "in the beginning" the son of man or Jesus comes down to die so that we can have eternal life. It is Jesus who can tell the disciples to cast the net on the other side of the boat when they've been fishing all night and caught nothing, then their nets our broken with the immensity of the all fish they catch. Everything is under his feet. The son of man in one sense about Jesus. Especially if he is crowned with glory and honour. So this to is a prophetic picture. 

Prayer

Bible Reading

 Psalms 9:1-12 (ESV) I Will Recount Your Wonderful Deeds
To the choirmaster: according to Muth-labben. A Psalm of David.
1 I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart;
I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.
2 I will be glad and exult in you;
I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.
3 When my enemies turn back,
they stumble and perish before your presence.
4 For you have maintained my just cause;
you have sat on the throne, giving righteous judgment.
5 You have rebuked the nations; you have made the wicked perish;
you have blotted out their name forever and ever.
6 The enemy came to an end in everlasting ruins;
their cities you rooted out;

 the very memory of them has perished.
7 But the LORD sits enthroned forever;
he has established his throne for justice,
8 and he judges the world with righteousness;
he judges the peoples with uprightness.
9 The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed,
a stronghold in times of trouble.
10 And those who know your name put their trust in you,
for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.
11 Sing praises to the LORD, who sits enthroned in Zion!
Tell among the peoples his deeds!
12 For he who avenges blood is mindful of them;
he does not forget the cry of the afflicted.

Discussion

It is amazing what a difference a win makes. The sad part is that we often don't see them. We can be so caught up with our troubles, that like David we have to remind ourselves to give thanks. Giving thanks to God is often something that we should remind ourselves, and then choose to do. It is a way to clear our tainted vision. We need to act with enthusiasm. The psalm begins giving thanks 'with my whole heart,' no half way measures. There is a need for repentance to for the times we should have been aware of God's intervention and forgot to be thankful.

The wins that God places in our paths are numerous and it pays to follow David's example and recount them. Thinking about them and remembering them not only makes us positive but lifts our faith. It  enables us to see the breadth of the victories that God has brought to us. 

We need to remind ourselves  that God is always on his throne, and while it might seem  at times he is remote, we need to ponder the promises we have in Jesus. Sometimes, it may appear that God is not victorious, we need to look more carefully. He is the one who is setting the boundaries of the  countries. We need to remember that he is the upright judge, the stronghold for the oppressed.   Those who stand against us perish. Acts 17:26 6 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place,

 Prayer

Dear Father I pray that you will help me to see all the victories that you have given to me. May I take note of what you are doing in my life moment by moment and may I see all the positives that happen, rather than the negatives . I pray that I might be able to remove the negatives through the work of the Holy Spirit in my life. Give me the strength to extol your virtues  to those round about me.

Bible Reading

Psalms 9:13 Be gracious to me, O LORD! See my affliction from those who hate me,
O you who lift me up from the gates of death,
14 that I may recount all your praises, that in the gates of the daughter of Zion
I may rejoice in your salvation.
15 The nations have sunk in the pit that they made; in the net that they hid, their own foot has been caught.
16 The LORD has made himself known; he has executed judgment; the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands. Higgaion. Selah
17 The wicked shall return to Sheol, all the nations that forget God.
18 For the needy shall not always be forgotten,and the hope of the poor shall not perish forever.
19 Arise, O LORD! Let not man prevail; let the nations be judged before you!
20 Put them in fear, O LORD! Let the nations know that they are but men! Selah

Discussion

One of the things that David has is hope. It is God who lifts him up from the gates of death. God is continually making promises to his people. These promises are enabled by what Christ has done on the cross. And they enable us to live in hope, looking forward to the time when there will be no more tears and no more crying because the former things have passed away and everything has become new. In David's time, as well as before that time, God promised the people  land. Today, through Jesus, he promises a land that is eternal and where the dwelling place of God will be with men. So like David, we too have hope. A hope that is encouraged by the promises that God has made. Unlike David we can see the resurrection, and we know there will be a time when we too will be involved in the resurrection. The trouble with the world today, is man feels   they have the solution to every problem. By doing things, they think they can change the pathway of the world. The reality is that they are the problem and that God has his answers. His answer is that men  will not prevail.   The biggest problem  man has is that God has  revealed himself.   He has revealed himself in  what he has created. He has revealed himself in the promises that is made in old Testament times. But in this latter days he has revealed himself in Jesus; so man will be without excuse. Paul talked in terms of the resurrection as the biggest demonstration of the positive nature of his promises.

Prayer

Dear Lord and father of mankind forgive my foolish ways. May I see the need for your salvation, your good news, rather than my own solutions. May I always remember that you are the lifter of my head and to let go of my own competence and confidence. And may the grace that has been meted out to me be an encouragement for me to do the same to others. May the message of your salvation be the basis of any discussion that I might have.