The Book of Psalms
Psalm 9
Psalm IX · Vol. II, p. 992
1 David praiseth God for executing of judgment. 11 He inciteth others to praise him. 13 He prayeth that he may have cause to praise him.
To the chief musician upon Muth-labben, A psalm of David.
5 Thou hast grebuked the heathen, thou hast destroyed the wicked, thou hast put out their name for ever and ever.
g 2 Sa.v. viii. x. Ps.110.5-7; 68.30. Pr.10.7.
6 O thou enemy, hdestructions are come to a perpetual end:3 andi thou hast destroyed cities; their memorial is perished with them.4
h Ex.14.13. Je.51.64. Na.1.9. Re.14.8. Eze.7.2-15.
3 Or, The destructions of the enemy are come to a perpetual end: and their cities hast thou destroyed, &c.
i 2 Ki.19.25. Is.10.13; 14.4-6. Je.25.9,11.
4 Sodom and Gomorrah, Nineveh, Babylon, Tyre, and many other places, afford examples of cities, of which sin has left scarce any memorial beyond a name.—C.
8 Andl he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.
l Re.20.12,13. Ps.96.13; 98.9; 50.6. Ac.17.31.
10 And they that oknow thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, phast not forsaken them that seek thee.
11 Sing praises to the LORD, which qdwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings.
q Ps.78.68,69; 132.13,14. Re.14.1; 21.3.
12 Whenr he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he sforgetteth not the cry of the humble.6
13 Have mercy upon me, O LORD: tconsider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that uliftest me up from the gates of death;
t La.1.11; 3.50. Ex.2.23-25; 3.7. Ps.25.20; 119.132,153.
u 2 Co.1.10. Ps.70.5; 107.18. Is.38.16,17.
14 Thatv I may show forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in thy salvation.
15 Thex heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken.
16 The yLORD is known by the judgment which he executeth: zthe wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. aHaggaion.7 Selah.
y Ps.58.10,11; 83.13-18; 46.10; 48.10,11. Ex.9.16.
z Ps.7.15,16; 37.15; 140.9. Es.iii. vii. ix.
a A most serious meditation, Ps.19.14; 92.3.
7 Eminent authorities understand by this word a musical pause. Its location in the text, where it stands under all the authority of the Holy Spirit, renders such an interpretation very improbable, as directed but to one class of persons. It may be translated solemn meditation, a sense applicable to all.—C.
17 The bwicked shall be turned into 8hell, and all the nations that forget God.
b Is.3.11. Ps.50.22. Ro.2.8,9. 2 Th.1.7-9. Mat.24.11-46.
8 The Hebrew word rendered 'hell' is sheôl; it is equivalent to the Greek hades, and signifies simply 'the state of death.' It is not a place but a state. Consequently the statement here made that 'the wicked shall be turned into hell,' is merely an execution of the divine curse against sin.—P.
18 Forc the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever.
c Is.41.17. Ps.12.5; 72.4,12-14; 102.17,20; 109.31.
19 Arise,d O LORD; let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged in thy sight.
d Is.51.9; 42.13,14. Ps.44.23-26; 7.6,8. Zep.3.8.
Notes
Ver. 1. Of whom the Spirit here speaks, will be evident from considering first, that Ro. 15. 9 ascribes Ps. 18. 9 to Christ. This is the key of the interpretation. Next, with Ps. 18. 49, compare Ps. 57. 9; 35. 13, then all with this opening verse ascribing praise to Jehovah with the whole heart, and with ver. 14, proposing to show forth 'all his praise,' and it will be impossible to deny that the psalm is prophetically spoken in the person of Christ. C.
Reflections.—All success granted by God to us ought to animate us to the most hearty praises and thanksgiving for that and all other deliverances. And while prosperity renders us thankful, our chief joy must be in the God of our mercies. It is himself, as the most High in Christ, that is our infallible security against fear or danger. And though the wicked prosper for a time, they are marked for lasting destruction. And when God begins he will make an end. Thrice happy are they, however poor and oppressed, who have this God of Jacob, this high Sovereign, this righteous Judge for the object of their knowledge and trust! The more they know of him the more they will trust in him. Sweet shall be their songs of deliverance in the church in the ordinances below, but especially in the heavenly Zion above. But while God remembers them in mercy, and grants their long waited for requests, fearfully will he manifest his holiness, equity, and power in the temporal and eternal ruin of his and their wicked enemies. But ought we not here chiefly to contemplate, with joy and thankfulness, the blessings of redemption, and the victories of our Redeemer over sin, death, and hell, Jews, heathens, and antichristians, and all other incorrigible opposers; and to believe that we through him shall be more than conquerors!