One of the comforting things about the Christian life is that our Lord is one who took on flesh and acquainted himself with our temptations and our suffering. He knows our struggles; he’s felt our pain. However, the Scripture is not filled with Jesus’ prayers during this time. We don’t get numerous pictures of how he approached his Father during difficult times throughout his life. What we do have, however, are multiple prayers from David. Now, at first, that may sound like an odd comparison, but if we realize that one of the key roles David’s life plays in the Scripture is to be a picture of the great King to come, then we realize that David’s suffering is not by accident. It is not by accident that David, Israel’s king, is unjustly persecuted by his enemies who seek his life, for his life pictures the life of the One to come. Nor is it by mistake then, that Jesus cries out part of Psalm 22 to express his agony on the cross as well as to point us to the hope to come.

Therefore, though we don’t have numerous prayers from Jesus, it is helpful that we get to turn to the Psalms and see David’s expression of his agony and trust before God, and in this way they are a helpful guide and aid for us.

Before looking at Psalm 9, however, we need to recognize that this psalm presents a few difficulties for a reader at first glance. First of all, there is debate as to whether Psalm 9 stands on its own or whether it’s part of one larger psalm that includes Psalm 10. There are some indications that we should take Psalm 9-10 as one psalm. In the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament, it is taken as one psalm. And there is an acrostic started in Psalm 9 that seems to extend through Psalm 10. With that said, however, Psalm 9 and 10 are different in nature, and in the Hebrew Old Testament they are treated separately. So we will treat them separately as well, looking at Psalm 9 this week and Psalm 10 next week.

The second difficulty of the psalm is found in trying to identify the nature of the psalm. Commentators disagree on whether this is a psalm of praise or a psalm or lament. Now, that might seem odd that we would struggle to identify whether something is lament or praise, but a brief look at Psalm 9 reveals why this struggle exists. You can see why some would label it a psalm of praise because it start in verse 1 declaring, “I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart,” the kind of introduction found in praise psalms. And this continues through verse 13. However, when you get to verse 13, the psalm takes a turn, dividing the psalm into two parts. As we read verse 13, it is clear that David is writing this psalm as he cries out from his struggles, writing, “Be gracious to me, O LORD! See my affliction from those who hate me.” I don’t know that it is important to be able to label the psalm, however, in order to understand it, and I think we’ll see how these contrasting elements of praise and lament serve to instruct us as we look more at the psalm.

The final issue is one of application, and it is a challenge not unique to this psalm. The question is simply, “How do we apply this psalm?” That is, do we look at this psalm as something that is instructive for us as we find ourselves in similar struggles with the psalmist or is this a psalm in which the actions of the psalmist aren’t to be emulated, but are simply to teach us more about our God?

I think the answer to this question is that it achieves both. I believe the psalms do continually teach us more about the nature and work of God. However, at the same time I believe the actions of David in Psalm 9 are given to us so that they might be used as a means to express ourselves to God in such circumstances. I say that because the superscription of Psalm 9 gives instructions for the choirmaster, showing that this psalm was intended to be used in the corporate worship of God’s people. Therefore, it appears the intent of the psalm was to provide for the church a means of expressing themselves to God in times of struggle. For this reason, David does not elaborate on the details of his struggle, but gives them generally so that others might apply this psalm to themselves as well.

Therefore, my approach to this psalm this morning is as follows: First, I want to walk through the psalm and see how it instructs us in expressing ourselves to God when we find ourselves in struggles. At the same time we will note what this psalm teaches us about the nature of God. And finally we will look at how this psalm functions to remind us of our Lord Jesus Christ and what he has done so that we might be reconciled to God.

With that said, then, let’s turn to the psalm in order to see how it instructs the people of God in dealing with difficult circumstances and what it says of our God. First, the psalm shows us that when we find ourselves in present struggles, we should consider God’s past work.

We should consider God’s work in the past as we face our present struggles (1-6)

It is clear that David writes this psalm in the midst of dealing with his enemies. He finds himself in need of God’s help as he is afflicted and feels that his enemies may succeed in taking his life. He shows us this in verse 13 as he petitions the Lord saying, “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.”

However, as we mentioned, that’s not how the psalm begins. Rather, the psalm begins, “I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in your name, O Most High” (vv. 1-2). If David sits to write this psalm in a time of struggle so that he might petition God for his grace and help, why does he begin with these words of praise, declaring that he will give thanks to God with his whole heart, recount his wonderful deeds, and rejoice in God’s name?

I think the answer is because he is preaching to himself and providing instruction for those who would later worship with this psalm. He is showing us that as we face our present struggles and feel deeply our need for God’s help and grace, we need to bring to mind and meditate upon God’s works in our past.

David declares that he will praise God with his whole heart and recount all his wonderful deeds because this is encouragement for his present circumstances. This is not different from what we find throughout the Scriptures. Again and again we are reminded to remember what God has done in the past. Deuteronomy 8 begins with the command to Israel to remember how God led them for forty years in the wilderness. And in the Lord’s Supper our Lord gave us a meal which we do in remembrance of him. Why? Why does God want us to remember his works?

No doubt there are many reasons, including that we might be humbled, realizing that we have not arrived where we are today by our own strength. Another seems to be, however, so that we might find strength to believe that God will continue to work in and for us in the future. Why does Paul remind us that God did not spare his own Son for us in Romans 8:32? It is so that we might trust that God will give us all things to bring about the fulfillment of our salvation from this day forward. God meets our needs and does good to us not simply so that our present needs might be met but so that we might have an additional platform to trust and rely on him in the future.

And I think that’s why David begins with a declaration that he will give thanks to God, sing praises to him, be glad in him, rejoice in him, and recount all of his wonderful deeds. He is reminding himself of God’s past work so that he might strengthen his present faith. In fact, as he looks back in verses 3-6, he recounts God’s work in similar circumstances. He writes, “When my enemies turn back, they stumble and perish before your presence. For you have maintained my just cause; you have sat on the throne, giving righteous judgment. You have rebuked the nations; you have made the wicked perish; you have blotted out their name forever and ever. The enemy came to an end in everlasting ruins; their cities you rooted out; the very memory of them has perished.” Again and again God had delivered him from his enemies, so why would David not trust now?

But there is something key David does here; he sees all of his past victories as the work of God’s hand. He doesn’t simply say, “I defeated these people and those people, and so I’ll defeat my present enemies as well.” He acknowledges that when his enemies turned away, they stumbled before God’s presence. They perished because God rebuked them and made them perish. They were defeated because God sat on his throne giving righteous judgment and God had blotted out their name forever and ever.

So to us, I would ask, “Do we face our current struggles by reminding ourselves of God’s past work?” This morning, as you are facing all of the things that lie in front of you, causing you fear, whether it is raising your children well, or starting that new job, dealing with complicated family matters, or whatever else, have you reminded yourself of God’s past works in your life? Or do you even recognize that you’ve come through all you have because of God’s grace and not your own abilities?

This morning, simply pause and remind yourself of what God has done to this point in your life. Remember all the times that you were even more anxious and gripped by fear than you are now and what God has done to bring you through those times. He wants you to remember them. In fact, he did not help you then just to bring you through that circumstance but so that you might be able to look back to that time and be strengthened to trust him in this time. John Newton knew this. That’s why he wrote in Amazing Grace, “‘tis grace has brought me safe thus far, and grace will lead me home.” This morning, as you think of your present and future struggles, first look away from the present and the future and praise God, rejoicing in him, recounting all of his wonderful deeds, so that you might be strengthened to trust him now. That’s what God graciously wants for us this morning. He wants us to have faith and trust to cast our cares upon him and feel free from anxiety, knowing he cares for us.

Then, as you meditate on the past work of God, let it remind you not simply of what God has done but who God is.

As you consider God’s work let it remind you of who he is (7-10)

In verses 7-10 David reminds himself of why it is that God has protected him in the past and defeated his enemies. He writes, “But the LORD sits enthroned forever; he has established his throne for justice, and he judges the world with righteousness; he judges the peoples with uprightness. The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsake those who seek you.”

David knows that God has judged his enemies who unjustly persecuted him because God sits enthroned as a just judge, judging the world and his people with uprightness. David knows that God has cared for him and vindicated him because he is a stronghold for the oppressed in times of trouble. He knows that he can trust in God because he knows God’s name. He knows God’s character and reputation. He knows that God is one who does not forsake those who seek him.

David allows his recounting of God’s wonderful deeds to remind him of who God is. Why? He does it because it is those who know God’s name who put their trust in him. You will not trust God if you do not know him. But we as believers do know him.

We know the same things that David has declared. We know that our God is the judge of the world and refuge for his people. We know that he will not leave us nor forsake us. He has promised us that (Hebrews 13:5). So, as you recount God’s deeds in your life, let that lead you to be reminded of who he is. Why? It is because though God works at different times in different ways, his character, his name, is constant. And it is good to be reminded of who he is.

The other day as Nathan Young and I were meeting with someone Nathan began talking to the other individual about how the two of us had labored with and for one another. And all of the sudden I was reminded afresh of who Nathan is. He is one whom I know I can trust, who will fight for my good, and one who loves God and his church deeply. Later, when I talked to Nate on the phone I told him that I left that meeting thanking God for bringing Nate into my life because I knew I could trust him to always love me as he loves himself. But how did my mind end up there? It started by remembering how Nate had labored for me in the past and then letting that remind me afresh of his character so that I began to trust, treasure, and love him more.

That is a picture of David’s movement in this psalm and what needs to happen as we turn to God in our struggles. Think of his past works, and then allow that meditation to remind you afresh of who he is so that you might trust him.

However, we also find another element in this psalm that is common in the psalms and extremely helpful for us as we labor as a church. As we consider God’s past works and are reminded of who he is, take time not simply to praise him personally and declare his deeds to yourself, but praise him and declare his deeds before others.

As you consider God’s work and character, praise him and declare his deeds before others (11-12)

In verses 11-12 David exhorts those reading this psalm to sing God’s praises and tell his deeds among others. He writes, “Sing praises to the LORD, who sits enthroned in Zion! Tell among the peoples his deeds! For he who avenges blood is mindful of them; he does not forget the cry of the afflicted.”

David longs for others to praise God as well and to spread news of his deeds. But again, why? He makes it clear in verse 12. It is because he wants others to know that God is mindful of them and does not forget their cry. David wants others to trust God because they remember who he is and what he has done even as he has grown to trust God more by remembering these things. David is saying to us, “Don’t simply remind yourselves of God and his work so that you might help your own heart trust, but declare God’s praise and wonderful deeds to others so that they might remember who he is as well.

Even as God works in our past so that we might trust him in the present, he also has worked in our past so that we might tell others and help them to trust him in the present. As we said at the beginning, this is a psalm for corporate worship. It is a psalm focused on the holiness of all of God’s people, not just you or me. Therefore, even as gather on Sunday nights, allow God’s praise to flow from your mouth. Recount his wonderful deeds in your life among God’s people so that they might be reminded that he is mindful of them as well and does not forget their cry. I can still call to mind Chad Davis standing in front of us one Wednesday night before going to Nashville, recounting God’s faithfulness to him and Debi throughout their time in Jackson. And I remember him saying that though he didn’t understand what lay ahead for him, he was going to move forward, trusting in God because he knew God was faithful. As I think about Chad returning to us soon to serve us as a pastor, my heart leaps up in praise because God has been so kind to Chad, but it is also a reminder to me to trust God in my circumstances when I cannot discern how things will go. Chad’s praise of God and recounting of his deeds that night have a continued effect in my life, moving me to trust my Lord.

Finally, having considered these things and having recounted God’s deeds before others, we should ask for God’s grace and help (13-20)

Verses 13-20 seem to take a sharp turn in this psalm. However, I think we can see that it is simply the natural outflow of the first part of this psalm. David strengthens his trust in God as he reminds himself of who God is and what he has done (and urges others to do the same), and then he turns to God with his present struggles, asking for his grace and help.

David writes, “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” (v. 13). But now note David’s motivation, having reflected on God’s greatness and goodness towards him and his people. He asks God to do this, “that I may recount all your praises, that in the gates of the daughter of Zion I may rejoice in your salvation” (v. 14). David wants to continue to recount God’s deeds of salvation. So now he says, “God help me that I might continue to recount your wonderful deeds and lead others to trust you.” That is, “God provide for me that I might be a verbal reminder that others can trust you as well to meet their needs.”

Then, in verses 15-18 he speaks of God’s work in his present circumstances as if God has already brought about his deliverance. He is so sure that God will work to bring about what is best in his circumstances that he speaks as if they have already taken place. He knows that “the needy shall not always be forgotten, and the hope of the poor shall not perish forever” (v. 18). He knows that God will do good for his people, whatever that looks like in this life. And he knows that God will make all things right on that final day.

That leads David then to petition God again as he had started in verse 13. He writes, “Arise, O LORD! Let not man prevail; le the nations be judged before you! Put them in fear, O LORD! Let the nations know that they are but men” (vv. 19-20). He asks God to display his might against his enemies so that David is helped and God’s glory is displayed.

That kind of cry comes from one who knows God and his works. And there is nothing wrong with boldly requesting for grace and help from God. There is nothing wrong with asking God to show himself mighty on your behalf. However, it will be hard to do unless you feel deep in your heart that God can be trusted, cares for you, will not forsake you, and delights in doing good to you.

Therefore, even this morning let’s pause and remind ourselves of what God has done and who he is as we then turn and ask for his help and grace in our present struggles. And then let us stand and sing his praises, recounting to others his wonderful deeds that they might trust him as well.

But in the midst of that we will come to the table as we proclaim our hope in the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ. We will do this because it is always a fitting response to God’s Word but also because the ultimate purpose of Psalm 9 is to lead us to reflect on the work of Christ.

Why is it that there are so many psalms where David is attacked by his enemies, in great agony, near death’s door, and crying out for victory and vindication? It is because David’s life is to remind us of the one who was David’s great Son, Jesus of Nazareth, who was unjustly put to death, undergoing great agony at the heart of our greatest enemies as he took our sin upon him, was bruised by Satan, and died. It is because David’s life is to remind us of one that was not simply near death’s door, proclaiming that God could raise him but one who died and was indeed raised from the dead by God. It is to remind us of one who had ultimate victory over his enemies and vindication before them and God as he defeated Satan at the cross and was vindicated in his resurrection from the dead. So may we celebrate the work of David’s great Son, our King, as we come to the table this morning. Amen.

PAST REFLECTION AND OUR PRESENT STRUGGLES

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