Daily Bible Study

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Day 9 Psalm 9 Psalm 9:1 < I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will show forth all thy marvelous works. 2 I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou Most High. 3 When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence. 4 For thou hast maintained my right and my cause; you sat in the throne judging right. 5 Thou hast rebuked the heathen, thou hast destroyed the wicked, thou hast put out their name forever and ever. 6 O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end: and thou hast destroyed cities; their memorial is perished with them. 7 But the LORD shall endure forever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment. 8 And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness. How many times do we want justice for all the problems in our lives? We don’t want it just for what we see on the news, read in our newspapers, or on the Internet. We want those who brought trouble our way, to be reprimanded and justice served so we can be at peace. David starts out this psalm with praise and adoration to God. He does not plead with God to take care of his enemies. He expects God’s justice on his enemies and he expects God to take care of him at the same time because he didn’t do anything wrong. He states rather than hopes that God will destroy all those who brought trouble his way. What would your life be like if you prayed as David did, expecting God to take care of those who bring trouble your way? What would you life be like if you believed God would not only bring justice to your enemies, but would take care of you as well? Wouldn’t you find it easy to trust God because you knew God would bring an end to those who destroyed the lives of the people around you and brought turmoil and despair to people’s lives? Wouldn’t your prayers sound like David’s, filled with expectation instead of resignation that nothing would change? It can be that way. All you need to do is change the tone of your prayers to God. Fill your prayers with praise for all God does for you and watch God take care of your enemies, ending their hold over you. 9 The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. 10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee. 11 Sing praises to the LORD, which dwells in Zion: declare among the people his doings. 12 When he makes inquisition for blood, he remembers them: he forgets not the cry of the humble. 13 Have mercy upon me, O LORD; consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that lift me up from the gates of death: 14 That I may show forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in thy salvation. 15 The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken. 16 The LORD is known by the judgment which he executes: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. 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; let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged in thy sight. 20 Put them in fear, O LORD: that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah. We do have hope. We can trust. God will come through for us and be our shelter and refuge from all those who come against us. One thing David did continually was to sing praises to God. They were always on his lips, in his heart, and in the words he penned. David’s heart was always turned towards God and because of that, God helped him when his enemies rushed at him like a torrent in a heavy rainstorm. If David could praise God when his enemies surrounded him, when it looked like the enemy would kill him, and when troubles ceased, bringing peace to his life. So can we. What are you facing right now that is beyond help, and depression has set in, your tears are dried up, and you have lost hope? Turn your situation around and begin praising God for all he has done for you. As you begin to trust God to take care of you, you will see a change come over your life. Let’s pray: Father, help me praise you in bad times as well as good. Help me trust you to take care of all those who come against me. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen. Copyright © 28 March 2016 by Valerie Jean Routhieaux Image courtesy of Pixabay