ARISE-Psalm 9-10

Old Testament, Psalms, Sermons

Arise, LORD: “Arise, Lord, do not let mortals triumph; let the nations be judged in your presence” (Ps 9:19). “Arise, Lord! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless” (Ps 20:12).

Thanksgiving and lament. “I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds” (Ps 9:1). “Why, Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” (Ps 10:1)

Psalms 9 (thanksgiving) and 10 (lament) complement one another, concerned as they are with the twin realities of a fallen world:

  1. the certain ultimate triumph of God for which we thank God, and
  2. the present, short-lived [but seems long], triumph of the wicked for which we lament.

They provide a powerful reflection on God’s justice and the ultimate fate of both the righteous and the wicked.

Psalm 9 and 10 are songs of David that  follow an acrostic pattern [broken], with phrases that start with consecutive letters of the Hebrew alphabet that continue through Psalm 10. They were originally a single psalm and considered together as they share similar themes, though they are separate in most translations. [Psalm 10 is the only psalm between Ps 3 and 32 lacking a superscription, a sign that it is the second half of Ps 9.] They focus on God‘s justice, protection of the oppressed, and the fate of the wicked.

Psalm 9 is a psalm of thanksgiving (Ps 9:1-2) where David praises God for his great  and wonderful deeds (Ps 9:1), including his victory over evil and his eternal justice (Ps 9:3-6). David also asks God for rescue from those who want to kill him, and the psalm ends with a prayer for God to remind people of his authority. It is a song of thanksgiving for God’s righteous judgment and deliverance from enemies. It emphasizes God’s role as a just ruler who defends the righteous and punishes the wicked. The psalmist expresses confidence in God’s enduring justice and calls on Him to continue to uphold the cause of the oppressed.

Psalm 10: This psalm is more of a lament, where the psalmist expresses frustration that the wicked in Israel who oppress the helpless seem to prosper and that God appears distant. David compares the wicked to lions and fishermen, who ambush their victims and draw them into their nets. It concludes with a reaffirmation of trust in God’s justice, believing that He will eventually intervene to protect the innocent and punish the wicked.

  • How would you reconcile giving thanks to God (Ps 9:1ff) with lamenting to God about current painful troubles (Ps 10:1ff)?
  • What do you give thanks for (Ps 9:3-6, 7-12, 13-20)?
  • What do you lament about (Ps 10:2-6, 7-11)?
  • How can you still be confident when facing difficult troubles (Ps 10:12-15, 16-18; Rom 8:28; Gen 50:20)?
  • Regardless of our situation why should you always give thanks (1 Th 5:18; Heb 13:12-13, 15-16; Ps 136:1-3, 26, 4-9, 10-16, 17-22, 23-25)?

Thanksgiving (Psalm 9)

  1. How did David thank/praise God (Ps 9:1-2)? For what (Ps 9:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 11)?
    • Should you [always] thank God? Why (1 Th 5:18; Heb 13:15)?
    • Who is God (Ps 9:4, 7-8; Rom 12:19; Rev 20:12, 13, 15)?
    • How can you tell God’s “wonderful deeds” (Ps 9:1) and and “what he has done” (Ps 9:11; Ac 1:8; Mt 28:19-20)?
  2. Who is God that you can trust Him (Ps 9:9, 12; 46:1)?
    1. Do you know God’s name (Ps 9:10, 2)? [Isa 26:3-4; Nah 1:7; Rom 10:13]
    2. Have you experienced God as your refuge in painful and difficult times?
  3. What do you learn from David’s plea (Ps 9:13-14)? [Heb 4:16; Jas 5:13; Eph 2:4-5]
  4. What is the fate of the wicked (Ps 9:15-17)? The hope of the needy and afflicted (Ps 9:18)? [Lk 1:52-53; Prov 14:32; Mt 25:46]
  5. What can you learn about confronting evil, wickedness and injustice in your own life (Ps 9:19-20; 46:10)? [Isa 2:11-12; Dan 4:35; Phil 2:9-11; Mt 28:18]

Lament (Psalm 10)

  1. Why does David feel that God is “far off” (Ps 10:1; 13:1)? [Job 23:8-10; Hab 1:2-4] When have you felt that God was distant or silent?
  2. How are the wicked described and what are their characteristics (Ps 10:2-6, 7-11)? [Prov 6:16-19; Rom 3:10f; 2 Tim 3:1f] What is his attitude toward God (Ps 10:3, 4, 5, 6, 11)? [Rom 1:18, 28]
  3. What is significant about the psalmist’s request (Ps 10:12-13, 15)? What does he affirm about God (Ps 10:14, 17; 34:15)? [Isa 33:10; Jas 4:6; 1 Pet 3:12; 5:7] How can you apply this when facing personal injustice?
  4. In the face of evil, injustice and oppresion, how would you apply in your life that God is the King whose concern is for justice (Ps 10:16-18; 93:1-2)? What is God’s response to the cry of the afflicted (Ps 10:17-18)? [Isa 61:1-3, 8; Lk 4:18-19]
  • How does Psalm 9 and 10 provide a comprehensive view of God’s justice and the plight of the oppressed (Exo 3:7-8; Lk 18:7-8)?

 

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