The Psalter

Psalm 9

Many Ways and Many Reasons to Praise

To the Chief Musician - either a choirmaster or God To the tune of מ֥וּת לַבֵּ֗ן "Muth Labben" - Death of the Son, a popular tune. A number of ways to praise are mentioned. Like in the Carman song, Seven Ways to Praise. Time: 6:21 Carman's list:

1. towdah	praise in adversity
2. yadah	lift your hands
3. barouch	bow
4. shabach	praise given in expectation
5. zamar	praise on instruments
6. halal	rave and boast, dance
7. tehilla	all of the above!

9:1 יָדָה "yadah" - praise by giving thanks. "with my whole heart" - half hearted obedience is no obedience at all. King Saul did 95% of what God told him - and God judged him for it. 1 Samuel 15 "tell all your marvellous works" - praise by giving testimony
9:2 "I will rejoice" - literally jump for joy, זָמַר "zamar": sing praise - two ways to praise the Most High, rejoicing and singing.

Praise for victory over enemies of the nation

9:3 "enemies are turned back" - a common experience for David as God's warrior.
9:4 "You have maintained my right and my cause" - God is not neutral, but on the side of the right. Make sure you are on His side.
9:7 "the LORD will endure forever, He's prepared His throne for judgement" God takes action against His enemies - not yours. Make sure you are on His side.
9:10 "those who " יָדַע "yada": know intimately Your name

Praise for deliverance from wicked oppressors in the nation

9:11 זָמַר "zamar" - praise by music and singing. "declare among the people His doings" - another way to praise: by giving a testimony.
9:12 "inquistion for blood" - God requires blood vengeance from authority, from Genesis 9:6 to Number 35:33 - this applies to all gentile nations as well. Failure to require life for life when in authority to do so, is the same as murder in God's eyes. And He will exact His own vengeance.
9:14 "I will declare all Your" תְּהִלָּה "tehilla" - songs and hymns and dances of praise. "I will " גִּיל "gil" - literally "spin around" in exultation for Your salvation.
9:15 "goyim" heathen/nations. Nations are caught in their own schemes, and in the next verse, so are wicked individuals.
9:16 "the LORD" נ֤וֹדַ֨ע "nowda" is known intimately through His judgements. "the wicked is caught in his own snare" - a theme we've seen many times already. הִגָּיוֹן "higgaion" - music for meditation.

Be afraid, wicked nations and men

9:17 "wicked and nations that forget God" - individual or nation, when your evil scheme forgets God, what could possibly go wrong?
9:19 "let not man prevail" - the LORD is the True World Order.
9:20 מוֹרָא "mora" - fear, terror of the LORD. In Genesis 9:2, God puts the terror of man on the animals under him. "know themselves to be but men" - very hard for those with political power (or mad scientists).