Day 636: Finding God's shelter – Psalm 9

1-8 I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvellous things you have done. I will be filled with joy because of you. I will sing praises to your name, O Most High. My enemies retreated; they staggered and died when you appeared. For you have judged in my favour; from your throne you have judged with fairness. You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked; you have erased their names forever. The enemy is finished, in endless ruins; the cities you uprooted are now forgotten. But the Lord reigns forever, executing judgment from his throne. He will judge the world with justice and rule the nations with fairness.

9-10 The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you. 11-12 Sing praises to the Lord who reigns in Jerusalem. Tell the world about his unforgettable deeds. For he who avenges murder cares for the helpless. He does not ignore the cries of those who suffer.

13-14 Lord, have mercy on me. See how my enemies torment me. Snatch me back from the jaws of death. Save me so I can praise you publicly at Jerusalem’s gates, so I can rejoice that you have rescued me. 15-17 The nations have fallen into the pit they dug for others. Their own feet have been caught in the trap they set. The Lord is known for his justice. The wicked are trapped by their own deeds. (Interlude) The wicked will go down to the grave. This is the fate of all the nations who ignore God. 18 But the needy will not be ignored forever; the hopes of the poor will not always be crushed. 19-20 Arise, O Lord! Do not let mere mortals defy you! Judge the nations! Make them tremble in fear, O Lord. Let the nations know they are merely human. (Interlude). Psalm 9 from the New Living Translation (English Standard Version link)

How encouraging those words are where David says: “The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you - for you don't abandon those who search for you.” (vs 9-10) In vs 1-8 he praised God for helping him in the past and establishing his kingdom. It was evidence of God's fairness in breaking the power of wicked nations. But in vs 13-14 he is asking God for fresh mercy and help. What does he say will be the outcome of the plans of wicked nations (vs 15-17) - and of those who are being oppressed, but who put their hope in the Lord? (vs 18).

Did you notice the word 'interlude' in the middle of those verses? It's the Hebrew word 'Selah' which may have been a musical term, but is also thought to mean a time to pause and think about what is being said. That's something we need to do whenever we read God's word! While David was obviously asking God to help him personally, what else did he hope would be the result of his prayer? (vs 19-20)

It's always good when our prayers have an eye to how God will receive honour when He answers them. So, for example, if we are praying for healing, it's not just so that we can be better – but also so that people will see that God is able to do wonderful things.

But we see from vs 9-10 that those who receive God's help when they are being oppressed, or in other times of great need, are people who have put their hopes and trust in God because they know His name! This doesn't mean just knowing a name like ‘Yahweh’ or ‘Jesus’ – but knowing the character and ability of that person. So it’s as if David said – “I can trust in your name because I know you are someone who doesn’t abandon those who look to you for help.” He knew he could put his hope in God because God has the reputation of being a dependable shelter and refuge in times of trouble. How well do you and I really know God? Have we searched for Him with a sincerity that has led to knowing more about His character? Do we take time to think over the truths we read of Him in the Bible – or do we rush off to other things? It's those who know His name (character) that experience His shelter in life's storms.