Psalms 9 TO THE CHIEF MUSICIAN, UPON MUTH-LABEN. A PSALM OF DAVID or TO HE WHO GRANTS VICTORY, IMMORTALITY FOR THE SON, A PSALM OF DAVID. <<IMMORTALITY FOR THE SON>>: in Hebrew "al -mut laben". We have translated this phrase according to S. R. Hirsch but the translation is technically difficult and somewhat forced. The Psalm speaks in the name of all Israel. In the Bible the chosen king (e.g. Solomon) is referred to by the Almighty as His "son" (2-Samuel 7:14, cf Psalm 80:17). The people of Israel as a collective entity are also referred to as the "son" of God, e.g. <<THUS SAITH THE LORD, ISRAEL IS MY SON, EVEN MY FIRSTBORN>> [Exodus 4:22]. [Psalms 9:1] I WILL PRAISE THEE, O LORD,  WITH MY WHOLE HEART;  I WILL SHEW FORTH ALL THY  MARVELLOUS WORKS. <<I WILL PRAISE>>:  In Hebrew "Odeh" meaning acknowledge. [Psalms 9:2] I WILL BE GLAD AND REJOICE IN THEE:  I WILL SING PRAISE TO THY NAME, O THOU MOST HIGH. [Psalms 9:3] WHEN MINE ENEMIES ARE TURNED BACK, THEY SHALL FALL  AND PERISH AT THY  PRESENCE. [Psalms 9:4] FOR THOU HAST MAINTAINED MY RIGHT AND MY CAUSE; THOU SATEST IN THE THRONE  JUDGING RIGHT. [Psalms 9:5] THOU HAST REBUKED THE HEATHEN, THOU HAST DESTROYED THE WICKED,  THOU HAST  PUT OUT THEIR NAME FOR EVER AND EVER. This Psalm was written by David. It has some pertienence to the time of David though it also is describing  what will happen after the Messiah son of  David appears.   Some Commentators say the Psalm is seaking on behalf of ALL ISRAEL in a collective sense. [Psalms 9:6] O THOU ENEMY,  DESTRUCTIONS ARE COME TO A PERPETUAL END: AND THOU HAST DESTROYED CITIES;  THEIR MEMORIAL IS PERISHED WITH THEM. [Psalms 9:7] BUT THE LORD SHALL ENDURE FOR EVER:  HE HATH PREPARED HIS THRONE FOR  JUDGMENT. [Psalms 9:8] AND HE SHALL JUDGE THE WORLD IN RIGHTEOUSNESS,  HE SHALL MINISTER JUDGMENT TO THE PEOPLE IN UPRIGHTNESS. [Psalms 9:9] THE LORD ALSO WILL BE A REFUGE FOR THE OPPRESSED,  A REFUGE IN TIMES OF  TROUBLE. When you are in trouble and you pray to the Almighty He will help you. Sometimes it is difficulty to pray for psychological reasons. In such cases even reading the Bible or efficacious works can help the point is to somehow direct oneself towards the Almighty. [Psalms 9:10] AND THEY THAT KNOW THY NAME WILL PUT THEIR TRUST IN THEE: FOR THOU, LORD, HAST NOT FORSAKEN THEM THAT SEEK THEE. If you search you will find and be helped and be of help to others. [Psalms 9:11] SING PRAISES TO THE LORD,  WHICH DWELLETH IN ZION:  DECLARE AMONG THE  PEOPLE HIS DOINGS.       <<WHICH DWELLETH IN ZION>>: God makes His presence apparent though Jerusalem and Israel.    The God of Israel is the Almighty Himself. There is no other. Only through the God of Israel can salvation be found. All the nations MUST acknowledge the God of Israel. Israel MUST be made aware of their own Israelite ancestral sources. We have an obligation beyond ourselves and our own survival and that of our family. [Psalms 9:12] WHEN HE MAKETH INQUISITION FOR BLOOD,  HE REMEMBERETH THEM: HE FORGETTETH  NOT THE CRY OF THE HUMBLE. [Psalms 9:13] HAVE MERCY UPON ME, O LORD; CONSIDER MY TROUBLE WHICH I SUFFER OF  THEM THAT HATE ME,  THOU THAT LIFTEST ME UP FROM THE GATES OF DEATH: <<HAVE MERCY UPON ME>>: in Hebrew "Chanani" which (S.R. Hirsch) can mean, "give me the means". Help me overcome if necessary by way of nature but through your enabling me to realise my own potential.   The people of Israel are capable of solving their own problems and also those of the entire world but first they must turn their hearts back to the Almighty.  They must be made aware of where they came from and the corresponding duties laid upon them.   David was persecuted and in danger of his life several times.  So too,  the future Messiah may initially suffer such tribulations. Also Israel as  an historic entity has been indanger saeveral times and still is. The Jews (Judah) have also survuived numerous and continuous attempts to eliminate them by every means possible.  The enemy of Judah is the enemy of  Israel and the enemy of Israel is the enemy of  Judah.  The enemy of Judah and Israel is the enemy of the Almighty. [Psalms 9:14] THAT I MAY SHEW FORTH ALL THY PRAISE IN THE GATES OF THE DAUGHTER OF ZION:  I  WILL REJOICE IN THY SALVATION. [Psalms 9:15] THE HEATHEN ARE SUNK DOWN IN THE PIT THAT THEY MADE: IN THE NET WHICH THEY  HID IS THEIR OWN FOOT TAKEN. Our enemies will fall in their own traps. [Psalms 9:16] THE LORD IS KNOWN BY THE JUDGMENT WHICH HE EXECUTETH: THE WICKED IS   SNARED IN THE WORK OF HIS OWN HANDS. HIGGAION.  SELAH. <<HIGGAION>>: From the Hebrew "hegeh" meaning thought, contemplation.  The English word "though" (Old English, "thoht") is derived from the same Hebrew root. S.R. Hirsch explains "Higaion" to mean: "the truth that becomes apparent";  "the truth that reveals the hand of God in history" [Psalms 9:17] THE WICKED SHALL BE TURNED INTO HELL, AND ALL THE NATIONS THAT FORGET GOD. <<INTO HELL>>:  In Hebrew "Sheolah", i.e. to the grave,  to down below, to destruction. "Sheolah" is from "Sheol" (grave, underworld) and perhaps connected to the root "She-al"  to borrow. This coukld indicate either a state of limbo or of eternal perdition.  The natural destiny of man is  eternal life but through sin this can be forfeited. [Psalms 9:18] FOR THE NEEDY SHALL NOT ALWAY BE FORGOTTEN:  THE EXPECTATION OF THE POOR  SHALL NOT PERISH FOR EVER. Everything has a purpose and reason. God hears you and looks after you. He wants you to be with Him in both this world and the next. [Psalms 9:19] ARISE, O LORD; LET NOT MAN PREVAIL: LET THE HEATHEN BE JUDGED IN THY SIGHT. [Psalms 9:20] PUT THEM IN FEAR, O LORD: THAT THE NATIONS MAY KNOW THEMSELVES TO BE  BUT MEN.  SELAH. 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