By Collin Ross
Scripture Reading: Psalm 7:1-17, Psalm 8:1-9, Psalm 9:1-20, Psalm 10:1-18
A person’s core beliefs are their most central ideas about themselves, others, and the world. They act as a lens by which we see and understand our life experiences, and they go a long way toward informing how we think, feel, and behave in our everyday lives.
In Psalm 9, David described the overwhelming circumstances that he faced. He was afflicted, hated, and at the gates of death (Psalm 9:13). And yet, David sounded utterly confident that his enemies would not prevail. God would overcome his enemies such that “the very memory of them has perished” (v.6). David rejoiced over a future where wickedness wouldn’t be a distant memory—it would be no memory at all.
How could David, in the midst of great affliction, have full assurance that God would bring justice to his situation? With everything going on around him, how could David sound so sure? How could he rejoice?
David believed with his whole heart that the Lord sat enthroned forever and He had established His throne for justice (v.7).
In our world we understand power and authority as something that must be earned or given or taken by force, Psalm 9 reminds us that this is not so with our God. He doesn’t have to guard His authority from outside threats. For the Lord sits enthroned forever. His power to achieve His goals is never in question and is never threatened.
This belief shaped many of David’s psalms, and it allowed him to maintain hope and joy during some really challenging seasons of life. It can do the same for you.
This is our hope: Christ sits enthroned forever, and He is a stronghold for all who have been crushed by the weight of sin. WThe hope and joy of Psalm 9 can inform how you see yourself and the world around you. You no longer have to be held captive to the mistakes that you’ve made in the past because of the forgiveness that is offered in Jesus. Nor do you have to be chained to the memory of sins that have been committed against you, knowing that when Christ returns, every tear will be wiped away and the memory of evil will perish.
As the gospel takes root in your heart, you’ll be reminded that you can weather all kinds of difficult circumstances, just as the saints before you have done for two thousand years. In Christ, these challenging seasons of life can in no way obstruct the good work that God intends to do in you and through you and for you.
Written by Collin Ross
Post Comments (0)