Sermon Title: Psalm 9
Text: Psalm 9
Location: Gateway Church
Date: 8/8/2021
Speaker: Matt Heft
You can find the sermon notes here.
Good morning. It’s a real honor to be here and able to talk with you this morning. Before I get into my sermon, please allow me a moment to introduce myself and my family. My name’s Matt Heft and I’m an elder here at Gateway. [Picture of family] I’m married to my beautiful wife, Amberly. I have four kids: Landon, Rebecca, Marshall, and Cora. And a quick shoutout to Esrie, who we claim as the other member of our family. Please be praying for her as she leaves today for bootcamp.
Now, I’m sure many of you are sitting there thinking, how did a guy that looks like that get such a beautiful wife. I found a Bible verse that addresses this exact thing. It’s from Proverbs 31:31, the Casual English Bible, not a translation that I would generally recommend but here’s what it says, “And tell everyone how lucky it is that a bum like you won a prize like her.” I think that’s pretty fitting in my case.
We’ve loved being a part of Gateway for many years now. On a typical Sunday you’ll find us at our North Main campus. And of course, I want to welcome anyone joining us from North Main or online.
As I get started, I wanted to start with the same reminder that Pastor Josh gives you each and every week. God loves you, Pastor Josh loves you, and I love most of you too. That was a joke...maybe.
There’s one more member of our family that I should introduce to you. [Picture of Maalum] This is our dog, Maalum. Maalum is a swahili word that means “special”. At least that’s what Google said when we looked it up. Maalum is a labradoodle. I know, I know, labradoodles are cute, but they’re not always known for having it all together. When we first got her, I would defend Maalum’s intelligence. And then, the shadows started. You see, as the light goes over to the back of our house each evening and sunbeams and shadows start coming into the house, Maalum springs into action. The same is true if we put her outside. She will stand in the side yard, staring down at the ground. What is she looking at? Shadows. If a butterfly floats above her head, does she chase the butterfly? No, she chases the butterfly’s shadow. When the swallows come out while we mow and start zipping in and out of the yard, does she chase those birds? No, she chases their shadows. Inside the house, she tears at rugs and scratches walls...all because she’s chasing shadows. Have I got that mental image locked in your mind? Ok, just hold it there for a little while.
This morning, we’re going to be working through and learning from Psalm 9. If you have your Bibles with you, and I hope you do, please go ahead and turn there or go there in a Bible app. Let’s read through this chapter one time just to whet our appetites.
Psalm 9:1-20
Complete readthrough of the chapter.
Before we dive into this Psalm, let’s take a look at some of the context surrounding it. First, according to scholars, this Psalm and Psalm 10 were likely together at some point. Together, they follow an acrostic pattern...but in the acrostic, several letters are missing or out of order. If you were their teacher, you would probably have given them a failing grade for their acrostic.
In the title of Psalm 9, it says, “To the Choirmaster: according to Muth-Labben”. The NIV84 translates this as, “For the director of music. To the tune of “The Death of the Son.” A psalm of David.” As Justin shared last week, these titles don’t always give us a lot of clarity as to their meaning. But with a title like death of the son, I think it’s a heavy metal tune. Wiser individuals may see it as a solemn dirge. I will spare you from either of the renditions that are going through my mind.
Outside of these couple snippets, I couldn’t really find much more about the background of Psalm 9.
We are going to read through this Psalm two additional times today. The first readthrough, we’ll focus on who is being addressed. We will also be trying to put ourselves in the place of the author. On the second time through, I will highlight a few key points that stuck out to me.
I have to be honest, I found this text to be a bit all over the place. I had to say that so you know it’s the passage and not my preaching style. One second, it feels like a Psalm of praise, the next it feels like the author is begging God to wipe out an enemy. But as I studied this Psalm, I began to notice that every two or three verses, there were some words that began to provide some context for the setting. Skim through and you’ll see those words: throne, judgment, enthroned, judges. I thought to myself, this is a courtroom. By the way, I had my first appearance in court last year...virtually. (Don’t worry, I didn’t do anything wrong.). I was sitting in a conference room by myself in Ohio and the judge, the attorneys, and other witnesses were all in the actual courtroom in another state. I was testifying in the case, so I had to swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth so help me God over video. I stood up when the judge entered the actual courtroom. Being “in” the courtroom was an intense feeling, even virtually. But even if I were in person, that courtroom would not have compared to the setting we see in Psalm 9.
Psalm 9 is showing us more than a courtroom. This is a throne room. Here’s what I want you to picture. Close your eyes if you need to. A large hall, maybe even something like this room or the sanctuary at North Main. At the front of the room are three, maybe five, steps, leading up to a royal throne. As you look around the room, you notice that even the finest detail was done with the upmost care and craftsmanship. Furnishings that would only be fit for a king. Paintings on the wall, of the only appropriate one, the King. Gold in abundance wherever you look. There are people in this room; most waiting to do whatever the one on the throne may desire...all in complete devotion to the king.
The room is silent as you enter from the back. It feels as if all eyes turn to you as you slowly begin to walk towards the front of the room and the throne that sits on that platform. As you approach the throne, you begin to recognize its occupant. You are familiar with this king. You know him. You’ve seen his work.
Even though your knees start knocking together, as you get close enough to be heard by the king, you stop, kneel down and say the words from Psalm Chapter 9 and verse 1, “I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.”
You continue to address this king, “When my enemies turn back, they stumble and perish before your presence. For you have maintained my just cause; you have sat on the throne, giving righteous judgment.”
“You have rebuked the nations; you have made the wicked perish; you have blotted out their name forever and ever. The enemy came to an end in everlasting ruins; their cities you rooted out; the very memory of them has perished.”
Pausing, and looking around at the others in the room, you stand and shift your attention to address them. “But the LORD (Yahweh) sits enthroned forever; he has established his throne for justice, and he judges the world with righteousness; he judges the people with uprightness. The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.”
Turning back to the throne you say, “And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.”
And now, back to the others in the room, you say, “Sing praises to the LORD, who sits enthroned in Zion! Tell among the peoples his deeds! For he who avenges blood is mindful of them; he does not forget the cry of the afflicted.”
Realizing how bold you have been in the presence of the King, you stop and again address only the King, as if you are the only person in the room. “Be gracious to me, O LORD! See my affliction from those who hate me, O you who lift me up from the gates of death, that I may recount all your praises, that in the gates of the daughter of Zion I may rejoice in your salvation.”
Speaking to the crowd, “The nations have sunk in the pit that they made; in the net that they hid, their own foot has been caught. The LORD has made himself known; has executed judgment; the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands.” Higgaion. Selah. You pause.
Finishing your address to the people, you say, “The wicked shall return to Sheol, all the nations that forget God. For the needy shall not always be forgotten and the hope of the poor shall not perish forever.” And in an overly bold move, you turn and tell, not ask, TELL, the king to do something. You just got done telling the people that the poor and powerless will not be forgotten or perish.
You turn, looking straight at the King, and say, “Arise, O LORD!” I shutter just thinking of telling the king something in such a bold way. Get up! Get off your throne! Go to battle! Do something! “Let not man prevail; let the nations be judged before you! Put them in fear, O LORD! Let the nations know that they are but men!”
Phew! And that was just the first time through. There is a word here, right at the end...Selah...pause...reflect...meditate.
Let’s go back and start again. As we read through this time, take note of the words and phrases that jump out at you. Perhaps there’s a comfort or a challenge that you need in your life. Perhaps its some action you need to take or some thought you need to change to align with God’s truth.
Psalm 9, verses 1 & 2, “I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.”
The Psalmist starts with thanksgiving, praise, and gratitude for the one who is sitting on the throne.
Are you a grateful person? That’s probably not a fair question to ask ourselves, because we’ll probably all say yes. I tell you what, turn to the person beside you and ask them if you are. Wait, that might not end well...let’s just accept the fact that on the whole, we are an ungrateful people. Our appetites are never satiated. We seldom look at anything and say this is good and this is enough.
I’m a fan of pumpkin pie. My mom claims it’s because when I was a baby they had an overabundance of pumpkins in the garden, so she would feed me cooked pumpkin, a lot of it. All I know is that at Thanksgiving, I can‘t wait for pumpkin pie. And before I’m even finished with the first slice, I’m thinking about the second slice after it’s chilled in the refrigerator. Side note...I think pumpkin pie is the only pie you can eat with no silverware and no plate. You can just scoop it out of the pie pan with your hand and start enjoying. (Look around) Ok, maybe that‘s just me. But you get my point. We are not a grateful people. If we were, one slice of pie would be enough. We are too worried about getting the next thing even while the first thing is right in front of our faces or in our faces.
Many of you would be familiar with Romans 1. The end of Romans 1 ends with a long list detailing the depravity of man. But before we’re too quick to jump on that list of things at the end, I think it’s important for us to take a look at the start of this passage in Romans by reading verses 18-20. There are some old time Joshua’s Men alumni that should be familiar with these first couple verses.
Romans 1:18-20 (NIV84) The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – his eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.
But let’s read just one more verse.
Romans 1:21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.
They didn’t glorify God or give thanks to him. The lack of gratitude first led to futile thinking, then darkened, foolish hearts, and if you would keep reading in Romans 1, you would see this ongoing downward spiral. All because they lacked gratitude.
So, I’ll ask the same question I did a few minutes ago, are you a grateful person? I challenge all of us to begin to cultivate a deeper discipline of gratitude in our lives. You might do this by reflecting for a few minutes at the end of each day on events and people that you can be thankful for, start a gratitude journal, or make it a point when talking with others to bring up what you’re thankful for. Let’s have Gateway known for being full of grateful people.
Back to Psalm 9. In verses 3-6, it says, “When my enemies turn back, they stumble and perish before your presence. For you have maintained my just cause; you have sat on the throne, giving righteous judgment. You have rebuked the nations; you have made the wicked perish; you have blotted out their name forever and ever. The enemy came to an end in everlasting ruins; their cities you rooted out; the very memory of them has perished.”
Anytime I hear the word enemy in the Bible, I am always tempted to think of people. Now we may have some people that we would consider an enemy, but hopefully that list is short and getting shorter, not longer. But we all know who our greatest enemies are: Satan, sin, and the destruction they bring. The Bible tells us that the thief, that’s Satan, has come to steal, kill, and destroy. (John 10:10) Now THAT is an enemy. Where has God defeated that enemy in your life? Has he saved your marriage? He can. Has he brought your kids back to him? He can do that too. Could there be things that he has done for you to protect you from enemies that you didn’t even know about? God is faithful to fight our enemies. The bigger question is whether or not we are willing to call out to him to ask for his help to fight these battles for us.
One song I love is “Surrounded”. Here are the lyrics.
This is how I fight my battles (repeat 20 times)
It may look like I’m surrounded but I’m surrounded by you (repeat 10 times)
Repeat all of that 50 times.
I may be off on the number of repeats, but that’s the whole song. This is how we fight our battles...by being surrounded by our King. But here’s the catch...you cannot claim this is how you fight your battles if you insist on continually stepping outside of his protective covering. He will fight our enemies, but that also means we have to stop chasing our own way of doing things.
Verses 7 and 8, “But the LORD sits enthroned forever; he has established his throne for justice, and he judges the world with righteousness; he judges the peoples with uprightness.”
Let’s take a quick look at these couple verses.
How long has God been enthroned and how long will he be enthroned? Forever. Forever includes 2021, 2050, 1950, 1750, and 550...and yes, even 2020.
God is just, righteous, and upright. And that is how he judges. He is not partial. He is not playing favorites. He is just, righteous, and upright. Contrast that with how we would judge. We judge with bias, self-interest, and frankly indecisively. Over the past couple years, on many occasions, I just felt like I had no answers. How assuring it is to know that God is always just, righteous and upright – he always knows what to do. So what should I do when I have no answers and I feel like the world is pushing in on me?
Verses 9 and 10 give us that answer, “The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.”
The LORD will be your stronghold. When? In times of trouble. I love how the Pulpit Commentary describes these troubles. “a stronghold in times that are steeped in trouble”. (https://biblehub.com/commentaries/pulpit/psalms/9.htm)
We have a family friend who is a college student at Bowling Green and he attends Gateway. He is a coffee connoisseur. One Sunday after church, he came over to our house and he made coffee for us. This was not something you could do in your keurig or any standard coffee maker. In fact, he had scales and a timer for each part of the process. One step took precisely five minutes of steeping for the coffee to be just right. Can you imagine if he let that five minutes become seven, then ten, or twenty. The flavor would get more and more intense.
We’ve all experienced those times that we just feel like we’ve been steeped in troubles. Where the troubles feel like they are getting more and more intense. Something shocks us out of the blue, then another thing, then another, then another. It is in these times, when the troubles seem to not let up that God has said he will be our stronghold. He is willing and able to be our stronghold at other times, but so often, without being steeped in troubles, we refuse to recognize our need for his stronghold.
I want to shift gears just slightly. Throughout this passage, we have been using the word LORD for God. You’ll notice in many translations that LORD is in all caps. This is showing us that this is not just a generic word, lowercase lord, but the actual name of God, Yahweh. This is a personal, loving God that has given us his name, Yahweh, and is willing to protect you in his stronghold, it is this personal, loving God that will not forsake us. Remember back to verses 7 and 8. This is the just, righteous, and upright God who is willing and able to be our stronghold and he wants us to call on him by name. So, my question for us today. Do we really know God’s name?
Think of different people you know. Think of their name. Picture their face. Now, picture someone else, or the same person, that makes you laugh. I wish you could all see your faces right now. I could go through a range of emotions and ask you to think of a person that makes you feel those ways. Here’s my point. Whoever you thought of when I said to think of someone that made you laugh, most of you were not only able to think of someone, but it also changed what you looked like on the outside.
When I say the name Yahweh, that should do something to you. This is the God of the universe, the creator of all things. God allows you to know his name. And that should change something in your heart...and it should change it enough that it shows up, up here.
Does God’s name carry any meaning for you? Is it changing this [point to heart] and this [point to smile] on a daily basis? Friends, if you want God to be a stronghold when you are oppressed, you must lean into him, you must know him, you must experience him. God has not forsaken those who seek him. Even if he has seemed silent for some time, perhaps it is time to pursue him again in a fresh new way.
Picking up again in verses 11 through 14. Sing praises to the LORD, who sits enthroned in Zion! [that’s Jerusalem] Tell among the peoples his deeds! For he who avenges blood is mindful of them; he does not forget the cry of the afflicted. Be gracious to me, O LORD! See my affliction from those who hate me, O you who lift me up from the gates of death, that I may recount all your praises, that in the gates of the daughter of Zion I may rejoice in your salvation.
In verses 13 and 14, we see a slight change to more of a prayer. Let’s look at six key elements of this prayer. You are all familiar with the ACTS prayer: Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. Here we have a new acronym, GSFPSR.
Psalm 9:15-16 says, “The nations have sunk in the pit that they made; in the net that they hid, their own foot has been caught. The LORD has made himself known; he has executed judgment; the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands. Higgaion. Selah.
Let’s make no mistake as we read these verses, we will reap what we sow. If you dig a pit for someone else, you will fall into it. If you set out a net to catch someone else, you will be caught. By your own hands, you will be found guilty. In Galatians 6:7-9 it says, “Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. You can see from this that we have evidence in both the old and new testaments that this principle remains the same. You will reap what you sow.
I want to revisit this word, Higgaion. The word Higgaion seems to indicate a full stop. (Archibald G. Brown, Higgaion! sermon, August 17, 1873) A full stop and meditation on what has been said. Followed by the more common, Selah, or pause. So, let’s do that this morning. Let’s allow the weight of these words to sink in. For who in this room hasn’t been guilty of digging that pit, or hiding that net, or getting caught by the work of our own hands? None of us. For we are all guilty of sin.
Perhaps you need a Higgaion and a Selah in your life to pause, meditate, and reflect on the direction your life is headed. Is it time to turn back to God and follow his path, to begin to sow to righteousness, to begin to sow to the spirit? Pause, meditate, reflect.
Psalm 9:17 says The wicked shall return to Sheol, all the nations that forget God.
Sheol would be a way that we would say the grave. If you’re interested in learning a little more about what the word Sheol means, check out the Gateway Podcast episode 71. Also known as the longest podcast that Gateway ever recorded.
We can read the first half of this verse and all cheer that God will destroy the wicked, but then we want to breeze past the second part. Who among us has not forgotten God for a day, a week, a season of life? Perhaps even sitting here today you would confess, that means agree with God, that even though your outward actions haven’t changed much yet, you’re in a time when it could be said that you have forgotten God.
In a book I read recently, it had this to say about forgetting God. It resonated so much with me that I felt as if these words could be mine.
“The human condition is such that I spend my life struggling to be my own master and lord. I cling to the illusion that I am the god of my own life, and I go to any lengths to keep that illusion alive. Deep down inside, I know that my own kingship is inadequate, but I cannot accept that. I spend my life trying to prove to others and to myself that I am worthy to be lord. I am obsessed with doing, proving, having, showing, moving, winning, owning and on and on. These actions are my desperate attempts to prove to myself that I am the creator (my products) and the ruler (my control), and am adore-able (my achievements). Because it is a lie, because I am not any of those things, the proof will never be enough. I must constantly engage in more action, make more products, achieve more goals. If I could watch myself from a divine perspective, I’m sure that I would look as silly as a dog chasing his tail.” (“Armchair Mystic” by Mark E. Thibodeaux, 2001. Page 33)
And if I could take you back to my dog, Maalum. You and I look as silly as my dog chasing shadows while the real thing flutters right above our heads.
Continuing on from that book I read,
Even when I become a “good Christian,” when I am baptized, pray regularly, and am active in my church, the conversion process is not over. The human condition may not have as tight a grip on me, but it is not completely gone. There will still be a very strong part of me that is scrambling for the top. My tactics will change and become much more subtle and sophisticated. Instead of blatantly striving for power, position, wealth, I will now conceal this part of me. I will dress it up in an angelic robe. Now, instead of being the best man, I will strive to be the greatest minister [elder, Kidway worker, life group leader, deacon, usher]. Instead of having the most beautiful body, I will build in me the most beautiful soul. Instead of making the most money, I will spend the most on charity. Instead of doing the most for the boss, I will do the most for the church, the community, the poor, the world. Nothing has changed. I am still the center of my life. It is all about me: about my (Christian) efforts, my (altruistic) achievements, my (spiritual) beauty. It’s still me, chasing shadows. (Ibid. Page 34)
Can we just stop for a second and all acknowledge that this is how we are? Every one of us is chasing shadows. We may have different shadows that are our personal favorites, but we’re all chasing shadows. When are we going to stop chasing the shadows that this world offers and turn our eyes to the one true light that will get rid of the shadows and give us something true to run to? When will we remember God?
Psalm 9:18 says, “For the needy shall not always be forgotten and the hope of the poor shall not perish forever.”
Those that are needy or poor, whether its physically, emotionally, spiritually, your case is not forgotten. You will not face this pain forever. What should you do? First, call on Jesus. Second, allow your church family to come alongside you. Maybe it’s someone to talk to, to get some biblical counsel from, or maybe its help from the benevolence fund. Whatever your situation may be that makes you feel forgotten and poor, let the Gateway family come alongside of you and show you that God has not forgotten you.
Psalm 9:19-20 says, “Arise, O LORD! Let not man prevail; let the nations be judged before you! Put them in fear, O LORD! Let the nations know that they are but men!”
After an entire Psalm, the Psalmist looks at the king and says, “Arise!”. He told the king on his throne to get up! Now that is a gutsy move. And let me tell you what the king did, he Arose! I don’t think some of you are catching my drift.
The psalmist looks at the king and says, “Arise!” Although the psalmist didn’t know the day or the time, that is exactly what the king had in mind to do. He was going to arise to conquerthe enemy: sin, death, addiction, anger, depression.
Ok. I’m still not sure you’re getting what I’m saying. The folks at North Main got this on the first time around and are already standing up and cheering, hootin’ and hollerin’.
The psalmist turns, looks at the king, and says, “Arise!” This king, in his timing, arose. He stood up from that throne to fight a battle that you or I could never fight. He went to battle by sending his own son to live on this earth as a human being. His son, Jesus, lived a perfect life, he was falsely accused and was killed on a cross. Three days after being put in that tomb, he got up! Death couldn’t keep him in the ground! He arose! And when he got up, he overcame sin and death.
In that moment, he said man will not prevail, the nations will be judged, and we will all realize we are nothing but fallen human beings. BUT, if we will put our trust in him, we will see that he has given us a way to know him and to spend eternity with him.
Your sins can be forgiven, washed completely away, and you can spend eternity with him because he arose!
We have taken quite the journey through the throne room this morning. Thank you for joining it with me. I hope that through the course of going through Psalm 9, you have seen some things that challenge your thinking or actions. For you, maybe you need to think more correctly about God being in his proper place on the throne, maybe it’s having a heart of gratitude, or allowing God to be your stronghold. Maybe you’re chasing shadows and you need to stop and look to the one true king who Arose! Let’s pray.
God, thank you for your Word, the anvil that wears out hammers. I pray that as we compare our lives to the truths of Psalm 9 we would make the changes you are calling us to make. Amen.
As you go this week, pause, reflect, and meditate. Look up and stop chasing the shadows of this world and follow our risen king. You are sent.
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