Psalm 9

Take courage. The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed
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Text
Explanation
A psalm of thanksgiving. It is an acrostic as is ps119 and 7 others. See the introduction to Psalm 119.
 1 ¶ <<To the chief Musician upon Muthlabben, A Psalm of David.>> I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.
.2  I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou Most High.
  1 - I will praise Notice the superlative descriptions: "whole heart" and "all they marvellous works."
.3  When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence.
.4  For thou hast maintained my right and my cause; thou satest in the throne judging right.
.5  Thou hast rebuked the heathen, thou hast destroyed the wicked, thou hast put out their name for ever and ever.
  5 - Heathen Hebrew goyim or "nations." See on ps00201.
 6  O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end: and thou hast destroyed cities; their memorial is perished with them.
 6 - O enemy, destructions are finished forever! ... (NKJV)
.7  But the LORD shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment.
 8  And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.
   7 - Throne for judgment This was the general purpose of thrones of kings in Bible times. We can understand because the judicial and executive aspects were combined with kings. Compare ps12205.
.9  The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.
 10  And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.
   9 - Refuge This follows from the just judgment of verse 8
 11 ¶ Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings.
.12  When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.
  12 - Maketh inquisition The word is translated "require" in ge0905.
 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:
1.4  That I may shew forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in thy salvation.
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.15  The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken.
.16  The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah.
  15 - Heathen Or "nations." Compare ps00715.
  16 - Higgaion The Hebrew word found as "meditation" in ps01914, and as "solemn" in ps09203. The meaning is unclear. It may modify or describe the "selah." For "selah" see on ps00302.
.17  The wicked shall be turned into hell [the grave], and all the nations that forget God.
 18  For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever.
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.19  Arise, O LORD; let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged in thy sight.
 20  Put them in fear, O LORD: that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah.
  20 - Fear From morah, literally "teacher." It's possibly from an error in writing or copying.

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The talent of speech
Praise is the highest use of speech
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Other uses of this talent are seen in Acts 1:8; 1 Cor. 2:1-5; 1 Cor. 14; Eph 4:15; Col. 4:6; James 3:5-13; James 4:11; Prov. 25:11; Jer. 9:5.