The ABCs of Praise and Lament
Read Psalms 9–10
I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.—Psalm 9:1
In the preface to his commentary on the Psalms, John Calvin describes the book in this way, “I have been accustomed to call this book . . . ‘An Anatomy of all the Parts of the Soul’; for there is not an emotion of which any one can be conscious that is not here represented as a mirror.” The Psalms are a true reflection of the life we experience in a fallen world.
Psalms 9 and 10 belong together as one psalm in two parts. Psalm 9 is the first half of an acrostic that runs through Psalm 10. David begins with a rousing call to give thanks to the Lord (Ps. 9:1–2). He calls on people everywhere to rejoice because the Lord has defeated His enemies, established justice, and been a refuge for the poor and oppressed (vv. 3–10). David has experienced the truth that God does not forsake His children (v. 10). One of the ways that the Lord defeats the wicked is by allowing them to reap the natural results of their own actions, “the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands” (v. 16). The Lord reigns and “does not ignore the cries of the afflicted” (v. 12). The proper response to God’s deliverance is to celebrate His deliverance with God’s people in worship (v. 14).
At the cross, Jesus “disarmed the powers and authorities” (Col. 2:15). However, like David, we still struggle against “the powers of this dark world” (Eph. 6:12). At times we can long for justice and pray with David, “Arise, Lord, do not let mortals triumph; let the nations be judged in your presence” (v. 19). We can place our hope in the victory that has already been achieved. One day we will be able to sing, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever” (Rev. 11:15).
Go Deeper
Even as we await Jesus’ second coming and for all wrongs to be made right, are there times you have seen God provide a measure of justice in your life? What are ways in which God has met your needs that you can tell someone about today?
Pray with Us
It is so easy to get impatient, Lord. We wonder when You will return and when Your justice will prevail. Give us patience as we wait. Help us to trust that You will return at the right time to right all wrongs.
