Afflicted in Every Way-Psalm 9

Afflicted in Every Way

Psalm 9
We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. 
2 Corinthians 4:8-9

This psalm is a psalm of hope for the oppressed and afflicted. David does not fear because his stronghold, his safe refuge, is the Lord. And the Lord’s sure promise stands, “I will never leave you, nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5). Whatever difficulty we face today, large or small, we have confidence that our Father is for us, and He will rise up and be gracious to us. 

Glad in God

9:1-2 “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. 

Let’s pray:
▫️And give thanks to the Lord for a way He has recently worked on our behalf. 
▫️We would rejoice in the Lord in our affliction. When our circumstance causes sorrow, may we be glad in the Lord.
▫️The Lord would put a a new song in our mouths as we walk through this difficulty, a song of praise to Him (Psalm 40:3).
▫️And recount and remember one time in His Word where the Lord triumphed over His enemies on behalf of His people. 

Righteous Sovereignty

9:3-6 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. 

Let’s pray:
▫️That we cling to the truth that He is on the throne, and the events of the world and our lives are not out of His sovereign control, even this present difficulty.
▫️That in His presence, our enemies would turn back, stumble, and perish. Because God is for us, who can be against us?
▫️That He will accomplish His purposes in our suffering.
▫️That in Him we will have peace. Although we have tribulation in this world, we can take courage because He has overcome the world (John 16:33).

A Stronghold for the Oppressed

9:7-10 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. 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. 

Let’s praise the Lord:
▫️He has reigned supremely from eternity past, continues to reign even now, and will reign forevermore.
▫️He reigns in justice. All He does is right and good. He never makes a mistake. Is there a circumstance that feels like it was a mistake or that God did not act in love toward us? Let’s remind ourselves that He is good and always does what is good.

Let’s pray:
▫️The Lord would be a stronghold and safe haven for us today.
▫️That when we feel oppressed and afflicted, He would give us abundant comfort.
▫️When we feel burdened excessively, beyond our strength, we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead, and we would set our hope in Him (2 Corinthians 1:8-9).
▫️In our time of trouble, the Lord would fortify our faith.
▫️The Lord would remove any fear and give us confidence in His great faithfulness.

Gracious to the Afflicted

9:11-16 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. 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. 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 pray:
▫️The Lord will take note of our cry for help and be gracious to us.
▫️The Lord would see our affliction and lift us up out of the pit.
▫️We would rejoice in His salvation. What rescue are we desiring from the Lord? Let’s give it to Him praying that His will be done.
▫️We would not lose heart knowing that our affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory (2 Corinthians 4:16-17).
▫️That we would see His grace at work in our difficulties, and we would recount His praises so others may see and rejoice in Him.

Arise, O Lord!

9:17-20 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. 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! Selah”

Let’s pray:
▫️We would trust the Lord that He has not forgotten us in our trouble.
▫️The God of hope would fill us with joy and peace in believing, and we would abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13).
▫️We would watch expectantly for the Lord, waiting for His help and deliverance.
▫️The Lord would arise on our behalf and our tribulation would not prevail against us.
‭
May the Lord do exceedingly abundantly above all that we could ask or think, for His glory and our good. I’m Jesus’ name. Amen. 

The eternity of divine sovereignty yields unfailing consolation.
C.H.Spurgeon 

Psalm 9 quote from the ESV

Photo credit to: Daniel Macura

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