The centerpiece of Psalm 9 is 9:10. The psalms are songs and prayers expressing the full range of human emotions & experiences. We can relate to their emotions and experiences, and we can also trust God as they did.
Trust means to rely on or put confidence in. Trust is based on knowledge. The Lord’s name represents him.
God’s word reveals his heart and his abilities so that we trust him. We receive eternal life when we trust in Jesus as the only sinless, crucified, and resurrected Lord Jn. 17:3.
There is an eternity of difference between knowing God and just knowing about God Mt. 7:21-23. When God draws us to believe in Jesus as Lord, his Spirit indwells us and we begin our walk in newness of life. We can get to know him, grow closer to him, and grow more like him.
How do we get to know him?
I. Seek him Ps. 9:10; 10:4; Jer. 29:10-13
Pride doesn’t seek God or think of giving account to him. Let’s seek God wholeheartedly. Seek him. Seek his will, guidance, healing, help, peace, strength, and wisdom. We seek him by prayer, his word, worship, godly fellowship, and service. The more we seek the Lord, the better we know him. The better we know him, the more we trust him.
II. Trust him Ps. 9:9, 10; 7:1, 2
God is trustworthy. He is faithful. He’s a refuge, a fortress for his people in times of trouble, even when it seems like evil is winning 10:1, 2. When people persecuted David, he knew the Lord well enough to trust him.
In Psalm 9, David trusted and praised God for his righteous judgment and justice on individuals and nations 9:4, 8, 16, 17. Some will be punished, others will be vindicated. The word for hell is also translated grave and pit.
The Lord is longsuffering and merciful, but mercy is not approval. God will right every wrong and banish all evil. Acts 17:30, 31 Let’s trust the Lord and his timing.
III. Praise him Ps. 9:1, 2, 11-14
The same attributes and virtues that lead us to trust God, lead us to praise him. Seek to discover God’s character and power in his word, and then praise him for who he is and what he does (praise, tell, rejoice, sing, declare). Praise, worship, and thanksgiving, lift our focus to the Lord and draw us closer to him, which helps us persevere when life is hard and people are mean. God lifts us from the gates of death, to praise him in the gates of Zion (purpose).
Do you know God as your Father and Jesus as your Lord?
As believers, every blessing in this life and the life to come, flows from knowing him.
How will you seek to know him better this week?
Will you trust him and praise him now?