PSALMS FOR EVERY SEASON OF THE SOUL

PSALMS FOR EVERY SEASON OF THE SOUL THANKSGIVING AND PRAISE: PSALM 9 NOVEMBER 23, 2014

BRENTWOOD BAPTIST CHURCH PSALM 9 NOVEMBER 23, 2014 TEACHING PLAN PREPARATION > Spend the week reading through and studying Psalm 9. Consult the commentary provided and any additional study tools (such as a concordance or Bible dictionary) to enhance your preparation. > Determine which discussion points and questions will work best with your group. > Pray for our pastors, the upcoming group meeting, your teaching, your group members, and their receptivity to the study. HIGHLIGHTS BIBLICAL EMPHASIS: Psalm 9 praises God for ruling the earth with justice (Ps. 9:1-8). God will not forget or abandon His children (Ps. 9:9-12) and will rescue them from all forms of injustice (Ps. 9:13-16). True to His character, He will respond to His people s prayers for justice (Ps. 9:17-20). TEACHING AIM: The goal of the praise and thanksgiving Psalm is to lead us to reflect on the very nature and character of God. As we prepare for Thanksgiving, Psalm 9 is a powerful call to remember God s gracious acts and that God never forsakes or forgets His people. 2 Thanksgiving and Praise: Psalm 9 Brentwood Baptist Church

TEACHING PLAN NOVEMBER 23, 2014 INTRODUCTION As your group time begins, use this section to help get the conversation going. 1 Recall movies, books, or TV shows where the bad guy wins in the end (for example, Braveheart). Why do we feel good when the good guys win, or the bad guys get what s coming to them in a movie or a TV show? How do we feel if the bad guys win? Why do we find this so disagreeable? 2 What are some of the universal problems that make life unfair (such as loss, betrayal, or injustice)? 3 As Christians, how should we deal with injustice? What is God s role in righting earthly wrongs? What is His timetable for doing so? Whoever said life is fair? Certainly not anyone who has experienced loss, betrayal, or injustice. Most adults have some experience with life s unfairness. Maybe they ve been on the receiving end of false accusations or been the victims of racial prejudice. The question is: How do we deal with injustice? As believers, we trust God and work with Him to make right every injustice His people suffer. We also hold on in hope to the truth that a day will come when Jesus will return, and He will right all of the world s wrongs once and for all. UNDERSTANDING Unpack the biblical text to discover what Scripture says or means about a particular topic. > Have a volunteer read Psalm 9:1-8. 3 Thanksgiving and Praise: Psalm 9 Brentwood Baptist Church

TEACHING PLAN NOVEMBER 23, 2014 What do we learn about God in these verses? What might be some of the wonderful works of the Lord to which David was referring in verses 1-4? In verse 2, David said he would boast about the Lord. Why are thanksgiving and praise such important parts of our relationship with God? Jesus accused the religious leaders in His day of honoring God with their lips, but not with their hearts (Mark 7:6-7). They practiced the traditions of their day, but neglected the spirit behind God s commands. God, however, was not calling them to follow their traditions; He was calling them to a personal relationship with Him. We know today that such a relationship comes through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 10:9-10). Naturally, our worship of God should include thanksgiving that comes from our hearts. We can exalt Him in song as well. The most important way we demonstrate our gratitude for our relationship with Him is by surrendering our lives to His sovereign purpose. What did God do to right the wrongs that David knew about or experienced? How does David s confidence that God will make right every wrong encourage you? How would beginning your day with praise to God for what He has already done set the tone for the day? In verses 4-6, David recalled how God had upheld his cause, judged righteously, rebuked the nations, and destroyed the wicked. We can trust God to make right every wrong. When we face difficult challenges, we must remember that God is in control, and that He rules 4 Thanksgiving and Praise: Psalm 9 Brentwood Baptist Church

TEACHING PLAN NOVEMBER 23, 2014 with justice. We may not understand all that is happening in our lives. Still, we can choose to trust Him no matter what (Hab. 3:16-19). Ultimate justice may not come in this life, but God s Word assures us it will ultimately come (Eccl. 12:13-14). > Have a volunteer read Psalm 9:9-12. What else do we learn about God in these verses? How do you reconcile The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed in verse 9 with all the injustices we see against those who are oppressed in today s world? In this passage, David testified about God s absolute trustworthiness. What are the reasons he said we should trust God? David affirmed that God takes note of His people s afflictions and acts on their behalves. Trouble describes times of distress when people feel their circumstances pressing in on them. They can rely on God s protection. The expression those who know your name does not merely describe those who are aware of God s name, but also those who have a relationship with Him by faith. The word trust also means rely on and denotes deep faith (Prov. 3:5). What hope does this psalm give people suffering injustice? The Lord will never abandon His people. When we face difficult circumstances, we can call out to Him. He will take appropriate action in His perfect timing. At the same time, the Bible does not instruct Christians to do nothing in response to society s injustices. We should do all we can to correct injustice in our relationships and communities. 5 Thanksgiving and Praise: Psalm 9 Brentwood Baptist Church

TEACHING PLAN NOVEMBER 23, 2014 > Have a volunteer read Psalm 9:13-20. Having acclaimed God s past justice and affirmed His continued dependability, David appealed for present and future deliverance. What was David s request in verse 13? What reason did he give for making it (v. 14)? What does David s motive say about his heart for God? Verse 13 gives us the only indication in this psalm that David was facing ongoing affliction as he wrote. How would you describe his attitude throughout this psalm? How could we apply this insight to our conversations, and even to our prayers? David appealed to God, asking Him to be gracious. Grace is God s undeserved favor that He extends toward sinful people. David was not claiming God s intervention as his right; rather, he humbly asked the LORD of his life to consider his affliction. David asked God to be gracious and deal with his (David s) enemies. APPLICATION Help your group identify how the truths from the Scripture passage apply directly to their lives. We can trust God to make right every wrong, because He is in control and He is just. Our confidence that God will never abandon us encourages us to seek His help in times of trouble. When we are confident that God will make right the injustices His people have suffered, we can relinquish the need to seek revenge. 1 In what area of your life do you need to express to God your confidence in Him to make right every wrong? 6 Thanksgiving and Praise: Psalm 9 Brentwood Baptist Church

TEACHING PLAN NOVEMBER 23, 2014 2 How would the act of thanksgiving and praise transform something you are dealing with at this time? 3 How could you demonstrate that, even in the midst of trouble, your focus is on rejoicing in God s salvation and on what He has done for you? 4 How has God shown His grace to you? What impact does the truth of the gospel have on how you view the world s injustices? Our salvation today rests on God s grace. None of us deserve what we receive from Him. All stand before Him as sinners in need of forgiveness (Rom. 3:23). God s Holy Spirit begins to live in us when we place our faith in Christ (Eph. 1:13). He will work all the events of our lives for our good and for God s glory (Rom. 8:28). A day is coming when God will make right every wrong either in this life or in the life to come. P R A Y Give your group members a few minutes to voice aloud their own prayers of thanksgiving and praise. Then close by thanking God for the grace that He has shown you in Christ and the hope we have in Christ s return. 7 Thanksgiving and Praise: Psalm 9 Brentwood Baptist Church

TEACHING PLAN NOVEMBER 23, 2014 FOLLOW UP Midway through this week, send a follow-up email to your group with some or all of the following information: > Questions to consider as they continue to reflect on what they learned this week: What changes for you when you actively pursue gratitude to God for His grace and protection? Have you stopped to offer a prayer of thanksgiving and praise to God today? If not, stop and do that now. > A note of encouragement, following up on any specific prayer requests mentioned during your group gathering. > The challenge to memorize Psalm 9:1-2. 8 Thanksgiving and Praise: Psalm 9 Brentwood Baptist Church

COMMENTARY NOVEMBER 23, 2014 PSALM 9 9:1. The word thank comes from a verb that in its basic form means to throw. Some interpreters believe this connection may suggest the whole person is active in expressing gratitude. The words with all my heart may confirm this suggestion. David did not want his thanksgiving to come merely from his lips only, but from the core of his being. Wonderful works describes amazing acts of God that only He can do (Ps. 119:18). David wanted to give personal testimony to God s majesty and power. Notes 9:2. David intended that his personal commitment to rejoice and boast in God would motivate others to do the same. The name David used to describe God further testified to His character. Most High translates a Hebrew term that expresses God s transcendence and sovereignty. It occurs commonly in the Psalms (Ps. 92:1), though Abraham also knew and used the name (Gen. 14:22). 9:3. David then shifted to thanking God for protecting him from his enemies. Those who opposed him would retreat, stumble, and perish as God intervened on David s behalf. The language David used reminds the reader of a military battle, but the words no doubt also could apply, in a figurative sense, to other opposition he faced. 9:4. David affirmed that God had upheld him. The words translated my just cause literally mean my justice, my cause. This verse depicts a courtroom scene and the resolution of legal cases. God rules over all His creation; indeed, He occupies the highest throne in the universe. The Law of Moses commanded earthly judges to pursue justice and to avoid showing partiality in any way (Deut. 16:18-20). David declared that God provided the ultimate example of a righteous judge. 9:5. God had rebuked the nations for their sins. The word wicked is singular and highlights how God carefully rooted out and destroyed each bit of evil that He found. The Lord took vengeance on His enemies and erased their names forever and ever. Their lives ended up amounting to nothing as others quickly forgot them. The words forever and ever stress the utter finality of God s judgment. 9 Thanksgiving and Praise: Psalm 9 Brentwood Baptist Church

COMMENTARY NOVEMBER 23, 2014 9:6. David did not give the identity of this enemy. Likely, he was speaking of anyone who dared oppose God and His ways. Only eternal ruin (see v. 6) awaited such individuals. The word uprooted commonly described God s judgment of ancient nations and cities (Jer. 12:14-15). The very memory of them has perished echoes the theme of Psalm 9:5. Life would go on as if God s enemies never had even existed. Notes: 9:7. Verses 7 and 8 provide the basis for the details of verses 3-6. The structure of the language emphasizes the sovereignty of the Lord over and against earthly rulers. Their kingdoms last only a short time until God determines to judge them. But He sits enthroned forever, with no one greater than Him. God Himself had established his throne, because no one else ranked higher. The Hebrew word translated judgment occurred earlier in verse 4 ( just ). Here, it denotes the just verdicts God imposes as He rules the nations. 9:8. Again David emphasized God s personal role in upholding justice. The word judges is related to the words judgment (v. 7) and just (v. 4). God can judge the world because it belongs to Him (Ps. 24:1). As its Owner, He deals with its inhabitants according to His perfect character. The word translated executes judgment is related to the term cause in Psalm 9:4. As the peoples come before Him, He renders just verdicts regarding them. The word fairness has straightness as its basic idea. To stray to the right or left means departing from God s clear will (Jos. 1:7). God, likewise, is true to His own character; He is unlike the whimsical, arbitrary false gods that pagan nations worshiped. David praised God for ruling justly over all the nations and for judging the world with righteousness. On a personal level, David thanked God for upholding his just cause. 9:9. The word refuge denotes a high place that affords safety and protection from enemy attack. Many psalms describe the Lord as such a refuge or stronghold (Ps. 18:2, stronghold ). Oppressed designates an individual crushed in spirit. Its appearance in connection with the term fatherless in Psalm 10:18 suggests it describes underprivileged people of society. David affirmed that God takes note of His people s afflictions and acts on their behalf. Trouble describes times of distress when people 10 Thanksgiving and Praise: Psalm 9 Brentwood Baptist Church

COMMENTARY NOVEMBER 23, 2014 feel their circumstances pressing in on them. They can rely on God s protection. 9:10. The expression those who know your name does not merely describe those who are aware of God s name, but those who have a relationship with Him by faith. The word trust also means rely on and denotes deep faith (Prov. 3:5). Believers can have confidence God has not abandoned them no matter how difficult their situation! The word translated seek also can mean inquire into and denotes a careful, deliberate seeking after someone or something. The word study described Ezra s diligent study of God s Word (Ezra 7:10). 9:11. The command sing is in the plural; David called everyone to sing the praises of the Lord. The description of God as the One who dwells in Zion does not imply God s sovereignty was limited to being over Jerusalem or Israel. Zion was the site where God had chosen to place His name, to display His glory before His people (1 Kings 9:3). Rather, God s people need to proclaim His deeds among the peoples. Many psalms call on God s people to help people in other nations come to a saving knowledge of the one true God by singing His praises (Ps. 18:49; 57:9). 9:12. The word seeks is the same word that occurred in verse 10. Here it describes God s careful seeking out of those who oppress others. Bloodshed always denotes some kind of injustice, often against those who are in the right, but cannot defend themselves (Ez. 7:23; Mic. 3:10). The Hebrew word translated remembers typically describes an act of remembering accompanied by action (Gen. 8:1; 19:29). God not only remembers His people, but also moves to rescue them. The afflicted are victims of oppression and injustice. The word cry always connotes a shout of alarm or distress (Ex. 3:9; 12:30). God will require a reckoning for the injustices that evildoers commit against them. He always sees His people s plight and will move to rescue them. 9:13. David appealed to God, asking Him to be gracious. Grace is God s undeserved favor that He extends toward sinful people. David had made the same request after he sinned with Bathsheba (Ps. 51:1). David was not claiming God s intervention as his right; rather, he humbly asked the LORD of his life to consider (literally, see ) his affliction, a form related to afflicted 11 Thanksgiving and Praise: Psalm 9 Brentwood Baptist Church

COMMENTARY NOVEMBER 23, 2014 in verse 12. David asked God to be gracious and deal with his (David s) enemies. The words gates of death described David s situation at a low point in his life as enemies closed in on him. A city gate was a place where people entered the city and often conducted the city s business (Ruth 4:1). The expression probably means David believed he was about to enter the state of death (Ps. 107:18). 9:14. David desired deliverance from his enemies so he could live to praise God. The Hebrew word for praises is related to the word for hallelujah. The word salvation here probably denotes physical deliverance from David s affliction, though David certainly also rejoiced in his spiritual salvation. The gates of Daughter Zion represented a fitting contrast to the gates of death (v. 13). He would enter Jerusalem rejoicing and praising God for the salvation he enjoyed. 9:15. The nations designates in particular those peoples who opposed David. They experienced self-inflicted judgment as God turned their evil plans back on them. The pit they made captured them, and the net they... concealed ensnared them. God anticipated their deeds and used their own devices against them. 9:16. David announced that the LORD had revealed himself. He had done so as He executed justice by striking down his (David s) enemies. Wicked again is singular, denoting the particular attention God gives to righting wrongs. He judges sin wherever He finds it. The work of their hands provides the means for the downfall of his enemies. David did not know when God would judge them, but he knew God would and left judgment in His hands. 12 Thanksgiving and Praise: Psalm 9 Brentwood Baptist Church