A Path through Chapter 9 - Tell of His Wonderful Deeds

 

There's a path, let's follow it We've started our look at the hymn book of the Psalms. Today it's chapter nine, this chapter helps us to start and get a bigger perspective as much focus is on the nations. We continue on with the style of lament too as David once again finishes on a high note. We'll break down this chapter, have some songs together, and hear from our guest speaker. I'm really excited about the worship music on this week's path, including an original song by our guest speaker Rebecca Beese. She along with her husband Russ will be sharing their thoughts on the chapter. They used to live in Basingstoke and in the past few years moved to Witney to lead Witney Community Church. So let's...get on the path

Psalm 9 For the director of music. To the tune of 'The Death of The Son'.  A psalm of David 1 I will give thanks to you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. 2 I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High. 3 My enemies turn back; they stumble and perish before you. 4 For you have upheld my right and my cause, sitting enthroned as the righteous judge. 5 You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked; you have blotted out their name for ever and ever. 6 Endless ruin has overtaken my enemies, you have uprooted their cities; even the memory of them has perished. 7 The Lord reigns forever; he has established his throne for judgment. 8 He rules the world in righteousness and judges the peoples with equity. 9 The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. 10 Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you. 11 Sing the praises of the Lord, enthroned in Zion; proclaim among the nations what he has done. 12 For he who avenges blood remembers;     he does not ignore the cries of the afflicted. 13 Lord, see how my enemies persecute me! Have mercy and lift me up from the gates of death, 14 that I may declare your praises in the gates of Daughter Zion,     and there rejoice in your salvation. 15 The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug; their feet are caught in the net they have hidden. 16 The Lord is known by his acts of justice; the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands.[c] 17 The wicked go down to the realm of the dead, all the nations that forget God. 18 But God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish. 19 Arise, Lord, do not let mortals triumph;     let the nations be judged in your presence. 20 Strike them with terror, Lord; let the nations know they are only mortal.

Our Psalm today starts with praise, often they do. Let's start also with praise, let's Raise a Hallelujah with Jonathan David and Melissa Helser.

This week we're going to hear our guest speakers right from the top. Russ and Rebecca give both a helpful and interesting perspective on our chapter, and I think it will aid us all on the path to watch this first. Take it away Russ and Rebecca.

I will tell of your wonderful deeds. This little line that David writes is one that we can really put into action. Sometimes we might think and maybe even worry about how can we share the gospel, how can we be witnessess for Jesus. This is a way that you and I can speak of His love to others. We can tell of the wonderful deeds of God. How we was there for us, how he has blessed us, how He is faithful and probably much more. If you think a bit about it you'll recognise that He has done so much within you, even in these trying times of a last months of the virus/lockdown situations God hasn't stopped doing deeds for you. I've been personally so blessed by the stories of healing that I've heard. We've prayed for some in our church family over the last year and have seen God heal, protect and restore. His deeds are good, no, they are wonderful and they can be shared. Who can you share with even today?

We find early in this Psalm that David is writing again about his enemies. Why is he so often? How come he is seemingly asking God to deliver him day after day and chapter after chapter?  For one he had many enemies. He was a man with a high position (king) so likely many who were after that spot. There was Saul who was consistently trying to catch him, after him for death. There were the many who followed Saul who chased after him, he was a wanted man but not for wrong-doing. This idea goes back to our last the Psalm we looked at chapter 7. It was all about how David was imploring God to thwart his enemies because of false accusation. He hadn't done anything but was being falsely accused.  When we think of our enemy, public enemy number 1 by far is the Devil. He seeks whom he may devour, he is the accuser of the brethren the one who is a wolf in sheep's clothing. If the Lord is for us in all ways then the devil is against in all ways. His spread is seen as all around as we live in a fallen world, one where the evidence of the devil is (d) evil throughout our culture. We are sadly influenced by the devil too, we make poor choices, hurt others with our words/actions, act selfishly, and we sin. The list goes on and on of our vices but the grace of God goes on and on through the sacrifice of Jesus. More good news and reality of who God is can be found in verse 4. God sits enthroned as the righteous judge and as vs 7 states He reigns forevermore.

This leads us into our next song. It's one that was written by our guest speaker Rebecca Beese. It is about a God who reigns, this was a key point that David made all the time in the Psalms. Here the lyrics and the link is below.    You are God, God of all birth, You are Lord of creation You are king, king of all life And you shall reign You are God, God of the world  You are Lord of the nations You are king, king of all tribes, and you shall reign Over life, You shall reign Over death, You broke the chains All the earth, Shall proclaim You reign, You reign   You are God, God of the skies, You are Lord of the universe You are king, king of the heavens, And you shall reign   You are God, God of the deep, You are Lord of all things You are king, king over all, and You shall reign   In the dark, in the night, In the bright shining light You reign, You reign In despair, in the pain, In the joy and the gain You reign, You reign

Here's You Reign from Rebecca's album called 'The Stories So Far'

Thoughts on verse 9: A refuge for the oppressed. At times it feels like the words of the Bible that were written some thousands of years ago were just penned yesterday. It doesn't take a sleuth to see oppression in our world today. When I read this verse my mind goes to the thousands if not millions of refugees who are seeking a better life, who are journeying to somewhere for safety and security. There are families who are looking for a stronghold in times of trouble. It's hard, when you see the pictures of children especially who are living in squalid camps, or attempting to cross borders with their families seeking a better life, the heart breaks.  When I see these scenes played out online or the television it causes me to do two things. Firstly pray for these awful situations, ones that are especially bad now like Syria and Yemen. Secondly it causes me to reflect upon my own children and I'm thankful that they are where they are, in a safe, and positive environment, in a country that is not war torn or famine raged. We really do have so much to be thankful for.

Vs 11 - proclaim to the nations: In the set of verses once again David is using the words proclaim and tell. He started with these, to tell of His wonderful deeds. Now the instruction is to proclaim to the nations what God has done. Not just to our neighbour, family or friends but to the nations. It used to be that proclaiming to the nations meant going overseas, possibly sailing away never to return home again. There are of course people who give their life as a sacrifice of moving abroad, sharing the gospel for life in that place. Increasingly though to proclaim among the nations has become much more attainable for everyone.  The nations come to us, whether that be the UK or the US if you look around you'll likely see the nations on your doorstep. You've probably already realised this, that to go means across the street as much as across the world. With the internet, the far reaches of Facebook, YouTube  and other social outlets sharing the good news with the nations is quite feasible, from your own home. It has been such a joy to have our weekly ZoomGroup meetings at LifeSpring attended by Annie Crowe in Uganda and Della Robinson in New York. That kind of reach did not always exist, in fact it's likely that it's happened even more with the lockdown and dependancy on platforms like Zoom.

When we read the early part of the Psalms we so often see the struggle. in David's head. He so much wants justice upon his enemies, almost reminding God that they who do wrong deserve judgment. On the flip side he writes much about remembering that God is a God of love, hope and care. These two perspectives are usually entwined, and again in the closing verses to our Psalm this big idea is played out.  Vs 17 - The wicked go to the realm of the dead, Vs 18 - God will never forget the needy Vs 19 - Arise, Lord do not let the mortals triumph, let the nations be judged in your presence.  Let's remember as we come to a close that the goodness of the Lord is always present, that the judgment of the Lord is an expression of His love and goodness.  Our last song today is one that has been on my heart so much lately, it is truly a powerful song, an expression of all that God is, turn it up and worship.

I could hear David singing a song our ending song today. If you've haven't heard Travis Ryan he is so worth a look on Spotify or You Tube. Here to wrap up our time on the path today is 'The Goodness of the Lord' by Travis Ryan.

Lord, lead me, in the path of righteousness, in the path that is safe for myself and my family. Lead me Lord through the trial, tribulations and struggle of everyday. Lead me Lord when I'm unsure of where to go, when I'm afraid of when to go, when I'm unclear of how to go. Lord make the path straight, Amen.

This coming week we'll be looking at chapter 11 of the Psalms. Our guest is David Oliver who is a businessman, speaker and author of numerous books, we look forward to his thoughts on the chapter.