For what sorts of things are you thankful? I suppose most of us would list our relationships or possessions. We might even include God’s wondrous creation and His even more wondrous love for sinners like us. But in Psalm 9, David sings a song of praise to God primarily because of His justice, the righteous way He judges all the nations (verse 4).

Now, David had lots of personal experience on this score (verse 3). As he wrote, perhaps he recalled the way that King Saul had tried for years to kill him, only to die in battle and thus leaving David to inherit the kingdom God had promised him. But David also broadened his vision, pointing out how God had brought down so many wicked nations such as the Philistines. In fact, David himself had participated in God’s judgment on many of these godless peoples by defeating them in battle.

But God doesn’t have to use faithful agents like David to accomplish his will. In fact, in verses 15 and 16, David marvels at the way God uses the wickedness of many nations to bring about their own downfall. And God still allows those who place their trust in money or pleasure or pride to be consumed by the objects of their affections.

And so as David remembers the way God has accomplished justice in the past, he is confident that God will continue to do justice in the future, not forsaking His people, but being a stronghold for all those who are oppressed (verses 8-9). And knowing the tremendous price Christ paid on the cross, can’t we have the same confidence? For while the cross demonstrates the penalty that all our sins have earned, because Jesus took that penalty upon Himself we can also take comfort that God will keep His promise to forgive and cleanse all those who put their trust in Him (verse 10). What better reason could we have to give God our thanks and praise?

Psalm 9 (NASB)

For the choir director; on Muth-labben. A Psalm of David.
I Will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart; I will tell of all Thy wonders.
2 I will be glad and exult in Thee; I will sing praise to Thy name, O Most High.
3 When my enemies turn back, They stumble and perish before Thee.
4 For Thou hast maintained my just cause; Thou dost sit on the throne judging righteously.
5 Thou hast rebuked the nations; Thou hast destroyed the wicked; Thou hast blotted out their name forever and ever.
6 The enemy has come to an end in perpetual ruins, And Thou hast uprooted the cities; The very memory of them has perished.
7 But the LORD abides forever; He has established His throne for judgment,
8 And He will judge the world in righteousness; He will execute judgment for the peoples with equity.
9 The LORD also will be a stronghold for the oppressed, A stronghold in times of trouble,
10 And those who know Thy name will put their trust in Thee; For Thou, O LORD, hast not forsaken those who seek Thee.
11 Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion; Declare among the peoples His deeds.
12 For He who requires blood remembers them; He does not forget the cry of the afflicted.
13 Be gracious to me, O LORD; Behold my affliction from those who hate me, Thou who dost lift me up from the gates of death;
14 That I may tell of all Thy praises, That in the gates of the daughter of Zion I may rejoice in Thy salvation.
15 The nations have sunk down in the pit which they have made; In the net which they hid, their own foot has been caught.
16 The LORD has made Himself known; He has executed judgment. In the work of his own hands the wicked is snared. Higgaion Selah.
17 The wicked will return to Sheol, Even all the nations who forget God.
18 For the needy will not always be forgotten, Nor the hope of the afflicted perish forever.
19 Arise, O LORD, do not let man prevail; Let the nations be judged before Thee.
20 Put them in fear, O LORD; Let the nations know that they are but men. Selah.