Prayer Guide: Psalm 9

By Daniel Henderson

Psalm 9 (ESV)

To the choirmaster: according to Muth-labben. A Psalm of David.

 I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart;
    I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.
2 I will be glad and exult in you;
    I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

3 When my enemies turn back,
    they stumble and perish before[c] your presence.
4 For you have maintained my just cause;
    you have sat on the throne, giving righteous judgment.

5 You have rebuked the nations; you have made the wicked perish;
    you have blotted out their name forever and ever.
6 The enemy came to an end in everlasting ruins;
    their cities you rooted out;
    the very memory of them has perished.

7 But the Lord sits enthroned forever;
    he has established his throne for justice,
8 and he judges the world with righteousness;
    he judges the peoples with uprightness.

9 The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed,
    a stronghold in times of trouble.
10 And those who know your name put their trust in you,
    for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.

11 Sing praises to the Lord, who sits enthroned in Zion!
    Tell among the peoples his deeds!
12 For he who avenges blood is mindful of them;
    he does not forget the cry of the afflicted.

13 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,
14 that I may recount all your praises,
    that in the gates of the daughter of Zion
    I may rejoice in your salvation.

15 The nations have sunk in the pit that they made;
    in the net that they hid, their own foot has been caught.
16 The Lord has made himself known; he has executed judgment;
    the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands.       Higgaion.  Selah

17 The wicked shall return to Sheol,
    all the nations that forget God.

18 For the needy shall not always be forgotten,
    and the hope of the poor shall not perish forever.

19 Arise, O Lord! Let not man prevail;
    let the nations be judged before you!
20 Put them in fear, O Lord!
    Let the nations know that they are but men!     Selah

 

REVERENCE

God’s praiseworthy attributes displayed in this text:

  • He is worthy of wholehearted thanksgiving – v. 1
  • He has done wonderful deeds – vv. 1,11
  • His name is worthy of glad exultation and songs of praise – vv. 2,11
  • He is God Most High – v. 2
  • He confounds our enemies before His presence – v. 3
  • He executes righteous judgement – vv. 4, 7-8 
  • He rebukes and brings an end to the wicked- vv. 5-6, 15-17 & 19-20 
  • He is our stronghold in times of trouble – v. 9
  • He desires to be known – v. 10
  • His name is trustworthy – v. 10
  • He does not forsake those who seek Him – v. 10
  • His is enthroned before His people – v. 11
  • He remembers the cry of the afflicted and needy– vv. 12, 13 & 18
  • He is gracious when we call on Him – v. 12
  • He lifts us up from death – v. 12
  • He gives us joy in His salvation – v. 14
  • He is the hope of the poor – vs. 18

POSSIBLE PRAYER PROMPTERS:

  • Lord, with my whole heart, I want to thank you for _________________.
  • As I think of your wonderful deeds in my life, I praise you for the time when You ___________________.
  • I sing praise to you because your name is __________________________.
  • God Most High, You are exalted over _________________.
  • Thank You that when _____________________  (specific times of personal trouble) You were my stronghold.

RESPONSE

  • Because you are the righteous judge, I submit my unrighteous thoughts, words and deeds before you in humble confession.  Specifically, I surrender __________________. 

REQUESTS

  • Because Your name is ___________________, I will trust you for _________________
  • I cry out to You for grace because ______________________ (some area of affliction) 
  • Be a stronghold for  ______________________ (name) as they encounter the trouble of ______________________. 
  • I pray that You will exalt your name in the nation of ___________________ and execute Your righteous judgment. 
  • Help me to tell of your deeds/recount your praises today as I _______________________.

READINESS

  • Arise O Lord and help me to prevail over ___________________________  (area of temptation or evil) 
    • If praying as a group, respond antiphonally after each prayer by declaring together: “We rejoice in Your salvation!”