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.
I will be glad and exult in you;
I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.
Before we begin our study of Psalm 9, we need to have an introduction so we can view the whole scope of the psalm before diving in to dig deeper and separate the components, verse by verse. Most Christians who read their Bibles, know that Psalm 119 with 176 verses, is the longest chapter in the Bible. It is divided into twenty-two sections or paragraphs. Each section is 8 verses long. And each verse of each section begins with the same letter of the Hebrew alphabet to form a Hebrew acrostic. In the same way, David constructed Psalms 9 and 10 in unity. They both form one Hebrew acrostic with 22 sections; each verse of each section begins with the same Hebrew alphabet, just as Psalm 119 does. Both the Septuagint (the first Greek translation of the Old Testament Scripture) and the Vulgate (the Latin translation of the Old Testament Scripture) place Psalms 9 and 10 together as one Psalm. Today, we begin our study of Psalm 9. It must be noted that the Holy Spirit, guided the human instruments to canonize Scripture so that Psalm 9 follows the other Psalms in their order. This is a psalm of victory over evil, or rather, over the enemy who was silenced because of the praise that came from the voices of babes and infants. With anticipation, we look forward to what the Spirit will teach us as we study this Psalm.
><> ><> Devotion <>< <><
We begin our study with today’s passage, Psalm 9:1-2. First, the title of the Psalm is addressed to the choirmaster. Therefore, we can only presume that this Psalm is part of the Jewish liturgy as instructed by King David. The Psalm is to be either sung to the tune of, or by the instrument of Muth-labben. This term is unknown to us today. As Sprugeon suggests, the significance for us today is the orderly instruction that is required when we sing, pray, gather to worship, and give our praises to God.
Secondly, the first two verses of today’s passage have the same repeating clauses in Hebrew. These clauses were easily translated into our vernacular, and as you can see, all four sentences begin with the same expression. This emphasizes the fact that David is making a dutiful resolve or commitment to the Lord for all the great things He has done. Notice the repetition: “I will give thanks,” “I will recount,” “I will be glad and exult,” and “I will sing praise.” We, like David, need to have a resolve to do what is pleasing to the Lord. We need to be grateful and come to the Lord with thanksgiving in our hearts. Remember how David was slandered in Psalm 7. With all the trouble that was against him, yet, David found comfort and rest when he recounted all the benefits that come from the Lord his God. With thanksgiving, David gave praises to his Lord. Praise will not only melt the hearts of those who are embittered with melancholy because of slander, but it will restore them with joy and gladness of heart. Additionally, praise, even from babes and infants, will stop and silence the enemy. Oh, how we need to come boldly to our God with a grateful heart that sings praises to Him who is Lord of lords!
><> ><> Prayer <>< <><
Lord God and Savior, who richly lavishes His love upon me, making me a child of God. O Lord, may I always recount and see the benefits of being in your grace and mercy! May I always sing your praises, even when I am feeling poorly or when I suffer blows from my enemy! But most of all, may I always bring glory, honor, and praise to you in whatever I do! In Jesus’s Name, I pray, amen!