279 – Psalm 9 – Yahweh Does

In continuing our study in Psalm 9 I’d like to consider the next five verses. First of all, I replaced “the LORD” with [Yahweh], because God’s name isn’t “the LORD”. The Hebrew says Yahweh so, in my opinion, the translations should too. 

Psalm 9:7-11 (NKJV)

          7       But [Yahweh] shall endure forever;

    He has prepared His throne for judgment.

           8       He shall judge the world in righteousness,

    And He shall administer judgment for the peoples in uprightness.

           9       [Yahweh] also will be a refuge for the oppressed,

    A refuge in times of trouble.

           10       And those who know Your name will put their trust in You;

    For You, [Yahweh], have not forsaken those who seek You.

           11       Sing praises to [Yahweh], who dwells in Zion!

    Declare His deeds among the people.

Look at how many times His name shows up in five verses. Notice that four times the Psalmist uses God’s proper name. One important Bible study principle is to notice repeated words in the passage we are studying. Clearly, the author provides emphasis on the words he uses many times. In verses seven through eleven it is clear that Yahweh, specifically Yahweh and no one else is the One in focus. 

If we were to consider the verses above these five, we would notice a contrast is offered between the wicked enemies and Yahweh. 

The wicked will be destroyed, “but Yahweh…”, as verse seven begins – Yahweh will endure forever, but where are His enemies? They are destroyed!

Notice the Psalmist tells us some things that Yahweh will do, and some things that He has already done. The first part of verse seven points to the eternality of Yahweh. He cannot be destroyed as His enemies were. He shall (future tense) endure forever.

The second half of verse seven intrigues me, “He has prepared His throne for judgment”. That’s past tense, but verse eight indicates he shall, but hasn’t yet judged the world in righteousness. Too often we just read past verses without stopping to consider the depth of their meaning. Have you stopped to consider when He will judge the world? 

2 Timothy 4:1 (NKJV)

1 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:

This is very clearly talking about the second coming of Christ and His millennial kingdom here on earth. Another clue that this is so is verse eleven, which says, “who dwells in Zion”. But the thing is, He isn’t dwelling in Zion. But He will when He returns.

One phrase we’ve all heard from others is, “don’t judge me”. I’m here to tell you that whether or not other people judge others, Yahweh most certainly will judge them – all of them. He will do it, according to Psalm 9 in righteousness. He will administer judgment, which I believe indicates more than just Yahweh thinking they have done wrong. He will administer or execute His judgment. There is most certainly a punitive component to His judgment implied here, which we know as the great white throne judgment (for non-believers).

Verse nine is such an encouragement. Yahweh, Himself is a safe place, a refuge for the oppressed and those who have trouble.

Let me ask you a question. Do you know the name of Yahweh? Not just have you heard it, but do you know it? Do you know the person who owns the name? Have you placed your faith in Yahweh? If not, what’s holding you back? What could possibly be holding you back?

John 1:12-13 (NKJV)

           12       But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 

           13       who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Jesus is who Psalm 9 is talking about. John chapter one can’t make it any clearer, “believe in His name”! Faith alone in Christ alone. What an amazing gift!