March 3rd, 2013
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

In Times of Trouble

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

Almighty God, I need You. Pardon my sin, realign me with Your will, restore me with counsel from Your Word.

Read Psalm 9:1-20

[1] For the director of music. To the tune of “The Death of the Son.” A psalm of David. 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. [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.

Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.

Meditate

“Teach me thy way, O Lord … Help me to walk aright / More by faith, less by sight” (B. Mansell Ramsey, 1849-1923).

Think Further

This is an acrostic psalm, each verse beginning with a successive letter (approximately) of the Hebrew alphabet, but only going as far as the first half of the alphabet. The second half is the basis of Psalm 10. This structure explains the apparent jerkiness of the subject matter. The psalm does not present a narrative of David’s troubles, nor does it specify exactly what they are. He has “enemies,” adversaries in war, who do not know the God of Israel.

David does the same thing as the writer to the Hebrews. In times of trouble he reminds himself of what he knows of God. He trusts God, gives thanks to him and praises him. He tells of his wonders–in part by writing this psalm. He lists a number of things that he can count on God to do, even if it appears on the face of it that the enemy is strong. The statements he makes are expressions of faith, not descriptions of what he sees around him.

What an excellent exercise! What do you do in times of trouble? What makes the difference between the person whose faith shines even in difficult times and the person who drowns in misery? Our culture loves to dwell on the problems, analyzing them, looking for causes and people to blame. Theology should be no dull academic subject, but the consideration of all we know about the God who loves us and gave himself for us. Why not turn to theology as an anchor for the soul? Since the coming of Christ we know so much more than David did about what God is like. What can you add to this psalm to make it a New Testament song of praise? What suggestions can you find in Hebrews?

Apply

Write a psalm of praise to the God of the New Testament. It doesn’t matter if it’s disjointed. You may even like to use the English alphabet for structure.

Closing prayer

Father, when times are difficult, direct me to You and away from my troubles. May I be reminded of who You are and what You can do.

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