Day 58: Psalm 9- Growing in Gratefulness

9 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 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.  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
 
Meditation
Are you a thankful person? Do you want to be a more thankful person? As my affection for Jesus grows I want to grow in gratitude. Thankfully this Psalm offers Divine direction toward this end.
 
Declaring the deeds of the Divine will lead to thankfulness of heart (1) and praises among the peoples (13).  When we recount the deeds of the Divine in our lives we will be glad and exult in the Lord (2).
 
Follow the direction of Divine work offered through the framework of Psalm 9 and you will grow in gratefulness.
 
The Lord works outward (& we have peace inward): Enemies and nations are subdued by His sovereign rule. (3-5) God alone is worthy of our trust as the stronghold of His people (9-10). The Lord will not forsake you! And you can believe this from your heart.
 
The Lord works downward so we will look upward: He rules from heaven and works justice & righteousness from His throne (6-8).
 
The Lord works personally: The Psalmist begs God to see his afflictions and bring salvation. (13-14) God works in your personal pain points, displaying the sufficiency of His grace.
 
The Lord works globally:  The power of the nations will wane and the needy will not be forgotten (15-20).
 
The Lord has done great things! And is doing great things in all directions, from your heart to the whole world. Name the deeds of the Divine to grow in gratitude and praise to our good and gracious God.
 
Richly Dwelling
-Are you a grateful person? Do you want to grow in gratitude and gladness?
 
-Using the categories in the meditation, name the deeds of God. Where do you see his wonderful works in your life intimately? In the universe infinitely?
 
-Who can you share with today, letting others know of the Lord’s wonderful works? When you speak verbally then your heart will fill with gratitude internally.
 
Key Verse
9:1 I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds.