Psalm 9

1 To the chief Musician upon Muthlabben, A Psalm of David. I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.

Our problem is often a divided heart is it not? We hear in movies and songs such tripe as "The heart wants what the heart wants", "the heart won't lie" and "go with your heart". Well the Bible says the heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked [yes Reba... just ask Vince... the heart WILL lie!] And though the heart wants what it wants doesn't mean you have to give it what it wants. Since the heart is wicked, cursed by a fallen nature, giving it what it wants is not a good thing. Rather the heart must be brought into subject to the will and the will to the Word of God! So David says "I will praise... with my whole heart" [will first see?]

2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

2 I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High. [Sanctified will continues as David continues to praise the Lord not only for Who He is, and what He has done but also for what He will do]

3 When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence.
4 For thou hast maintained my right and my cause; thou satest in the throne judging right.
5 Thou hast rebuked the heathen, thou hast destroyed the wicked, thou hast put out their name for ever and ever.

[David speaks to the various people groups...]

[sinners]
6 O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end: and thou hast destroyed cities; their memorial is perished with them.
7 But the LORD shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment.
8 And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.
[seekers]
9 The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.
10 And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.
[the redeemed]
11 Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings.
12 When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.

[this contemplation causes David to break forth in prayer himself, acknowledging his own sins and failures and throwing himself upon the mercy and grace of God]
13 Have mercy upon me, O LORD; consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death:
14 That I may shew forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in thy salvation.

[a warning that sin does not, nor ever can, end well, nor does God's patience always wait]
15 The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken.
16 The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah.
17 The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.
18 For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever.

19 Arise, O LORD; let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged in thy sight.
20 Put them in fear, O LORD: that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah.
[a New Testament version might be "Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus."]