Responding When You Are Attacked, Part 2

Psalm 9 (Cont)

V8 And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness. 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. 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. 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.

V. 8 says that God shall judge the world in righteousness. 1 Co. 1:30,31 tells us from a New Testament perspective that Christ is our righteousness. We must not confused RIGHTEOUSNESS with FAIRNESS. There is no obligation upon God to answer to our sense of fairness or to explain Himself to man. When we read that God judges the world in righteousness we understand that from a New Testament viewpoint God judges the world IN CHRIST because Christ is our righteousness. What that means is that the judgement of God will be based upon what men did with Jesus and how they responded to the claims of Christ. In the final analysis the unpardonable sin is the refusal to accept Jesus Christ as Lord and savior.

V. 9 says that God is a refuge for the oppressed and a refuge in times of trouble. When we have storms in the Midwest we go to the storm shelter. Hardened storm bunkers that can withstand tornados are big business. Where do we run when we are being oppressed by the enemy and need a refuge? We run to God. What does that mean? It means we pray – put our trust in Him and make our case before the throne. As v. 10 declares this is the resort of those who know God’s name and God will never forsake them that seek Him out in times of difficulty. It may seem like it at times because we don’t want to wait for His solution OR we go to Him and then don’t listen or obey what He tells us to do.

V. 12 says that God makes inquisition for blood when He moves in our behalf. What does this mean? The blood that God is inquiring after is not the blood of vengeance. The blood that God looks for is the blood of the sacrifice. In the Old Testament this was the blood of a sacrificial animal – that represented the blood on the door posts of Israel when the death angel passed over. For us it is the blood of Christ. When you are in trouble and you ask God to deliver you – make your case not because of your good works but because of the blood of Christ. There is only one thing that motivates God and in fact by which He obligates Himself to act – and that is on the basis of the shed blood of Calvary.

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.

In v. 15 we see that the heathen are taken in the pit they made for David. Many times you will see plans and purposes made against you that turn against those that devised them. The important thing is not to take matters into your own hands. V. 18 says that the needy will not be forgotten or perish forever. God will act in your behalf – unless you refused to take your hands off the situation. This is an important aspect of seeing answers to prayer. When you make your case to God then you go about your business – refusing to be part of the problem but rather being part of the solution.

Sometimes we continue to be part of the problem because we keep trying to fix things. Learn to take your hands off. Refuse to be manipulated by people or deceived by your own sense of illegitimate obligation. Sometimes we continue to be part of the problem because we want to defend ourselves against falsehood or personal attacks. First of all – never listen to your critics. Never listen to the critic that speaks against you unless you are willing to repent based on what that critic says and submit to them as the authority in your life. Go to God. You do not have to know what is going on or being said in the enemy’s camp. Keep obeying God. Keep trusting in God. Continue to make your case before God on the merits of the shed blood of Christ. In the end as v. 19 declares man will not prevail against you

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