Text:

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

Context, Context, Context: David, the shepherd/poet/king, wrote Psalm 9. Psalm 9 is sometimes categorized as a psalm or confidence or a psalm of thanksgiving. The reasons are straightforward: David recognizes and rejoices in the fact that God is the one most worthy of praise. He is the one from whom all blessings flow. He is to be the believer’s focus. Through most of the poem, David employs language of God as king, as ruler, as supreme. And when we get to lines 19-20, David is speaking of nations hostile to God and to God’s truth.

Teaching: David focuses on the theological posture of nations and people who oppose God. David prays that the nations would be judged before the holy judgment seat of God (v. 19), that they might learn to fear the Lord (v. 20a), and they would be humbled before God (v. 20b).

Encouragement: Throughout Scripture, God’s Word teaches that humility precedes honor, that pride is abominable before God. “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you” (James 4:10). Satan is the one who opposed the King of kings; he demanded the spotlight; he wanted to be the Most High. But God will not share his glory with another. God is the Creator and we are his creatures. And David, because he understands the times and what God’s people are to do, calls the nations (i.e., people) to humility before God so that, at the proper time and in the proper way, God might raise them up.