Verses 1-2 To the chief Musician upon Muthlabben, A Psalm of David. 1 I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works. 2 I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.
The meaning of “Muthlabben” is not really understood, but it only occurs two times and it can be translated as “death”. The writer of this Psalm is identified as King David. In it he makes a decision to praise the LORD and to share with others His “marvelous works”. Although he is an earthly king, David knows that there is a King much greater than he who is the “Most High”. There is none other like Him. David wants everyone to know this and he is not afraid to say what is on his heart. He puts maximum effort into this melody of praise and worship of his God.
Application: Every believer should recognize the greatness of the LORD and be willing to praise and worship and share the Gospel with their whole heart. God does not want a lukewarm effort. He wants our best: our best time, our best treasure, our best effort, our best thoughts, and our best actions. How can we please Him if we give him the last moments of the day before falling asleep for Bible study and prayer, or if we give Him from our income what is left over at the end of the month for a tithe or an offering? We need to put Him first in our lives, before family, before friends, before careers or jobs, before possessions, and before finances. After all, He is the King of Kings.
Verses 3-4 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.
David had assurance that his enemies would be dealt with by the LORD. Why was he assured? Because it is through praise and worship that God works for His people. David knew this and experienced this throughout his lifetime, especially when fleeing from King Saul and his soldiers. David had complete faith in the LORD and in His providence, provision and protection.
Application: Going through a rough patch in life? Try praising and worshiping the LORD, immersing yourself in His word, and then expect a miracle.
Verse 5 Thou hast rebuked the heathen, thou hast destroyed the wicked, thou hast put out their name for ever and ever.
Scripture indicates that each person has his name written in what is called the book of life. Each name can be blotted out and removed which means that those people will not be given eternal life with Jesus. The wicked are blotted out of the book for ever.
Verse 6 O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end: and thou hast destroyed cities; their memorial is perished with them.
David does not identify the enemy in this Psalm, but here the enemy is singular, whereas in verse 3 it is plural. The enemies of David are personal and known to him. This enemy is one that destroys whole cities and can only be Satan. The destruction does not have to be physical in nature. By deceiving people so that they fail to repent of their sins and follow the LORD, Satan has destroyed them spiritually and the consequences of this is eternity in Hell. In this world the believer has three enemies. They are the world with its unrighteous influence, the flesh that we live in that tends to always want to do the wrong thing, and the Devil or Satan who wants to destroy all of God’s people.
Verses 7-8 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.
When accused, the believer does not stand in a physical court that is biased against Christianity and all things holy as seen in the judicial system today. He stands before God who judges rightly with no bias or agenda. David takes comfort in that and knows that the LORD shall rule in his favor and rule against his enemies.
Verses 9-10 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.
These verses contain the promise that Jesus gave to his followers before he ascended into Heaven in that He would never leave them or forsake them. He is always present in each believer’s life, guiding and protecting.
Verse 11 Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings.
The Christian believer is commanded to sing praises and to tell others about the goodness and greatness of our God. “Zion” is another name for Jerusalem. It means a “parched place”. Zion is also metaphor for God’s people.
Verses 12-14 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.
David knew that God sees and hears everything that ever happens on this Earth and that He knows the bloodshed that occurs and investigates it and judges it. He had shed much blood in his life as he was not only a king, but a warrior. But he had confidence that God would judge his actions that were mostly done in self defense or commanded by the God he served. The only way that sin can be paid for is in the shedding of blood, which is why Jesus shed His blood at Calvary to pay for all of our sins so we would not have to die. God is the originator of capital punishment. What we may see as the slaughter of people or nations in the Old Testament was really God purging the earth of wicked and perverse people full of sin and completely controlled by devils.
Verses 15-20 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.
The “heathen” refers to people or nations and usually to non-Hebrew or Gentile people or nations. God has a way of allowing the wicked to proceed with their wickedness and then having them fall into the very wickedness they were promoting. The promise to unrepentant people and/or nations is the destination of Hell.
The word “Higgaion” means to meditate upon or to muse. King David is directing the readers of this Psalm to think about how the wicked are punished by their own evil works. “Selah” is a musical term that means to pause. So the reader is to meditate and pause and think about what is being communicated here.