Love goes both ways Pt 28: Stronghold

Psalm 9:7-12                          7The LORD reigns forever; he has established his throne for judgment.  8He rules the world in righteousness and judges the peoples with equity.  9The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.  10Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you.  11Sing the praises of the LORD, enthroned in Zion; proclaim among the nations what he has done.  12For he who avenges blood remembers; he does not ignore the cries of the afflicted.

Commentators often call Psalm 9 a psalm of thanksgiving, and while earlier verses speak of deliverance from enemies, this section is more concerned with timeless attributes of God such as His eternal reign, His justice, His protective care, His unfailing presence, leading to a call to proclaim His deeds to the nations.  The sequence of these attributes is instructive:  Right belief about God leads to real trust in Him, which then naturally overflows into worship and witness.

Reigns forever…judges with equity

God’s eternal kingship establishes unchallengeable authority.  Unlike human kings whose power is bound by lifespan, military might, or shifting alliances, Yahweh’s reign is permanent and unassailable1.  This reflects the broader biblical theme of God as the everlasting King (Ps. 29:10; Jer. 10:10).  When we happen to come before a human judge—whether for minor traffic violations or something more severe—we may have just cause to wonder whether or not the judge is having a bad day.  “Is he honorable enough to rise above such things and treat me fairly?”

But God’s throne is the seat of perfect justice.  In the ancient Near East, thrones were symbols of judicial authority.  The king was often the supreme court, rendering verdicts and ensuring the moral order of society2.  Such thrones were also often arbitrary, and if the king was not an honorable person the edicts could be ruthless and violent.  Human justice systems, ancient and modern, are prone to corruption, bias, or human error so verdicts can be distorted.  While Israel’s judges were commanded to “judge the people fairly” (Deut. 16:18), history shows they often failed (Isa. 1:23).  David’s confidence rests in a judge whose verdicts are not only final but entirely just.  David asserts that God’s throne is established for judgment—not arbitrary punishment, but righteous adjudication.  God’s justice emphasizes fairness without partiality3 and is not skewed by bribes, fear, or personal gain (cf. Deut. 10:17).

A stronghold in times of trouble

David certainly has experienced God’s protection—his time in the wilderness running from Saul, for instance.  The term “refuge” or “stronghold” evokes the image of a fortified height or tower—a place out of reach of attackers4.  It appears elsewhere in Psalms (e.g., Ps. 46:7, 11) to describe God as a secure, elevated place of defense.  The phrase “times of trouble” makes the promise realistic: God’s role as refuge is not hypothetical; it is relevant precisely when life is hardest.  Biblically, the metaphor of God as a stronghold recurs because it resonates deeply with human experience.  In the fortified cities of the ancient world, high towers were last lines of defense in siege warfare—nearly impossible to breach without massive effort.  By using this image, David is asserting that no enemy can reach the believer unless God allows it.

You have never forsaken those who seek you

To “know your name” in Hebrew thought is to know the person and character it represents5.  God’s name, revealed to Moses as YHWH, communicates His self-existence, covenant loyalty, and unchanging nature (Ex. 3:14–15).  The result of knowing God’s name is trust—a word implying confident reliance.  In everyday Hebrew usage, it was used for leaning one’s full weight on something, assuming it would hold.  The object of that trust here is explicitly named: “you, LORD”.

Sing praises…proclaim among the nations

All of this reflection leads a person to proclaim God’s love and faithfulness to the world.  The command to “sing the praises of the LORD” is an invitation to joyful, vocal expression of gratitude.  Worship here is grounded in God’s position (“enthroned in Zion”) and His actions (“what he has done”).  Zion in David’s time referred to the fortress hill in Jerusalem, later associated with the temple and God’s earthly dwelling6.

But praise is not limited to the gathered worship of Israel—David commands that God’s deeds be “proclaimed among the nations.”  This reflects a recognition that Yahweh’s acts are not just for Israel’s benefit but for the revelation of His glory to all peoples (cf. Ps. 96:3; Isa. 12:4).

Verse 12 gives the moral basis for this worship and proclamation: God is the avenger of blood—a title rooted in Israel’s legal tradition where a family member could seek justice for wrongful killing (Num. 35:19).  Here, God takes that role universally, ensuring that injustice is not ignored.  “He does not ignore the cries of the afflicted”—a reassurance that God’s attentiveness to human suffering is active, not passive.

What about me?

When confronted with injustice—whether in personal relationships, workplaces, or global affairs—we can remember that God’s justice is not delayed indefinitely.  It frees us from the pressure to secure ultimate vindication ourselves (Rom. 12:19).  Instead, we can live with integrity, advocating for justice where we can while resting in God’s righteous governance7.

Injustice often leads to fear and worry, but when anxiety or danger presses in, believers can train themselves to turn reflexively toward God as their “stronghold.”  This involves cultivating a prayer life that’s not just a list of requests but a continual relational awareness of God’s protective presence8.  Spiritual disciplines like Scripture meditation, worship, and fellowship function as “defensive walls” or “high towers” that help keep fear at bay.

Keeping a “faithfulness journal” where one records answered prayers, providential provisions, and moments of spiritual encouragement can be a powerful tool for building trust.  When doubt or fear arises, reviewing such a record can remind us of God’s proven track record9.

Believers can integrate praise and witness by sharing testimonies of God’s work in their lives with both fellow Christians and those who do not yet believe.  Modern platforms—from personal conversations to digital media—offer countless ways to “proclaim among the nations”10.

Psalm 9:7–12 is a compact theological gem that ties together God’s eternal reign, perfect justice, protective refuge, unfailing presence, and the believer’s dual call to worship and witness.  The progression from cosmic sovereignty to personal trust to global proclamation mirrors the rhythm of the Christian life:

1.     See God for who He is (vv. 7–8).

2.     Find safety in Him (v. 9).

3.     Build trust through knowing Him (v. 10).

4.     Respond with praise and mission (vv. 11–12).

This psalm assures us that God’s justice is not merely a future hope—it is active now.  His protection is not conditional on life’s smoothness—it is available in trouble.  His faithfulness is not theoretical—it is proven by history.  And His praise is not for Israel alone—it is to be sung and proclaimed among all nations.