The Hope of the Afflicted (Psalm 9:11-20)

¹¹ Sing the praises of the Lord, enthroned in Zion;
proclaim among the nations what he has done.
¹² For he who avenges blood remembers;
he does not ignore the cries of the afflicted.

¹³ Lord, see how my enemies persecute me!
Have mercy and lift me up from the gates of death,
¹⁴ that I may declare your praises
in the gates of Daughter Zion,
and there rejoice in your salvation.

¹⁵ The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug;
their feet are caught in the net they have hidden.
¹⁶ The Lord is known by his acts of justice;
the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands.^[c]
17 The wicked go down to the realm of the dead,
all the nations that forget God.
¹⁸ But God will never forget the needy;
the hope of the afflicted will never perish.

¹⁹ Arise, Lord, do not let mortals triumph;
let the nations be judged in your presence.
²⁰ Strike them with terror, Lord;
let the nations know they are only mortal.

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What struck me in this section of Psalm 9 are the references to the Lord especially looking out for the “afflicted” and the “needy.”  David writes that the Lord will not ignore the cries afflicted, nor will he forget the needy.  As a result, the hope of those who are afflicted will endure.  These are words to take to heart and pray during these troubled times.

The Psalm points to an important truth about our God, part of what it means that He is a God of justice and a God of mercy.  The Lord cares especially for those who are suffering from the effects of this broken world, those who are in need, those who are being oppressed.  Yes, the Lord loves all, but there are numerous special references to His especial concern for those who are afflicted.

So this leads me to pray for two things today.  First, I am praying for those in our world who are afflicted, those in need, those who believe they are living beyond the edge of hope. That is certainly quite a few people in this time of global pandemic.   I pray for the Lord’s love for them to be manifest in their lives.

But I am also praying that the Lord’s care for the afflicted would be reflected in my own heart.   As I seek to grow as a disciple, I seek to become more and more like my Savior.  I pray that I may see the world with His eyes, that I may act as His hands and feet in love and compassion for those who are needy.

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