I will praise You, O LORD…
A daily lyric from Psalm 9:1.
Amidst beauty,
carefully drafted
expressions form.
Gracing hearts,
increasing joy:
kaleidoscopic LORD!
A brief note on Psalms 9 and 10. These two psalms are the first of nine acrostic poems in the Psalms. Their form is guided by successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.
Although lost in translation and hidden from our view, this feature shows the depth of care and creativity that shapes these songs.
The acrostic form of Psalms 9 and 10 also connects these two psalms. Psalm 9, a song of praise, uses the first half of the Hebrew alphabet. Psalm 10, a hymn of lament, uses the remaining letters. Praise and lament. Side by side on this road we walk with the LORD.
On that note, we take the next step…
“I will praise You, O LORD…”
Psalm 9:1 (NKJV)
A moment of stunned silence fell on the Valley of Elah. The giant who’d been running his mouth off for days had nothing more to say. His contorted, lifeless face lay crumpled in the dirt, mouth full of sand, a smooth stone embedded deep in his forehead.
No need to call this fight. Goliath, the colossal Philistine champion was dead. As David stepped forward to cut off his head, the silence of the valley was shattered by the victorious shouts of an army that suddenly found its voice!
An ancient title of Psalm 9 refers to the death of Goliath as the inspiration for this song. It’s a song of praise and gratitude to God for delivering justice and landing the knock-out blow. Enemy out for the count!
Psalm 9:1 is a response to God’s victory. Easily sung when His victory is plain to see. But, in those moments when His victory seems to elude us, it’s a song of faith based on who God is. Despite how things appear, “I will praise You…”
This phrase comes from the word yadah, which means to revere or worship with extended, open hands. At a deeper level, it’s a recognition that my strength, ability, and means all come from another source: the One I worship.
“I will praise You, O LORD” because You are my source. “I will praise You, O LORD” because everything I need comes from You. “I will praise You, O LORD” because the battle and the victory are Yours!
“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Corinthians 15:57 (NIV)
The announcer steps up to the mic. The results are in. It’s unanimous: Christ is Victor! He landed the knock-out blow. Punched the enemy’s lights out! The commentators are saying it was an embarrassingly one-sided bout. There can be no coming back from this…
Then, in a moment that surprises everyone, Christ calls us into the ring and raises our arms in victory! Our open hands lifted to heaven, He holds our heads high. Did He just win this fight for us? It takes a while for the weight of it to sink in, but yes, that’s exactly what happened!
“I will praise You, O LORD…”
This song of victory is yours today in Christ! Whether you see His victory in your situation, or it seems far off, may you find your voice to sing these words of praise. With open hands, lifted in reverence, may you discover that your strength, ability, and means are now and forever found in Him.