Psalm 9 Continued…
If you look at our world today, you’ll notice that earthly judges are imperfect. They can be persuaded one way or the other depending on the details of a case, and the lawyers involved, and many other factors. Many judges make different decisions on cases, and that’s why there are so many appeals, and seemingly different rulings in certain cases. That’s because earthly judges are human beings and are imperfect.
God, however, is not like that…God is perfect, so when He judges, vs 8 tells us He judges in righteousness! This is referring to the future judgment, when all people will stand before God Almighty on the Day of Judgment.
We’re told in Scripture that every idle word which men have spoken, they will give an account in the day of judgment. For believers, it will be the Judgement Seat of Christ, where we’ll gain and lose rewards for the work we’ve done for Christ on this earth…For unbelievers, it will be the Great White Throne Judgment, where they will be judged for their rejection of Christ and be thrown into the Lake of Fire for eternity.
The Apostle Paul, 1000 years later, quoted this verse on Mars Hill in Acts 17:31… “God shall judge the world in righteousness.” That day of final judgment is coming, and many people in our world are not ready for it! Yet you and I as Christians can praise God because on that day of judgment, He will be our refuge because He is our Savior and has already forgiven us of all our sin. So, we can praise Him for that now, and then, at the Judgement Seat of Christ, we can continue to give Him the praise He deserves because we will be with Him forever!
So, David was pointing to the future judgment, but in vs 9, he brings us back to the present and says, “The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.” The Hebrew word used here for refuge is “misgob.” It suggests security and protection in a high, safe place of retreat. Then, the Hebrew wording for ‘times of trouble’ is translated “extremity” and means a cutting off of hope of deliverance, it’s a distress that is intensified and brings a person to despair.
Sadly, on this earth, many evil men and women have oppressed innocent men, women, and children, all in the name of power or wealth. Those times of trouble are hard to deal with for even the strongest of people. It might look like no one cares about the poor, oppressed ones who are ignored and abused by those with power, but God sees it all, and He promises to be a refuge and support for those afflicted by the wicked.
PRAY
Thank you Father for being our place to run to and hide in no matter what we may face on this earth!