Sing, Pray, and Rejoice | Psalm 9:11–14

11           Sing praises to the Lord, who sits enthroned in Zion!
            Tell among the peoples his deeds!
12          For he who avenges blood is mindful of them;
            he does not forget the cry of the afflicted.
13          Be gracious to me, O Lord!
            See my affliction from those who hate me,
            O you who lift me up from the gates of death,
14          that I may recount all your praises,
            that in the gates of the daughter of Zion
            I may rejoice in your salvation.

Christians sing because of the creative beauty we’re designed with and because of the wonderful gifts that the Lord continues to give.  God works providentially in our lives, making ways for us and delivering us when there remains no hope.  David understands this, and he calls upon the saints of God to rejoice while also seeking the divine source of that joy in his own life.

Christians should rejoice because of all that the Lord does.  We know the God who “sits enthroned forever” and “has established his throne for justice” (v. 7).  He hears the cry of His covenant people when they are afflicted, just as He did in Egypt (cf. Ex 2:23–25).  He keeps them in mind and will not forget their cries; He’ll judge the unbelievers and avenge the blood of the saints (Rv 6:10).  Though we may sometimes await an answer from the Lord, we know who He is and what He’s done in the past, so we can always rejoice!

Christians should still request of the Lord.  Joy isn’t a manufactured emotion; it’s a response to what the Lord does for us.  He asks for God to bestow undeserved favor and provide deliverance.  David recognizes that the Lord lifts me “up from the gates of death” to “the gates of the daughter of Zion,” so he seeks the Lord’s help once again.  Remember that “in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Phil 4:6).


Still, his ultimate request is the salvation that God provides, as should be ours.  God places His salvation in Zion, and it comes to the daughters of Zion (Is 46:13; 62:11).  Salvation came to Zion when the King entered in lowly and on a donkey (Zech 9:9; Mt 21:1–5), the King that God established in Zion (Ps 2:7).  Remember the God who delivers all who seek Him from the gates of hell to the gates of heaven, and rejoice!

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