Psalm 9:9
The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
The LORD
The term "LORD" in this context is derived from the Hebrew "YHWH," often vocalized as Yahweh. This is the covenant name of God, emphasizing His eternal, self-existent nature. In the conservative Christian perspective, this name signifies God's unchanging faithfulness and His personal relationship with His people. It is a reminder of His sovereignty and His role as the ultimate authority and protector.

is a refuge
The word "refuge" comes from the Hebrew "misgav," which means a high place or a secure height. This imagery suggests a place of safety and protection, akin to a fortress. In ancient times, cities often had high places or strongholds where people could retreat during attacks. Spiritually, this signifies that God is a place of safety and security for those who are vulnerable or in distress, offering protection from both physical and spiritual adversaries.

for the oppressed
The term "oppressed" is translated from the Hebrew "dak," which refers to those who are crushed, downtrodden, or afflicted. Historically, this would include those who are marginalized or suffering under unjust circumstances. In a broader spiritual sense, it encompasses anyone burdened by sin, guilt, or the trials of life. The verse assures that God is attentive to the plight of the oppressed and offers them His protection and care.

a stronghold
"Stronghold" is derived from the Hebrew "misgav," similar to "refuge," but with an emphasis on strength and fortification. It conveys the idea of an impenetrable defense. In biblical times, strongholds were essential for survival during sieges. Spiritually, this indicates that God is not only a place of safety but also a source of strength and resilience for believers facing life's battles.

in times of trouble
The phrase "times of trouble" is translated from the Hebrew "et tsarah," which refers to periods of distress, adversity, or calamity. Throughout history, God's people have faced numerous challenges, from physical threats to spiritual trials. This phrase reassures believers that during such times, God remains a steadfast protector and source of hope. It encourages Christians to rely on God's strength and faithfulness, trusting that He will see them through their difficulties.

Persons / Places / Events
1. The LORD (Yahweh)
The covenant name of God, emphasizing His eternal presence and faithfulness to His people. In this Psalm, He is depicted as a protector and refuge.

2. The Oppressed
Those who are suffering under injustice or hardship. The term implies individuals who are marginalized or afflicted by external circumstances.

3. Times of Trouble
Periods of distress or adversity. This can refer to personal, communal, or national crises where individuals feel overwhelmed by their circumstances.
Teaching Points
God as Our Refuge
In times of distress, believers can find safety and peace in God, who is our ultimate refuge. This assurance encourages us to turn to Him first in our troubles.

Understanding Oppression
Recognizing the plight of the oppressed is crucial. As followers of Christ, we are called to be aware of and respond to the needs of those who are suffering, reflecting God's heart for justice and mercy.

Trust in God's Sovereignty
Even in the most challenging times, we can trust in God's sovereign control over our lives. He is a stronghold, unshakeable and reliable, providing stability when everything else seems uncertain.

Prayer and Dependence
This verse encourages a life of prayer and dependence on God. In acknowledging our need for His protection, we cultivate a deeper relationship with Him.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does understanding God as a refuge change the way you approach your personal struggles?

2. In what ways can you be a source of support for those who are oppressed in your community, reflecting God's character?

3. How do other scriptures, like Psalm 46:1 and Proverbs 18:10, enhance your understanding of God as a stronghold?

4. What practical steps can you take to remind yourself of God's sovereignty during "times of trouble"?

5. How can prayer become a more integral part of your response to adversity, based on the teachings of Psalm 9:9?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Psalm 46:1
This verse also describes God as a refuge and strength, highlighting His ever-present help in trouble, reinforcing the theme of divine protection.

Proverbs 18:10
The name of the LORD is described as a strong tower, where the righteous can run and find safety, paralleling the imagery of God as a stronghold.

Isaiah 25:4
God is portrayed as a refuge for the poor and needy in distress, echoing the theme of divine shelter for the oppressed.
A Praiseful HeartPsalm 9:1-20
Praise for the Destroyer's DestructionC. Clemance Psalm 9:1-20
Praise, Trust, and PrayerF. B. Meyer, B. A.Psalm 9:1-20
The Ministry of PraiseJ. H. Jowett, M. A.Psalm 9:1-20
A Righteous GodC. Short Psalm 9:7-12
A Free RefugePsalm 9:9-10
The Lord Our RefugeJohn Trapp.Psalm 9:9-10
The Refuge of the OppressedJ. C. Philpot.Psalm 9:9-10
People
David, Psalmist
Places
Jerusalem
Topics
Adversity, Bruised, Crushed, Distress, Oppressed, Refuge, Stronghold, Tower, Trouble
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Psalm 9:9

     1205   God, titles of
     1240   God, the Rock
     5315   fortifications
     5316   fortress
     5491   refugees
     5963   sympathy
     8792   oppression, God's attitude

Psalm 9:4-10

     5581   throne

Psalm 9:9-10

     8031   trust, importance

Library
Dilemma and Deliverance
Now, this morning, in addressing you, I shall divide my text into three parts. First, I shall note a certain fiery dart of Satan; secondly, I shall point out to you heaven's divine buckler, as hinted at in the text--"Thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee;" and then, in the third place, I shall notice man's precious privilege of seeking God, and so of arming himself against Satan. I. First, then, I am to dwell for a little time upon A CERTAIN FIERY DART OF SATAN WHICH IS CONSTANTLY SHOT
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 6: 1860

Joy in Salvation
"I will rejoice in thy salvation."--Psalm 9:4. I DESIRE to continue the topic of the morning, only we will look at another side of the same important matter. We spoke this morning, as you have not forgotten, upon these words, "Your own salvation." I trust most of us--would God I could hope all of us--were earnest about our own personal salvation. To those who are earnest this second text will be the complement of the first. They desire that their own salvation shall be secure; it is their own salvation
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 62: 1916

Cry we Therefore with the Spirit of Charity...
26. Cry we therefore with the spirit of charity, and until we come to the inheritance in which we are alway to remain, let us be, through love which becometh the free-born, not through fear which becometh bondmen, patient of suffering. Cry we, so long as we are poor, until we be with that inheritance made rich. Seeing how great earnest thereof we have received, in that Christ to make us rich made Himself poor; Who being exalted unto the riches which are above, there was sent One Who should breathe
St. Augustine—On Patience

A Few Sighs from Hell;
or, The Groans of the Damned Soul: or, An Exposition of those Words in the Sixteenth of Luke, Concerning the Rich Man and the Beggar WHEREIN IS DISCOVERED THE LAMENTABLE STATE OF THE DAMNED; THEIR CRIES, THEIR DESIRES IN THEIR DISTRESSES, WITH THE DETERMINATION OF GOD UPON THEM. A GOOD WARNING WORD TO SINNERS, BOTH OLD AND YOUNG, TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION BETIMES, AND TO SEEK, BY FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST, TO AVOID, LEST THEY COME INTO THE SAME PLACE OF TORMENT. Also, a Brief Discourse touching the
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

But Concerning True Patience, Worthy of the Name of this virtue...
12. But concerning true patience, worthy of the name of this virtue, whence it is to be had, must now be inquired. For there are some [2650] who attribute it to the strength of the human will, not which it hath by Divine assistance, but which it hath of free-will. Now this error is a proud one: for it is the error of them which abound, of whom it is said in the Psalm, "A scornful reproof to them which abound, and a despising to the proud." [2651] It is not therefore that "patience of the poor" which
St. Augustine—On Patience

Jesus, My Rock.
When the storm and the tempest are raging around me, Oh! where shall I flee to be safe from their shock? There are walls which no mortal hands built to surround me, A Refuge Eternal,--'Tis JESUS MY ROCK! When my heart is all sorrow, and trials aggrieve me, To whom can I safely my secrets unlock? No bosom (save one) has the power to relieve me, The bosom which bled for me, JESUS MY ROCK! When Life's gloomy curtain, at last, shall close o'er me, And the chill hand of death unexpectedly knock, I will
John Ross Macduff—The Cities of Refuge: or, The Name of Jesus

"Because of his Importunity. "
"Nov. 19 [1846].--I am now led more and more to importune the Lord to send me the means, which are requisite in order that I may be able to commence the building. Because (1) it has been for some time past publicly stated in print, that I allow it is not without ground that some of the inhabitants of Wilson Street consider themselves inconvenienced by the Orphan-Houses being in that street, and I long therefore to be able to remove the Orphans from thence as soon as possible. (2) I become more and
George Müller—Answers to Prayer

The Desire of the Righteous Granted;
OR, A DISCOURSE OF THE RIGHTEOUS MAN'S DESIRES. ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EDITOR As the tree is known by its fruit, so is the state of a man's heart known by his desires. The desires of the righteous are the touchstone or standard of Christian sincerity--the evidence of the new birth--the spiritual barometer of faith and grace--and the springs of obedience. Christ and him crucified is the ground of all our hopes--the foundation upon which all our desires after God and holiness are built--and the root
John Bunyan—The Works of John Bunyan Volumes 1-3

The Heart's Desire Given to Help Mission Work in China.
"Sept. 30 [1869].--From Yorkshire L50.--Received also One Thousand Pounds to-day for the Lord's work in China. About this donation it is especially to be noticed, that for months it had been my earnest desire to do more than ever for Mission Work in China, and I had already taken steps to carry out this desire, when this donation of One Thousand Pounds came to hand. This precious answer to prayer for means should be a particular encouragement to all who are engaged in the Lord's work, and who may
George Müller—Answers to Prayer

Introduction. Chapter i. --The Life and Writings of St. Hilary of Poitiers.
St. Hilary of Poitiers is one of the greatest, yet least studied, of the Fathers of the Western Church. He has suffered thus, partly from a certain obscurity in his style of writing, partly from the difficulty of the thoughts which he attempted to convey. But there are other reasons for the comparative neglect into which he has fallen. He learnt his theology, as we shall see, from Eastern authorities, and was not content to carry on and develop the traditional teaching of the West; and the disciple
St. Hilary of Poitiers—The Life and Writings of St. Hilary of Poitiers

Trials of the Christian
AFFLICTION--ITS NATURE AND BENEFITS. The school of the cross is the school of light; it discovers the world's vanity, baseness, and wickedness, and lets us see more of God's mind. Out of dark afflictions comes a spiritual light. In times of affliction, we commonly meet with the sweetest experiences of the love of God. The end of affliction is the discovery of sin; and of that, to bring us to a Saviour. Doth not God ofttimes even take occasion, by the hardest of things that come upon us, to visit
John Bunyan—The Riches of Bunyan

The Care of the Soul Urged as the one Thing Needful
Luke 10:42 -- "But one thing is needful." It was the amiable character of our blessed Redeemer, that "he went about doing good," this great motive, which animated all his actions, brought him to the house of his friend Lazarus, at Bethany, and directed his behavior there. Though it was a season of recess from public labor, our Lord brought the sentiments and the pious cares of a preacher of righteousness into the parlor of a friend; and there his doctrine dropped as the rain, and distilled as the
George Whitefield—Selected Sermons of George Whitefield

Letter xix (A. D. 1127) to Suger, Abbot of S. Denis
To Suger, Abbot of S. Denis He praises Suger, who had unexpectedly renounced the pride and luxury of the world to give himself to the modest habits of the religious life. He blames severely the clerk who devotes himself rather to the service of princes than that of God. 1. A piece of good news has reached our district; it cannot fail to do great good to whomsoever it shall have come. For who that fear God, hearing what great things He has done for your soul, do not rejoice and wonder at the great
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux—Some Letters of Saint Bernard, Abbot of Clairvaux

King of Kings and Lord of Lords
And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, K ING OF K INGS AND L ORD OF L ORDS T he description of the administration and glory of the Redeemer's Kingdom, in defiance of all opposition, concludes the second part of Messiah Oratorio. Three different passages from the book of Revelation are selected to form a grand chorus, of which Handel's title in this verse is the close --a title which has been sometimes vainly usurped by proud worms of this earth. Eastern monarchs, in particular,
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 2

The Knowledge of God
'The Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.' I Sam 2:2. Glorious things are spoken of God; he transcends our thoughts, and the praises of angels. God's glory lies chiefly in his attributes, which are the several beams by which the divine nature shines forth. Among other of his orient excellencies, this is not the least, The Lord is a God of knowledge; or as the Hebrew word is, A God of knowledges.' Through the bright mirror of his own essence, he has a full idea and cognisance
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

The Justice of God
The next attribute is God's justice. All God's attributes are identical, and are the same with his essence. Though he has several attributes whereby he is made known to us, yet he has but one essence. A cedar tree may have several branches, yet it is but one cedar. So there are several attributes of God whereby we conceive of him, but only one entire essence. Well, then, concerning God's justice. Deut 32:4. Just and right is he.' Job 37:23. Touching the Almighty, we cannot find him out: he is excellent
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

A Preliminary Discourse to Catechising
'If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled.' - Col 1:23. Intending next Lord's day to enter upon the work of catechising, it will not be amiss to give you a preliminary discourse, to show you how needful it is for Christians to be well instructed in the grounds of religion. If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled.' I. It is the duty of Christians to be settled in the doctrine of faith. II. The best way for Christians to be settled is to be well grounded. I. It is the duty of Christians
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity

Psalms
The piety of the Old Testament Church is reflected with more clearness and variety in the Psalter than in any other book of the Old Testament. It constitutes the response of the Church to the divine demands of prophecy, and, in a less degree, of law; or, rather, it expresses those emotions and aspirations of the universal heart which lie deeper than any formal demand. It is the speech of the soul face to face with God. Its words are as simple and unaffected as human words can be, for it is the genius
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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