(9:1) Praising the Lord - Praise is expressing to God our appreciation and understanding of his great worth. It is saying thank you for each aspect of his divine nature. Our inward attitudes become outward expressions. When we praise God, we help ourselves by expanding our awareness of who he is. In each psalm you read, look for an attribute or characteristic of God for which you can thank him.

(9:2) Telling Others of the Lord - One of the natural results of praising God is telling others about him. When we know God is wonderful, loving, and kind, that knowledge inspires in us a desire to tell others about him and encourage them to praise him with us.

(9:4) Our Vindicator - God upholds our just cause. He is our vindicator- the one who clears us from criticism and justifies us before others. In this life, we may face many injustices: We may be falsely accused and misunderstood by friends and enemies; we may not be truly appreciated by others for the love we show; the true value of our work and service may not be duly rewarded; our ideas may be ignored. But God is to be praised, for he sees and remembers all the good we do, and it is up to him to decide the timing and the appropriateness of our rewards. If we do not trust him to vindicate us, then we will be susceptible to hatred and self-pity. If we do trust him, we can experience his peace and be free from the worry of how others perceive us and treat us.

(9:10) God Will Not Abandon Us - God will never forsake those who seek him. (To forsake someone is to abandon them.) To seek God means to reach out to him, to surrender our hearts and minds to him. We find him in the Bible, in prayer, and in fellowship with others (Deuteronomy 4:29); we more fully relate to him through the work of his Son, Jesus (see John 14:9). This promise does not mean that if we trust in God we will escape loss or suffering; it means that God himself will never leave us no matter what we face.

(9:11) The Lord is Everywhere - God does not live only in Zion (another name for Mount Moriah, the hill on which the temple was built in Jerusalem); he is everywhere all the time. The focal point of Israelite worship, however, came to be Jerusalem and its beautiful temple. God was present in the tabernacle (Exodus 25:8-9) and in the temple built by Solomon (2 Chronicles 7:16). From this central place of worship, the Israelites were to tell the world about the one true God.

(9:13-14) God's Justice - In times of trouble, we all want God to help us, but often for different reasons. Some want God's help so that they will be successful and well liked. Others want God's help so that they will be comfortable and happy. David, however, wanted help from God so that justice would be restored to Israel and so that he could show others God's power. When you call out to God for help, consider your motive. Is it to save yourself pain and embarrassment or to bring God glory and honor?

(9:18) God Knows Your Need - The world may ignore the plight of those in need, crushing any earthly hope they may have. But God, the champion of the weak, promises that this will not be the case forever. The wicked nations that forget the Lord and refuse to help their people will be judged by God. He knows our needs, he knows our tendency to despair, and he has promised to care for us (see also 9:9. 12). Even when others forget us, he will not.