11 Sing your songs to Zion-dwelling God, tell his stories to everyone you meet: 12 How he tracks down killers yet keeps his eye on us, registers every whimper and moan. 13 Be kind to me, God; I've been kicked around long enough. Once you've pulled me back from the gates of death, 14 I'll write the book on Hallelujahs; on the corner of Main and First I'll hold a street meeting; I'll be the song leader; we'll fill the air with salvation songs. 15 They're trapped, those godless countries, in the very snares they set, Their feet all tangled in the net they spread. 16 They have no excuse; the way God works is well-known. The cunning machinery made by the wicked has maimed their own hands. 17 The wicked bought a one-way ticket to hell. 18 No longer will the poor be nameless - no more humiliation for the humble. 19 Up, God! Aren't you fed up with their empty strutting? Expose these grand pretensions! 20 Shake them up, God! Show them how silly they look.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Psalm 9:11-20
Commentary on Psalm 9:11-20
(Read Psalm 9:11-20)
Those who believe that God is greatly to be praised, not only desire to praise him better themselves, but desire that others may join with them. There is a day coming, when it will appear that he has not forgotten the cry of the humble; neither the cry of their blood, or the cry of their prayers. We are never brought so low, so near to death, but God can raise us up. If he has saved us from spiritual and eternal death, we may thence hope, that in all our distresses he will be a very present help to us. The overruling providence of God frequently so orders it, that persecutors and oppressors are brought to ruin by the projects they formed to destroy the people of God. Drunkards kill themselves; prodigals beggar themselves; the contentious bring mischief upon themselves: thus men's sins may be read in their punishment, and it becomes plain to all, that the destruction of sinners is of themselves. All wickedness came originally with the wicked one from hell; and those who continue in sin, must go to that place of torment. The true state, both of nations and of individuals, may be correctly estimated by this one rule, whether in their doings they remember or forget God. David encourages the people of God to wait for his salvation, though it should be long deferred. God will make it appear that he never did forget them: it is not possible he should. Strange that man, dust in his and about him, should yet need some sharp affliction, some severe visitation from God, to bring him to the knowledge of himself, and make him feel who and what he is.