Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Psalms 9:7
But the LORD shall endure forever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment.
7. But the Lord, in contrast to the enemies of His people, shall sit enthroned for ever, as King and Judge. For this pregnant sense of sit, cp. Psa 29:10; Exo 18:14.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
7 10. A stanza of four verses, each (as the text stands) beginning with the letter Vv. But Psa 9:7 may originally have begun with H. [In Dr Scrivener’s text H is prefixed to Psa 9:6; but this verse should belong to the stanza of Gimel). The eternity of Jehovah’s sovereignty is contrasted with the annihilation of His enemies: the righteousness of His rule with the injustice of the wicked.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
But the Lord shall endure for ever – Yahweh is eternal – always the same. Though these cities have become desolate, and the enemy has been permitted to triumph, and nations and people have passed away, yet God is ever the same, unaffected by these changes and desolations, and in due time he will always interfere and vindicate his own character, and defend the oppressed and the wronged.
He hath prepared his throne for judgment – See Psa 9:4. He sits as a just judge among the nations, and he will see that right is done. The wicked, though temporarily prosperous, cannot always triumph; and the righteous, though cast down and oppressed, cannot always remain thus, for God, the just Judge, will rise in their defense and for their deliverance. The unchangeableness of God, therefore, is at the same time the ground of confidence for the righteous, and the ground of dread for the wicked. The eternal principles of right will ultimately triumph.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
Psa 9:7-8
The Lord shall endure forever.
The abiding God
David here draws a contrast between changing man and the unchanging God; between evermore vanishing thrones and the throne of God, high and lifted up–His throne of judgment–a throne erected to try and determine the cause, not of David only, nor of his people only, but all men–to judge the world in righteousness. He teaches that right and wrong everywhere are objects of the Divine regard, and will be through all time, and will be when time shall be no more; that the Divine judgment, like the Divine Omnipresence, embraces every creature in the vastness of its range. In this way David ascends in his reasoning from the particular to the general, and from the general to the universal, making the Lords dealing with him, and His people Israel, the basis of the conclusion, that so He will deal with all men. He thus encourages all men everywhere to pursue the right, assuring them that, in pursuing it, the God of all righteousness is with them, and will in due time decide it in their favour. (David Caldwell, A. M.)
And He shall judge the world in righteousness.
The witness of conscience to righteousness
Corwin, the great orator and humorist, was once talking with several gentlemen. The conversation, which had been witty and epigrammatic, became grave and serious. One of the company made a remark about the unknown future. Corwin took it up, and said, When I reflect that I am to be judged by a righteous and omnipotent God, I nearly go mad. So it is that the conscience within bears unequivocal testimony to our responsibility, not to a Something, of which we can form no conception, but to a Personal Being, who is the righteous and omnipotent God, whose offspring we are as a Father, and whose subjects we are as Sovereign Lord Supreme.
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 7. But the Lord shall endure] All things shall have an end but God and holy spirits.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Though cities and people may perish for ever, yet the Lord abides for ever; which is sufficient for the enemies terror, and for the comfort of his church.
He hath prepared, or established, by his immutable purpose, and his irrevocable promise.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
7, 8. God’s eternal possessionof a throne of justice is contrasted with the ruin of the wicked.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
But the Lord shall endure for ever,…. When antichrist is entirely ruined, his cities destroyed, and the memorial of them perished, then “shall the Lord sit for ever” g, as the words may be rendered; that is, as a Jewish writer h paraphrases them, in rest and quiet. The words may be expressive of the unchangeableness and eternity and power of God; the Chaldee paraphrase of them is, , “the Word of the Lord is for ever; his habitation is in the highest heavens”. And they may very well be interpreted of Christ, the essential Word of God, who is the unchangeable, everlasting, and almighty God; and who sits King for ever, and must sit at God’s right hand, in the highest heavens, until all his enemies are made his footstool; and to him most properly do the following things in this verse Ps 9:8 belong:
he hath prepared his throne for judgment; for the administration of judgment in this world, for the particular judgment after death, and for the general judgment after the resurrection of the dead; which seems by what follows to be chiefly meant, and which will come on after the destruction of antichrist; and all things are preparing for it; the day is appointed in which God will judge the world; Christ is ordained to be the Judge of quick and dead; devils and ungodly men are reserved to the judgment of the great day; the throne is ready, which will be a white one, Re 20:11; denoting the purity, justice, and uprightness of the Judge, who himself is at the door.
g “sedebit”, Montanus, Junius Tremellius, Cocceius, Michaelis so Ainsworth; “sedet”, Vatablus, Musculus. h R. Abraham Seba in Tzeror Hammor, fol. 150. 2.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(Heb.: 9:8-9) Without a trace even of the remembrance of them the enemies are destroyed, while on the other hand Jahve endureth for ever. This strophe is the continuation of the preceding with the most intimate connection of contrast (just as the -strophe expresses the ground for what is said in the preceding strophe). The verb has not the general signification “to remain” here (like to endure), but just the same meaning as in Psa 29:10. Everything that is opposed to Him comes to a terrible end, whereas He sits, or (which the fut. implies) abides, enthroned for ever, and that as Judge: He hath prepared His throne for the purpose of judgment. This same God, who has just given proof that He lives and reigns, will by and by judge the nations still more comprehensively, strictly, and impartially. , a word exclusively poetic and always without the article, signifies first (in distinction from the body of the earth and the covering or soil of the earth) the fertile (from ) surface of the globe, the . It is the last Judgment, of which all preceding judgments are harbingers and pledges, that is intended. In later Psalms this Davidic utterance concerning the future is repeated.
Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament
(7) But the Lord shall endure.Better, but Jehovah sits enthroned for ever, being in close parallelism with the next clause, For judgment has erected his throne.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
7-10. The eternity of God, his universal dominion, and his discriminating judgments, which preserve the righteous and encourage trust in him, are here contrasted with the view just given of the perpetual destruction of the wicked and their vain hopes.
Prepared his throne Established his tribunal.
For judgment For righteousness. These are formal statements of a most solemn truth. The world is under righteous government. The preparations for justice are already established.
Judge minister judgment The words are not synonymous. The former, , ( shaphat,) means judicial sentence, the latter , ( deen,) to conduct the cause, as between the parties, to a righteous conclusion. The former relates to absolute equity, the latter to the mode of judicial procedure.
Refuge for the oppressed “Refuge,” here, means a high place, or a strong castle upon a high place, the surest defence known in ancient fortification. In this and the following verses the strongest inducement to lovingly trust and seek God is held out, for his judgments are tenderly protective of such, and terrible only to the wicked.
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘But YHWH sits enthroned for ever:
He has established his throne for judgment;
And he will judge the world in righteousness,
He will minister judgment to the peoples in uprightness.’
In contrast to the brevity of the nations is the eternity of YHWH. And in contrast to the unrighteousness of the nations, is the righteousness of YHWH. He sits enthroned for ever (compare Psa 29:10), and His throne is established for judgment. And that judgment will be in righteousness and will be on all peoples and will always be upright. Thus we are assured that YHWH judges the whole world in righteousness without fear and without favour. Every knee will have to bow to Him, every tongue will have to confess to God (Isa 45:23; Php 2:10). Notice that the ‘He’ in ‘He will judge’ is emphatic. None other is fit to judge apart from ‘He’, and the teaching of Jesus made clear that this ‘He’ is none other than Jesus Himself Who has been appointed to be the Judge of all (Joh 5:22; Joh 5:27).
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
A Prophetic View of the Victory of Faith
v. 7. But the Lord shall endure forever, v. 8. And He shall judge the world in righteousness, v. 9. The Lord also will be a Refuge, v. 10. And they that know Thy name will put their trust in Thee, v. 11. Sing praises to the Lord, which dwelleth in Zion, v. 12. When He maketh inquisition for blood, He remembereth them, v. 13. Have mercy upon me, O Lord, v. 14. that I may show forth all Thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion, v. 15. The heathen, v. 16. The Lord is known by the judgment which He executeth, v. 17. The wicked shall be turned into hell, v. 18. For the needy shall not alway be forgotten, v. 19. Arise, O Lord, v. 20. Put them in fear, O Lord,
Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann
Here, by a change of person in the speaker, we find a beautiful transition made to Christ himself, in which the sacred writer is celebrating the glories of his person, and the greatness, and extensiveness, and everlasting duration of his kingdom, and by contrasting his monarchy to that of all created power, the glories of his mediatorial reign is set forth most blessedly. Reader, do not hastily pass over the several precious things here said of our almighty Sovereign. He, thy Brother, as well as thy God, will be thy Judge! He who hath died for thy sins, as thy Surety, will one day come to see of the travail of his soul in the redemption of his people, and be satisfied. He who now looks on, and is the refuge of his oppressed, will judge their cause, and in due time deliver them out of all their trouble. Surely, Reader, if you know this Jesus, if you believe in his power, if you depend upon his salvation, you will trust everything, for time and for eternity, in his Almighty hands. But, my brother, mark, I beseech you, the certain truth, – if you know him not, you cannot trust him. None ever confided in an unknown God. Oh, precious Lord Jesus! now I see the beauty and the excellency of that blessed scripture, in which thou hast said, And this is life eternal, that they may know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent. Joh 17:3 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Psa 9:7 But the LORD shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment.
Ver. 7. But the Lord shall endure for ever ] Vivit Christus regnatque; alioqui lotus desperassem, said that good Dutch divine, upon the view of the Church’s enemies; i.e. Christ liveth and reigneth for ever, setting one foot on the earth and the other on the sea, as Lord of both; otherwise I should have been altogether hopeless. “Blessed be God that he is God,” was a learned divine’s motto.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Psa 9:7-10
7But the Lord abides forever;
He has established His throne for judgment,
8And He will judge the world in righteousness;
He will execute judgment for the peoples with equity.
9The Lord also will be a stronghold for the oppressed,
A stronghold in times of trouble;
10And those who know Your name will put their trust in You,
For You, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek You.
Psa 9:7-8 Nations will come and go based on their relationship to the righteous God/Judge (cf. Psa 89:14).
SPECIAL TOPIC: JUDGE, JUDGMENT, and JUSTICE () IN ISAIAH
Psa 9:7
NASBabides
NKJVendures
NRSV, TEV,
NJBsits enthroned
Psa 9:7 is in stark contrast to Psa 9:5-6. The rebellious nations are temporary but the God of Israel is permanently enthroned (BDB 442, KB 444, Qal imperfect, cf. Psa 10:16; Psa 29:10).
The second verb of Psa 9:7, established (BDB 465, KB 464), is a Polel perfect, which denotes His permanent throne!
Psa 9:8 He will judge the world in righteousness Again the theological issue is the meaning of world (BDB 385). In Psa 96:13; Psa 98:9, this word is parallel with erets (BDB 75, see Special Topic: Land, Country, Earth ). It must refer to the known world of that day. However, from the NT this concept involves the whole planet (i.e., Joh 3:16).
Psa 9:9 stronghold The verb (BDB 960) means to be high. The noun is used regularly of God as a high, mighty, and safe stronghold or fortress (cf. Psa 9:9 [twice]; Psa 18:2; Psa 46:7; Psa 46:11; Psa 48:3; Psa 59:9; Psa 59:16-17; Psa 62:2; Psa 62:6; Psa 94:22; Psa 144:2). This is an idiom for safety and protection. For the faithful follower (cf. Psa 9:10) our God is our stronghold and there is no other!
Notice the phrase, in times of trouble, of Psa 9:9 b reappears in Psa 10:1 b. It is found only here in the OT. There is some doubt about the meaning of the word translated trouble (BDB 131). In Jer 14:1; Jer 17:8 it means drought, but that connotation does not fit here. Remember words only have meaning in sentences and sentences in literary units.
Psa 9:10 a This line of poetry expresses a major biblical reality. I have added my comments from Isa 26:3-4 below.
For the Hebrew word know see Special Topic: Know .
Isaiah 26 Isa 26:3 The steadfast of mind You will keep in perfect peace Notice the covenantal aspect. 1.The believer’s mind is stayed on YHWH (BDB 701, KB 759, Qal passive participle, but used in an active sense, cf. 1Ch 29:18). 2.YHWH keeps him/her (BDB 665 I, KB 718, Qal imperfect, the covenant relationship has two participants, see Special Topic at Isa 1:19). 3.Perfect peace is a doubling of shalom (BDB 1022, cf. DSS). This doubling of words is very common in this section of Isaiah.
he trusts in You The word trust (BDB 105, KB 120, Qal passive participle) means trust in YHWH (cf. Isa 12:2; Isa 26:4; Isa 36:15; Isa 37:10; Isa 50:10). Notice that the next verse has the same word as an imperative. This is such an important theological concept of the need for a personal relationship with God, not just obedience. Both are crucial!
Psa 26:4 Trust in the Lord forever For the verb (BDB 105, KB 120, Qal imperative), see SPECIAL TOPIC: Believe, Trust, Faith, and Faithfulness in the Old Testament at Isa 22:23.
The name for Deity in the first line of Isa 26:4 is YHWH; in the second line a contraction Yah and YHWH, see Special Topic: Names for Deity .
The term forever (BDB 723 I), first the plural form and then the singular form (construct, cf. Isa 65:18; Psa 83:17; Psa 92:8). This construction, along with everlasting (BDB 761), used of YHWH, implies a personal relationship beyond this life (cf. Isa 26:14; Isa 26:19; Psa 23:6).
we have an everlasting rock The word rock is a metaphor for God’s unchanging character (cf. Psa 18:1-2; Isa 17:10; Isa 30:29; Isa 44:8).
Psa 9:10 b What a wonderful statement of YHWH’s faithfulness! This is a repeated theme in the Psalms (cf. Psa 37:28; Psa 94:14). Believers’ hope is in the unchanging character of the merciful Creator (cf. Mal 3:6).
SPECIAL TOPIC: CHARACTERISTICS OF ISRAEL’S GOD
Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley
endure = sit as king.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Psa 9:7-8
Psa 9:7-8
“But Jehovah sitteth as king forever:
He has prepared his throne for judgment;
And he will judge the world in righteousness,
He will minister judgment to the peoples in uprightness.”
These words supply additional comment regarding the Final Judgment. As Rhodes said, “The final judgment, which will include the complete destruction of the wicked and of their memory, is so certain that it is spoken of here as if it were already past.”
E.M. Zerr:
Psa 9:7. The Lord as an independent being will endure forever. He also will continue to withstand his foes for the eternal throne has been made ready for judgment.
Psa 9:8. The judgments of God are always right. This is true whether we are considering his edicts of punishment for the wicked, or the favorable ruling for the righteous who have been done injustice at the hands of the wicked.
Fuente: Old and New Testaments Restoration Commentary
But: Psa 90:2, Psa 102:12, Psa 102:24-27, Heb 1:11, Heb 1:12, Heb 13:8, 2Pe 3:8
he hath: Psa 50:3-5, Psa 103:19, Rev 20:11
Reciprocal: Psa 76:9 – When Psa 143:11 – for thy righteousness’ Isa 51:13 – where is Lam 5:19 – remainest Mat 25:31 – then Joh 5:22 – General Rom 2:2 – judgment Rom 2:16 – God 2Co 5:10 – we 2Th 1:5 – righteous
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Psa 9:7-9. But the Lord shall endure for ever Though cities and people may perish, yet the Lord abides for ever. Which is sufficient for the terror of his enemies, and the comfort of his church. He hath prepared his throne Or, established it by his immutable purpose and his irrevocable promise. And he shall judge the world Not you only, but all the enemies of his people and all the men in the world. The Lord will be a refuge for the oppressed God will not only judge the world at the last day, and then give sentence for his people against their enemies, but even at present he will give them his protection.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
In contrast to those whose names had perished (Psa 9:5), the Lord’s name would abide forever because He will rule forever as a righteous judge. In view of this, those most in need of a righteous judge to give them justice, namely, the afflicted and the oppressed, may flee to Him in their distress. The basis of hope in prayer is the belief that the Lord rules.