“I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High. When my enemies turned back, they stumbled and perished before you. For you have maintained my just cause; you have sat on the throne giving righteous judgment. You have rebuked the nations, you have destroyed the wicked; you have blotted out their name forever and ever. The enemies have vanished in everlasting ruins; their cities you have rooted out; the very memory of them has perished. But the Lord sits enthroned forever, he has established his throne for judgment. He judges the world with righteousness; he judges the peoples with equity. The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you. Sing praises to the Lord, who dwells in Zion. Declare his deeds among the peoples. For he who avenges blood is mindful of them; he does not forget the cry of the afflicted.” Psalm 9:1-12

“Psalm 9 is also a prophecy of the people of Christ, the Holy Christian Church. They suffer, following the example of Christ, and their blood is continually being shed. However, the psalm gives this prophecy thankfully and comfortingly, so that it might well be called a psalm of thanks and comfort. The Christians (and especially the holy martyrs) here thank God and are comforted by the fact that God never leaves them. No, the more they are persecuted, the more He multiplies them, as some of the persecutors convert and become Christians and the others perish. This psalm belongs in the First Commandment and in the Second Petition, as was stated in the preceding psalm.” (Martin Luther, Reading the Psalms with Luther)

The context of the Psalm is battle, a battle between G-d and the enemies of G-d. The question is, who are the enemies of G-d? This may seem like a ridiculous question, yet it needs to be raised. Are the enemies only people? Or, can suffering and disease be enemies of G-d? Can pride and success be enemies of G-d? I would say yes to all. Those who are suffering certainly can find that their focus tends to shrink away from G-d and to simply trying to survive. The same thing can happen when we find ourselves wallowing in our successes — pride and despair can both be the enemies of G-d.

When you are suffering, when you are despairing, and even when life is going so well, way beyond your expectations, you should begin every day in prayer focusing on G-d’s character more than looking for a particular answer. Once you determine and are secure in your relationship with G-d, then perhaps you will find answers to hard questions with G-d’s blessings — answers that may give you clearer eyes and mind.

Always turn to G-d in the midst of your struggles — always turn to G-d to give thanks for your blessings. Offering up prayer, praise and thanksgiving to G-d does not mean we will never suffer — nor does it guarantee your life will always be free of suffering and struggles. This should not stop our desire to praise the G-d whose character never changes.

Prayer

With all our hearts we give thanks to You, O Lord, because at all times You dwell with Your Christians and graciously preserve those in the true faith who confess Your name. Dwell in us, O Lord, with Your grace. Increase Your Church daily, and grant us to be and to remain, true members of the same to our final end. Amen.

“O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens. Out of the mouths of babes and infants you have founded a bulwark because of your foes, to silence the enemy and the avenger. When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them? Yet you have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor. You have given them dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under their feet, all sheep and oxen, and also the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, whatever passes along the paths of the seas. O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” Psalm 8

“Psalm 8 is a prophecy of Christ—His sufferings, resurrection, and kingly rule over all creatures. This kingdom shall be established by the voice of children, that is, it will be established by Word and faith alone, not by sword or armor. This psalm belongs in the First Commandment, specifically that God intends to be our God, and the Second Petition, as was stated in Psalm 2 above.” (Martin Luther, Reading the Psalms with Luther)

Who is this G-d we serve? As a Christian, we believe that G-d is nothing less than the creator of all things. It is hard to look upon the natural wonders of this world without singing praises to G-d, the creator of all things. Of course, there are many who look on this creation and marvel at how it all came to be by chance. I just do not agree. Over and over again, as I gaze upon the mountains of West Virginia, or take a glimpse into the multi-faceted and multi-dimensional aspects of the human anatomy, I see nothing here that can be explained by simply happen-stance. We watch with delight as each new blossom appears in spring, or another new creature is found where none should be, and we marvel at our G-d who continues to create. Agree with me or not, I gaze upon this world and I see the very hands of G-d —not some haphazard element of chance. “O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” Not only is it majestic, but it is evident everywhere I look.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, You were delivered for our offenses and raised again for our justification. Bless and defend Your Holy Church. Give us strength to share Your Word with the power of the Holy Spirit, so we too can declare “O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth!” And after the sufferings of this life grant us to celebrate your resurrection, knowing we too will rise again to live and reign with You in all eternity. Amen.