(Psalms 9:1-2) “To the chief Musician upon Muthlabben, A Psalm of David. I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works. (2) I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.”

The key to this verse is the word “all”; that is, “I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.” The word “all” is limited to all that David knew of. David was very observant of the Creation of God, as is reflected in his writings of his days as a shepherd of the sheep. What child of God, in observing creation, would not issue forth a word of praise to God, the Creator of all things, for the beauty of His Creation; the order of His Creation; the power of God in His Creation; the reason for His Creation; and the control of His Creation.

However, the “all” of God’s “marvellous works” must include not only the work of creation by God; but also, God’s daily works of Provision, Protection, Power; Revelation of truth to; Leading, Healing; Salvation, both temporal and eternal, securing the sheep of God (Ps. 23:1-6). David qualified all of God’s works by the adjective, “Marvellous.” This word means “to be marvellous, or to be wonderful, be surpassing, be extraordinary, separate by distinguishing action; (Niphal); to be beyond one’s power, be difficult to do, to be difficult to understand; to be wonderful, be extraordinary; marvellous.”

David was acknowledging The LORD (Jehovah) as the Creator, and Preserver of all His Creation, animate and inanimate. David described his acknowledging of the Greatness of God to the sheep in the Hebrew word, “yâdâh,” “yaw-daw,” “to use (that is, hold out) the hand; physically to throw (a stone, an arrow) at or away; especially to revere or worship (with extended hands)” (Strong #3034); also, “to give thanks, laud, praise” (BDB).

The phrase, “…with my whole heart”; “all, the whole; all, the whole of any, each, every, anything; totality, everything” (BDB). The word “heart” means, “the inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding; inner part; mind, knowledge, thinking” (BDB). Therefore, David did not hide his “praise” for God’s “marvellous works.” David expressed his thankfulness to God using his hands (1 Tim. 2:8). David was not ashamed of God and of God’s marvelous works; which is proven by his outward expression of praise to God with his hands.

Then, in Psalms 9:2 David adds his attitude and the how he praised God, “I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.” David’s attitude is revealed in the condition of his spirit, or heart, to God. Not only was his praise to God “with his whole heart,” meaning that he was totally committed to the praise with all of his mind and being; but, also this verse shows the attitude of his praise. His praise was given in gladness and rejoicing. The Hebrew word, “śâmach,” means to be happy, to make merry. The Hebrew word, “‛âlats,” aw-lats,’ is “A primitive root; to jump for joy, that is, exult: – be joyful, rejoice, triumph” (Strong). These two Hebrew words fully reveal the state of David’s heart: it was committed; it was full of happiness. And this attitude was evident in his hands and in his singing. David did not only have an attitude of praise and joy, but, he vocalized his joy in singing praise.

It must be noted in Psalms 9:2 that David’s attitude of gladness and rejoicing was in God, and in Him alone, “in thee,”; that is, in the LORD, or Jehovah; The Creator of all things; the Giver of all life; the Sustainer of all His Creation; the Controller and the Consummator of His Creation. David said, “I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.”  David qualified to Whom he praised, “to thy name.” And what did David say was His Name?  “O Thou Most High.” The Hebrew word is, “elyôn,” el-yone’, “From H5927; an elevation, that is, (adjectively) lofty (comparatively); as title, the Supreme: – (Most, on) high (-er, -est), upper (-most)” (Strong). (See Gen. 14:18-20, 22.)

David praised God, the Creator, Controller and Consummator of all creation. There is none like Him; for there is no God but Him (Isa. 46:9). The following verses (Ps. 9:3-20), reveal the reason of David’s inward and outward praise. In summary, David said the wicked shall perish, and the LORD would judge the world in righteousness (Psalms 9:8); but the LORD would maintain David’s right and his cause (Psalms 9:4); and God is a Refuge for the oppressed (Psalms 9:9); for all those that knows His Name (Psalms 9:10) and that put their trust in Him; the LORD will not forsake His people (Psalms 9:11-14).

Where is the application of this Psalm for us today? The same as for David; for God is still God, and He shall always be God, and He is worthy of all our praise. God is still the Shepherd of the Sheep; which means His Care, His Salvation and His Provision is now and forever. His people do, and will, have trouble from the enemies of the Cross; even, from their own flesh that dwells within every believer. Therefore, they will ever need the Power and Provision of the Shepherd as long as they live. David records in (Psalms 9:11) what we must do as His people; and that is, “sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings.” Never give praises to a man for salvation; only to God, Who dwells in Zion; to Him and Him alone must we “declare among the people His doings.”

No matter the situation around us (enemies of Christ, or the breath of the wind in hurricanes and tornadoes, or whatever trouble); God is on His Throne and doeth whatsoever He pleased (Ps. 115:3). And He promised to be our Shield, Buckler, High Tower and Salvation (Ps. 18:1-). And He promised that He would never leave us or forsake us (Heb. 13:5c). Therefore, let us “… praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works. (2) I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High” (Psa 9:1-2).

O God, cause Your people to stop and think upon the Care of the Most High God; (Acts 17:28) “For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.”