Thread by @carringtonam

A lot of #PoliticalTheology going on in Psalm 9. It picks up on a theme from Psalm 7 about the Psalmist appealing his just cause to God. If you weren't convinced that this involved political language, Psalm 9 makes that conclusion overtly.

When appealing for his just cause, David (the Psalm's author) expresses confidence because, he says to God, "you have sat on the throne, giving righteous judgment." Sitting on the throne is a clear political picture, the place where the king acts authoritatively.

David then contrasts the political status of "the enemy" to God and His kingdom. The enemy he rebuked. But how? He ended them in "everlasting ruins." In particular, David notes that "their cities you rooted out." The image of the city is a frequent one for a political community.

Thus, God punishes other peoples by ending their status as a political community. The ultimate judgment temporally speaking. By contrast, "the LORD sits enthroned forever." Moreover, David states that God "has established his throne for justice."

The preceding reiterates the purpose of rule. In punishing the wicked and protecting the innocent, you uphold justice. The Psalm goes on to say that in so establishing, God works constantly toward that end, judging the world with righteousness and the peoples with uprightness.

In doing these things, David emphasizes one part of God's justice: He "is a stronghold for the oppressed." The strong need the law less than the weak. The weak face oppression, in fact, from the strong. The coercive force of political rule brings in might to ensure right.

In addition, a later passage here makes sure to note that God not only vindicates the cause of the oppressed. He "is mindful of them." Later, "the needy shall not always be forgotten." Implies a love toward, not a grudging administration of justice.

The Psalm concludes by asking God to intervene according to the principles laid out in the preceding verses. While God exemplified just rule, in a world of sin we don't see it perfectly. David asks "your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" to a fuller degree than now.

In these passages, we do see principles for human rule and limitations as well. No human rule sits "enthroned forever" and, given sin, that's a good thing. Nor will any human rule achieve perfect justice. But we can try to approximate both to the degree possible.

1) a steady, longstanding rule can bring peace and prosperity while 2) we seek justice as closely as we humanly can.