Psalm 9:1-10

    1      I will praise You, O LORD, with my whole heart;
    I will tell of all Your marvelous works.
    2      I will be glad and rejoice in You;
    I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.

    3      When my enemies turn back,
    They shall fall and perish at Your presence.
    4      For You have maintained my right and my cause;
    You sat on the throne judging in righteousness.
    5      You have rebuked the nations,
    You have destroyed the wicked;
    You have blotted out their name forever and ever.

    6      O enemy, destructions are finished forever!
    And you have destroyed cities;
    Even their memory has perished.
    7      But the LORD shall endure forever;
    He has prepared His throne for judgment.
    8      He shall judge the world in righteousness,
    And He shall administer judgment for the peoples in uprightness.

    9      The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed,
    A refuge in times of trouble.
    10      And those who know Your name will put their trust in You;
    For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.
Psalm 9:1-10

There is no doubt that the various Psalmists are very creative when it comes to praise. We see continually this example of a whole heart of praise toward the Lord. This is an attitude that we ought to maintain. I challenge myself on a regular basis to be certain that when I am coming before the Lord and offering praise I do so with a whole heart. Seek to do likewise. If your praise is halfhearted, seek to know why and turn quickly.

As David offers his praise, he recognizes how the Lord stands by him in what he does and fights for his cause. It is important to note that God is not on David's side because David is special, but because David is on god's side. We ought not to think that the Lord will support us in sinful or rebellious decisions. The way of the wicked will perish but the Lord will continue forever. Likewise, those who are in the Lord will also endure likewise. As Paul states in Romans 6, we have been united in a death like His, so also we will be united in being brought to life like Him.

In whatever circumstance you may find yourself in, I encourage you to be creative and whole hearted in offering praise to the Lord. See that the Lord is a refuge for you through oppression and times of trouble. Put your trust in the Lord as you continue to grow in knowledge and understanding concerning the Lord. God has not, does not, and will not forsake those who seek Him. Continue to press forward.