BITE: A ‘Forever Judge’ Who is a Stronghold…

But the Lord sits enthroned forever;
he has established his throne for justice,
  and he judges the world with righteousness;
he judges the peoples with uprightness.
  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. Psalms 9:7-10 [ESV]

When I read the Psalms, I see so many repeated themes. David has a way of writing (and singing) that gives us a picture into why God calls David a man after His own heart.

…The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart, and the Lord has commanded him to be prince over his people…”

1 Samuel 13:14 [ESV]

Although God had established kings over Israel, He alone sits enthroned forever. He judges both the world and people of the world with righteousness and uprightness.

Now we come to such a comforting piece of this passage which talks about the refuge God is for His people who put their trust in Him. When David talks about God never forsaking those who seek Him, he is talking about past, present, and future. When I look at the world around me and how far it is diving into debauchery and evil, I as a believer who has put their trust in the ‘Forever King’ can sit in the stronghold of the Lord my God. Although my circumstances and situations might sometimes feel overwhelming and under oppression from this evil world, I have the stronghold of my Lord Who promises never to forsake me…never to turn His face from me. There is such peace in that. Psalms 9:12 assures me that I may be downtrodden and persecuted but the only One who matters, never gives up on or leaves me. Even as part of His amazing plan He allows me to find myself in suffering, He is there with me in the furnace.

For he will hide me in his shelter
in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will lift me high upon a rock.
And now my head shall be lifted up
above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the Lord.

Psalms 27:5-6 [ESV]