A praise acrostic. An acrostic is a poem, or in this case a psalm, in which each line or stanza begins with a consecutive letter of the alphabet. We see this frequently in children’s books because it both helps the child learn the alphabet and memorize the content.
You know:
“A” is for apple on the tree
“B” is for bird flying free
“C” is for chimp acting badly
“D” is for dog scratching a flea
“E” is for elephant learning to ski
Of course as this psalm was originally written by David in the Hebrew language the acrostic is lost in translation. But it is a great way to teach children about God’s works and ways.
| Psalm 9 (NIV)
A Psalm of David. For the director of music. To the tune of “The Death of the Son.” |
An Acrostic of Praise |
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1 I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; |
1. Alep: Praise God
How? By telling of all God’s deeds. For example: Creation, salvation, protection, both Bible stories and personal stories. |
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3 My enemies turn back; |
2. Bet: God is a righteous judge. He will uphold you and cause your enemies to stumble. |
| 5 You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked; you have blotted out their name for ever and ever. 6 Endless ruin has overtaken my enemies, you have uprooted their cities; even the memory of them has perished. |
3. Gimel: In comparison to the name of God which endures for ever, the name of the wicked will be forgotten forever. |
| 7 The Lord reigns forever; he has established his throne for judgment. 8 He rules the world in righteousness and judges the peoples with equity. |
4. He: The wicked play favorites and look after their own interests but God judges everyone by the same standard.
He judges with equity. |
| 9 The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. 10 Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you. |
5. Waw: Those who try to make a name for themselves will be destroyed but those who trust in God’s name will never be forsaken. |
| 11 Sing the praises of the Lord, enthroned in Zion; proclaim among the nations what he has done. 12 For he who avenges blood remembers; he does not ignore the cries of the afflicted. |
6. Zayin: Two (2) commands …
a. Sing the Praises of the Lord b. Proclaim: tell everyone what God has done. What has God done? |
| 13 Lord, see how my enemies persecute me! Have mercy and lift me up from the gates of death, 14 that I may declare your praises in the gates of Daughter Zion, and there rejoice in your salvation. |
7. Het: David is being persecuted and near death. He asks God to save him, lift him up and promises to publicly praise God, telling everyone how God saved him.
Do you publicly tell everyone about God’s deeds? |
| 15 The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug; their feet are caught in the net they have hidden. 16 The Lord is known by his acts of justice; the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands. |
8. Tet: The boomerang snare of evil.
David’s enemies are trapped in the trap they set for him. Pray that the evil will be caught in their schemes! |
| 17 The wicked go down to the realm of the dead, all the nations that forget God. |
9. Yod: If they don’t turn from their evil and turn to God they will be condemned to the realm of the dead. |
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18 But God will never forget the needy; 19 Arise, Lord, do not let mortals triumph; |
10. Kap: No matter what your circumstance, have hope. God remembers you.
God will never allow those who oppose him and his people escape judgment. |
As God has delivered you in the past, he will deliver you in the future. So if you are faced with opposition …
- Recount how God has worked in your life in the past.
- Know that God is the Judge of the world.
- Know that God is your fortress.
- God has so designed reality that the consequences of a man’s unrepentant sin and rebellion will inevitably catch up to him.
Like Psalm 9, Psalm 10 is an acrostic Psalm, and, in fact it picks up where Psalm 9 left off with the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet. So really Psalms 9 and 10 are a package deal!
| Psalm 10 (NIV) | An Acrostic on Atheism
The Nature of the Wicked |
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1 Why, Lord, do you stand far off? 2 In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak, |
1. Lamed: God seems far off because
a. the wicked prey on the weak b. plot and plan c. boasts he can do whatever he wants d. he and his greedy friends mock God |
| 4 In his pride the wicked man does not seek God; in all his thoughts, there is no God. |
2. Nun: Acts as if there is no God.
God seems distant because the wicked are getting away with their evil. |
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5 His ways are always prosperous; |
3. Samek: He is prosperous. The law doesn’t apply to him. No respect for anyone. Lives by 2 mottos: “I won’t slip.” “Happiness without misfortune.” |
| 7 His mouth is full of lies and threats; trouble and evil are under his tongue. 8 He lies in wait near the villages; from ambush he murders the innocent. His eyes watch in secret for his victims; |
4. Pe: Delights in lies.
Wicked in both speech and action … Harms villages and passers by. |
| 9 like a lion in cover he lies in wait. He lies in wait to catch the helpless; he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net. |
5. Ayin: A hunter, a thief.
Preying on the unsuspecting. |
| 10 His victims are crushed, they collapse; they fall under his strength. 11 He says to himself, “God will never notice; he covers his face and never sees.” |
6. Sade: He is strong.
Where is God? The wicked think that God doesn’t see them. |
| The Nature of God | |
| 12 Arise, Lord! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless. 13 Why does the wicked man revile God? Why does he say to himself, “He won’t call me to account”? |
7. Qop: Enough of this cowering and fearing the wicked.
Pray: God lift your hand against those who mock you and your people. |
| 14 But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand. The victims commit themselves to you; you are the helper of the fatherless. |
8. Res: God we are relying on you.
Please do two (2) things: 1. Remember our trouble and grief 2. Break our wicked oppressors |
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15 Break the arm of the wicked man; 16 The Lord is King for ever and ever; |
9. Sin: Break the power of the wicked.
The wicked had boasted that God won’t hold them to account but God does see and He will call everyone to account. |
| 17 You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, 18 defending the fatherless and the oppressed, so that mere earthly mortals will never again strike terror. |
10. Taw: David began the Psalm asking, “Why?”
He ends the Psalm confident. God is not far off. God is our defender and those who oppose him are only mortal. |
Christians look around the world and see that Atheists live as if there is no God that sees them or calls them to account. They boast that they will never slip. They will always be happy and never experience misfortune. They can do whatever they want.
What’s going on?
God is never far off. He always sees what is going on. The righteous king and judge will indeed call everyone to account. In this Psalm, God teaches his children to pray for God to break the power of the wicked in the world. We are to pray that God would break those who boast in themselves and take advantage of others. Let them be terrified and perhaps seek God.
Do you pray like that? Can you pray like that?
By Richard Loper