Psalm 9:17, 18 Destroyed, Remembered

Psalm 9:17, 18 The wicked return to the grave, all the nations that forget God. But the needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish.

Psalm 9 is the longest psalm thus far. It is headed For the director of music. To the tune of The Death of the Son. A psalm of David. It is a psalm of praise for deliverance and looks to further judgements from God on the wicked. Verses 17 and 18 begin a four verse coda that culminates in a prayer for the LORD to arise and judge the nations, not letting man triumph. Strike them with terror, O LORD he says (verse 20) let the nations know they are but men. Those first two verses (17, 18) encapsulate to some extent the psalm's theme. Again it is in two parts, negative and positive. Verse 17 declares that The wicked return to the grave, not just individuals but all the nations that forget God. This is the destiny of those who break God's law and who seek to live their lives without him. Death and destruction marks their way, whatever advantage they may now seem to have. In contrast, David says in verse 18, But the needy will not always be forgotten, nor the hope of the afflicted ever perish. There is no suggestion that the godly poor and afflicted will always have it easy, as some today suggest is the case. However, they will not be ultimately forgotten. They will always have a hope that can never die, one that will be fulfilled. There is a double encouragement here then for the oppressed who make God their refuge and stronghold in times of trouble (see verse 9). Their enemies will eventually die and they themselves will be redeemed forever. God will remember them and fulfil their hope.