Psalms 9:3

3 When my enemies turned back, they stumbled and perished before thee.

Psalms 9:3 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 9:3

When mine enemies are turned back
As the Philistines were, when Goliath their champion was dead; and as the men that came to apprehend Christ, David's antitype, went backwards and fell to the ground, through the superior power of Christ; and as sin, Satan, and the world, and at last antichrist, are made to retreat from the Lord's people, who are more than conquerors over them through Christ that has loved them. "They shall fall and perish at thy presence"; they shall stumble at one thing or another which divine Providence will throw in their way to hinder them from executing their designs, and so fall before them they meant to destroy, and perish at the presence of God as wax melteth before the fire; see ( Psalms 27:2 ) ( Psalms 68:1 Psalms 68:2 ) ; so antichrist shall be consumed with the breath of Christ's mouth, and the brightness of his coming, ( 2 Thessalonians 2:8 ) ; and this is the ground and foundation of the psalmist's joy, and rejoicing, and singing praise to God as it will be the reason of the joy of saints in the latter day, ( Revelation 18:22 ) ( Revelation 19:1 Revelation 19:2 ) .

Psalms 9:3 In-Context

1 To the choirmaster: according to Muth-labben. A Psalm of David. I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will tell of all thy wonderful deeds.
2 I will be glad and exult in thee, I will sing praise to thy name, O Most High.
3 When my enemies turned back, they stumbled and perished before thee.
4 For thou hast maintained my just cause; thou hast sat on the throne giving righteous judgment.
5 Thou hast rebuked the nations, thou hast destroyed the wicked; thou hast blotted out their name for ever and ever.
Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright 1952 [2nd edition, 1971] by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.