Mensa Otabil - Let Them Not Prevail (10/06/2025)
So we’ve been examining Psalm 9 throughout this week, and we are concluding with the last two verses. I trust this study has been interesting for you as we see how David handles an impending attack and depends on God’s mercy for help.
So, verses 19 and 20: «Arise, O Lord; do not let man prevail; let the nations be judged in Your sight. Put them in fear, O Lord, so that the nations may know themselves to be but men.» Selah.The psalm concludes with a call for God to respond to His people, or to David. He says, «Arise, O Lord,» calling the Lord to act, to step in. What we see from this psalm is that at the moment David is praying, deliverance has not yet come; but he is hopeful and expectant of it. He begins with praise, states his case, describes the situation, and affirms his faith in how God is going to deal with it. Now he says, «Lord, I leave it in Your hands. Arise, O Lord, and do something about this situation.»
The reason he ends this way is given in these verses. He says, «Lord, arise because do not let man prevail.» David implores God not to allow these wicked people to succeed. Why? Because when wicked people succeed, wickedness increases, and the righteous falter in their faith. People begin to doubt that God can take care of business or bring justice. He says, «Lord, don’t let this go; don’t let this pass; don’t let these people prevail.» This should also be our prayer: that wickedness does not prevail or triumph in the end.
The second thing he says is, «Lord, put fear in them.» This is a call for God to terrify those attempting to destroy the righteous. He says, «Lord, put fear in them,» but there is a redemptive aspect to this prayer. If God instills fear in them, they will begin to learn wisdom; they will start to submit to the Lord and acknowledge Him. When God truly confronts you and puts fear in you, His fear can terrify you, ideally leading to repentance and a longing for His salvation. This prayer is actually for the salvation of the wicked-not that they should be destroyed entirely, but that the wicked will turn from their ways and return to the Lord, revering Him.
David concludes by saying, «Let them know that they are just men. Teach them the lesson.» Let them understand that their best plans will not succeed, that they are mere human beings, limited in power and scope. It may seem like a judgment against the wicked, but it’s also a chance for redemption because if God instills fear in them and they learn they are just men, they may come to proclaim that there is no god but Jehovah, just as Nebuchadnezzar did.
David begins with praise and ends with a call for the Lord to intervene and stop wickedness. He desires that those who do wickedness will revere and fear the Lord, coming face to face with their own humanity-that they are merely human beings and not gods who control the destinies of others. This is a fitting way for the psalm to conclude, and it is how we should also pray, trusting that God will come through for us and deliver us. In delivering us, He would also teach a lesson to the oppressor, leading them to amend their ways. May the Lord who helped David through his many troubles help us, too, through ours. Let us pray.
Say with me: Heavenly Father, arise in our world. Cause wickedness and evil to cease. Magnify Your name in all the earth. In Jesus' name, amen and amen. May the Lord rule over all nations of this world. I’m Pastor Mensa Otabil. Shalom, peace, and life to you.