God’s justice is both a warning to the wicked and an assurance to the righteous.
“The LORD has made Himself known; He has executed judgment. In the work of his own hands the wicked is snared. Higgaion Selah.” (v.16) This verse underscores God’s power to reveal Himself through acts of justice. By carrying out righteous and timely judgment, the LORD demonstrates that He is not absent or distant, but intimately involved in the affairs of humanity. The phrase “The LORD has made Himself known” indicates that He desires for people to see and understand His supreme authority and righteous rule.
When the psalmist declares that God “has executed judgment” and that “the wicked is snared” by their own deeds, it highlights a crucial biblical theme: evil often backfires upon its perpetrator (Galatians 6:7). The LORD’s justice works out in such a way that wrongdoing becomes its own trap. In the Old Testament, betrayal such as Haman’s plot against Mordecai rebounded on its originator (Esther 7:10). In the New Testament, Jesus affirms that we must repent lest we perish in our own unfruitful ways (Luke 13:3). Here, the psalmist succinctly conveys that the mighty hand of God inevitably reaches into every situation to make things right.
The word “Higgaion” roughly translates to a reflective musical notation, and paired with “Selah,” it urges readers to pause and meditate upon God’s actions. As we contemplate God’s self-revelation and righteous judgments, we remember that He does not inflict punishment arbitrarily, but does so to bring order, justice, and redemption upon the earth (Psalm 89:14). It is a profound solace to know that the Almighty seeks to show Himself in ways intended to turn hearts back to what is true.
Set to dark mode
Psalms 9:16 meaning
“The LORD has made Himself known; He has executed judgment. In the work of his own hands the wicked is snared. Higgaion Selah.” (v.16) This verse underscores God’s power to reveal Himself through acts of justice. By carrying out righteous and timely judgment, the LORD demonstrates that He is not absent or distant, but intimately involved in the affairs of humanity. The phrase “The LORD has made Himself known” indicates that He desires for people to see and understand His supreme authority and righteous rule.
When the psalmist declares that God “has executed judgment” and that “the wicked is snared” by their own deeds, it highlights a crucial biblical theme: evil often backfires upon its perpetrator (Galatians 6:7). The LORD’s justice works out in such a way that wrongdoing becomes its own trap. In the Old Testament, betrayal such as Haman’s plot against Mordecai rebounded on its originator (Esther 7:10). In the New Testament, Jesus affirms that we must repent lest we perish in our own unfruitful ways (Luke 13:3). Here, the psalmist succinctly conveys that the mighty hand of God inevitably reaches into every situation to make things right.
The word “Higgaion” roughly translates to a reflective musical notation, and paired with “Selah,” it urges readers to pause and meditate upon God’s actions. As we contemplate God’s self-revelation and righteous judgments, we remember that He does not inflict punishment arbitrarily, but does so to bring order, justice, and redemption upon the earth (Psalm 89:14). It is a profound solace to know that the Almighty seeks to show Himself in ways intended to turn hearts back to what is true.