“When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence.”
The statement that when enemies are turned back and stumble and perish before God establishes that God's mighty deeds include judgment of enemies and vindication of the righteous. The vivid imagery of enemies turning back and stumbling suggests rapid, comprehensive defeat that leaves no room for recovery. The emphasis on occurring before God suggests that God has directly caused the destruction rather than enemies experiencing mere misfortune. This verse establishes that the psalm's thanksgiving commemorates not merely private blessing but public vindication through enemy defeat.
Church Fathers on Psalms 9:3
1. The inscription of this Psalm is, “To the end for the hidden things of the Son, a Psalm of David himself.” As to the hidden things of the Son there may be a question: but since he has not added whose, the very only-begotten Son of God should be understood. For where a Psalm has been inscribed of the son of David, “When,” he says, “he fled from the face of Absalom his son;” although his name even was mentioned, and therefore there could be no obscurity as to whom it was…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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