Psalm 9:7Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The adversary’s armaments have been completely depleted, and the cities You have laid to waste; he is forgotten in the chaos. Another translator, Symmachus, refers to them as ruins. In Hebrew, they are called deserts. The destruction of cities signifies a deeper meaning: by dismantling the schemes and plots of the wicked, you have stripped him of his own defenses. This exemplifies the fury of God, who obliterates everything in His path. Alternatively, another interpreter remarks that not only have you annihilated those cities, but you have also eradicated the surrounding wastelands. This illustrates how the righteous fight their battles—not through physical weapons, but with divine assistance. Hence, their warfare shines with brilliance and splendor, and their victory is overwhelming.

The weapons of iniquity can be interpreted as the diverse sinful thoughts through which the adversary strikes down souls. Augustine of Hippo, Explanation of Psalms 9.8.

The book of Ecclesiastes states that the legacy of the wise endures eternally, persisting throughout all ages, while the memory of the foolish diminishes over time. The Prophet clearly affirms this by declaring, “Their memory perishes.” This is emphasized by the phrase “with noise.” Thus, Ecclesiastes observes that the wise are not remembered alongside the foolish for eternity; instead, the legacy of the wise is sustained through remembrance, whereas the foolish are destined for forgetfulness. In the future, everything associated with the foolish will be lost to memory, a notion often conveyed as if the future has already arrived, as seen in the words, “and all things were forgotten” (Ecclesiastes 2:16).

At the conclusion, the enemy's arsenal has diminished. The tools of the adversary represent the opposing forces that once fortified his position. These "Grads" embody the opposing forces, resembling solid fortresses that maintained dominion over those ensnared by their allure. Which cities could he reference if not those mentioned elsewhere, “Thou hast laid down cities in the ground, firm cities, to shepherd their foundations” (Isaiah 25:2)? Clearly, these are, as previously described, the opposing powers. Their memory has faded with a great noise — their downfall has become widely known. The methods of this downfall may be attributed either to complete annihilation, overwhelming calamities, or the unmistakable nature of their destruction.

You have rendered the enemy's weapons ineffective in the end, and you have brought destruction to the cities. The adversary has been stripped of his instruments of malice, lacking any agents of evil. Those who previously collaborated with him and have now turned to the right path combat him instead. The cities, once characterized by the wickedness that dominated them, now take on the mission of building a foundation of righteousness. Establishing true righteousness was impossible without first dismantling the prevailing evil. The apostle, inspired by the divine, states, “The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires, and to live soberly and justly in this present age” (Titus 2:11-12).

Empowered by the gifts of the Holy Spirit, the apostles journeyed across various nations, proclaiming the genuine faith and baptizing in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit while instructing the new believers to adhere to all the teachings of the Redeemer. The confused Gentiles received enlightenment from the Spirit, leading to the downfall of idolatry and superstition. However, the adversary, although not vanquished, continues to contend against us, enticing the naïve and foolish to persist in idol worship. Yet, his strength is feeble, and he wields no weapon against the might of Christ.

You have rendered the enemy's weapons ineffective, for their swords have vanished, and you have brought devastation to their cities. The term "weapons" or "swords" here refers to those sinful desires that render our souls lifeless to virtuous deeds, as if entombed within the flesh. However, when the malevolence of the nations was abolished and righteousness was sown and rooted in its stead, it was akin to the fall of their very cities. Alternatively, cities can also symbolize the individuals in whom demons reside. Moreover, it is fitting to interpret "cities" as the profane temples of idols. Let their memory perish with a loud clamor. For no one any longer knew how to offer sacrifices to him, nor how to invoke him in prayer.

The enemy of the human race, the liar and murderer from the beginning of time, has employed every weapon and every deceit against man; he strives day and night to devise new weapons and new plans to lead even one person into perdition. He goes about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Pet. 5:8).

The prophet reveals how the evil of idolatry was vanquished: the adversary of the devil had exhausted the means he previously employed, leading to the complete desolation of the strongholds in which he resided. The Lord, through His might, obliterated these strongholds and rendered the devil's tactics ineffective, preventing him from inflicting harm or protecting himself. By referring to the weapons of the devil, we understand them to be his various schemes, deceptions, and manipulations, which operate like instruments or fiery darts, as the holy Apostle Paul describes (Eph. 6:16). Today, these weapons are diminished for the enemy, as they cannot affect those who are equipped with faith in Jesus Christ.

The recollection of demons and idols faded away with a resounding noise, spreading across the earth through the apostolic proclamation. However, the Lord Jesus Christ remains the sovereign God, not only to them but eternally our God. The Good News of Christ inaugurated the New Everlasting Covenant.