What does Psalm 9:4 mean?

David is thankful that the Lord defended him against his enemies. Even so, David acknowledges that this is because his efforts were in line with the will of God. God established David to be king, and the one through whom the Messiah would come to save all people from their sin. The Lord would not let anyone or anything disrupt that plan. In that sense, David was on the "right side of history," and his enemies were on the wrong side.

Psalms such as this acknowledge that God is fully sovereign. The Lord is depicted as regal, kingly, and in authority. This depiction comes in the context of Israel's defeat of those who attacked the nation (Psalm 9:3). Not even those assaults could topple the Lord from His throne, and the total defeat of those enemies was part of God's perfect judgment.

In the dawn of history, Lucifer tried to topple God from His throne and claim the throne for himself. He learned the hard way that God's throne is established securely forever. God responded to Lucifer's rebellion by casting him down from his privileged position. Isaiah 14:12 exclaims: "How you have fallen from heaven, O Day Star [Lucifer], son of Dawn! How you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low!"