Connect Psalm 9:20 with another scripture emphasizing God's dominion over the earth.

◄ Link Psalm 9:20 to God's earth rule. ►

Setting the Scene

• Psalm 9 celebrates God as righteous Judge; verse 20 is the psalmist’s plea that nations realize their limits under His rule.

• To highlight God’s universal reign, Psalm 24:1–2 speaks directly to His ownership of creation.

Psalm 9:20—Human Limits under Divine Rule

“Strike them with terror, O LORD; let the nations know they are but men. Selah.”

Key observations

• “Strike them with terror” — the psalmist asks God to reveal His power so clearly that every nation feels awe.

• “Know they are but men” — the contrast: finite humanity versus the infinite LORD.

• The verse anchors justice in God’s dominion; only the One who rules all can put every nation in its proper place.

Psalm 24:1–2—The Earth Belongs to the LORD

“The earth is the LORD’s, and the fullness thereof, the world and all who dwell in it.

For He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.”

Key observations

• “The earth is the LORD’s” — absolute ownership; nothing lies outside His jurisdiction.

• “All who dwell in it” — every person, tribe, and nation exists under God’s authority.

• Creation language (“founded…established”) grounds dominion in the very act of making the world.

Connecting the Two Passages

• Psalm 9:20 highlights God’s right to judge; Psalm 24:1–2 explains that right—He owns what He created.

• When nations forget they are “but men,” Psalm 24 reminds them they occupy God’s world, not their own.

• Together, the verses show both sides of dominion: God’s authority (Psalm 24) and humanity’s accountability (Psalm 9).

Supporting Scriptures

• 1 Chronicles 29:11 — “Yours, O LORD, is the greatness…You rule over all.”

• Daniel 4:34–35 — “His dominion is an everlasting dominion…no one can restrain His hand.”

• Revelation 11:15 — “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ.”

Takeaway Points

• God’s dominion is total—originating in creation and extending through history.

• Every nation’s power is provisional; ultimate authority rests with the Creator.

• Recognizing this truth fosters humility, worship, and confidence in God’s just rule over the earth.