January 14, 2009
Where are you when I need You?
Psalm 10
Charles Wills
Central Truth
When times are difficult, and it appears that wicked people are succeeding and have no consequences for their actions, the Lord is in control. Justice is ultimately His.
Key Verse | Psalm 10:12
Rise up, Lord! O God, strike him down! Do not forget the oppressed!(Psalm 10:12)
Psalm 10
Why Do You Hide Yourself?
1
Why, O LORD, do you stand far away?
Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
2
In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the poor;
let them be caught in the schemes that they have devised.
3
For the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul,
and the one greedy for gain curses
1
10:3
Or and he blesses the one greedy for gain
and renounces the LORD.
4
In the pride of his face
2
10:4
Or of his anger
the wicked does not seek him;
3
10:4
Or the wicked says, He will not call to account
all his thoughts are, “There is no God.”
5
His ways prosper at all times;
your judgments are on high, out of his sight;
as for all his foes, he puffs at them.
6
He says in his heart, “I shall not be moved;
throughout all generations I shall not meet adversity.”
7
His mouth is filled with cursing and deceit and oppression;
under his tongue are mischief and iniquity.
8
He sits in ambush in the villages;
in hiding places he murders the innocent.
His eyes stealthily watch for the helpless;
9
he lurks in ambush like a lion in his thicket;
he lurks that he may seize the poor;
he seizes the poor when he draws him into his net.
10
The helpless are crushed, sink down,
and fall by his might.
11
He says in his heart, “God has forgotten,
he has hidden his face, he will never see it.”
12
Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up your hand;
forget not the afflicted.
13
Why does the wicked renounce God
and say in his heart, “You will not call to account”?
14
But you do see, for you note mischief and vexation,
that you may take it into your hands;
to you the helpless commits himself;
you have been the helper of the fatherless.
15
Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer;
call his wickedness to account till you find none.
16
The LORD is king forever and ever;
the nations perish from his land.
17
O LORD, you hear the desire of the afflicted;
you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear
18
to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed,
so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.
Dive Deeper | Psalm 10
It is frustrating to see people doing wrong, ignoring authority, outright rebelling, seemingly with no consequences for their actions. In fact, it often appears that they are succeeding because of their wrong deeds. This is what the psalmist is experiencing.
In verse 1, the author has our first reaction to this situation "Why, Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you pay no attention during times of trouble?" In other words, why are they getting away with this? Where is justice?
In verses 2-11, the author describes a truly evil man and concludes: "His ways prosper at all time; Your judgments are on high, out of his sight." (Psalm 10:5, NASB) In other words, he is doing all kinds of evil, and it appears he isn't just getting away with it, but succeeding because of it.
The psalmist has the correct reaction to this situation in verse 12, "Rise up, Lord! O God, strike him down! Do not forget the oppressed!" He calls out to God for justice and has faith that the Lord will deliver it.
The principles of Psalm 10 can been seen in everyday life. Children often ask their parents, "Why do other kids get to do that, while I don't?" This is their reaction from two perspectives. Either they want to participate in the activity (because it looks like the easiest or most fun path), or they want to see punishment applied to someone else (because they know they would be punished for similar behavior). The psalmist is pointing out that we adults can also have this response. In the news, we may see a politician who has risen to high levels of power but is abusing that power for personal gain. In those cases, we want justice and want it right now!
As Christians, we are subject to a higher standard because our Father has set us apart for a different path. We are called to be holy in all of our conduct. (1 Peter 1:15-16) Furthermore, we must remember that justice is ultimately the Father's, and He will deliver it in His timing.
Discussion Questions
1. What is our appropriate response when we see injustice, but we are not in a position of authority?
2. Hebrews 11:6 says without faith it is impossible to please God. How can we exhibit faith in situations in which it appears that injustice is prevailing?
3. Is it possible that our perspective of justice and the timing for that justice is different from God's?