Psalms 10
Psalm 10 begins with the psalmist appealing to God as he observes the prosperity of the wicked and the suffering of the righteous. Overall, the poem pleads God to address a reality in which the wicked act arrogantly and suppress the poor and the weak, as if God were sometimes silent. The psalmist then confesses hope, proclaiming that God will ultimately not ignore such injustice and will rise up for those who are suffering.
1verseWhy do you stand far off, LORD? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
2verseIn arrogance, the wicked hunt down the weak. They are caught in the schemes that they devise.
3verseFor the wicked boasts of his heart’s cravings. He blesses the greedy and condemns the LORD.
4verseThe wicked, in the pride of his face, has no room in his thoughts for God.
5verseHis ways are prosperous at all times. He is arrogant, and your laws are far from his sight. As for all his adversaries, he sneers at them.
6verseHe says in his heart, “I shall not be shaken. For generations I shall have no trouble.”
7verseHis mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and oppression. Under his tongue is mischief and iniquity.
8verseHe lies in wait near the villages. From ambushes, he murders the innocent. His eyes are secretly set against the helpless.
9verseHe lurks in secret as a lion in his ambush. He lies in wait to catch the helpless. He catches the helpless when he draws him in his net.
10verseThe helpless are crushed. They collapse. They fall under his strength.
11verseHe says in his heart, “God has forgotten. He hides his face. He will never see it.”
12verseArise, LORD! God, lift up your hand! Don’t forget the helpless.
13verseWhy does the wicked person condemn God, and say in his heart, “God won’t call me into account”?
14verseBut you do see trouble and grief. You consider it to take it into your hand. You help the victim and the fatherless.
15verseBreak the arm of the wicked. As for the evil man, seek out his wickedness until you find none.
16verseThe LORD is King forever and ever! The nations will perish out of his land.
17verseLORD, you have heard the desire of the humble. You will prepare their heart. You will cause your ear to hear,
18verseto judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that man who is of the earth may terrify no more.
The Main Message of the Whole Chapter
This psalm is mainly about raising questions concerning God’s silence and God’s judgment of the wicked, as well as God’s care for those who are oppressed. Even in the midst of suffering, it sings that we can appeal to God and that in the end God’s justice will be realized. The psalmist addresses, in a weighty way, how evil in human society and God’s righteousness clash, and ultimately places all hope in God.
Points for Reflection
- Even in times when it feels like God is not beside us, we can think about how we are able to pray in faith.
- Rather than becoming discouraged by the world’s injustice and evil deeds, we renew our hope that God will never ignore them.
Apply It to Yourself
- I check my heart on how I am accepting God’s silence in the midst of difficulties.
- I think about how I can pray and act for the weak around me and those who are being oppressed.
