Psalm 10 

[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 and renounces the LORD.
[4] In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him;
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

SCRIPTURE SUMMARY: In Psalm 10, the Psalmist spends the first half asking God why he won’t respond and why he doesn’t see the injustice of the wicked on earth. They curse God, manipulate people, and stand in arrogance - believing that they will never be moved. They go about life like a predator, lurking in the shadows to devour their prey. Then, the Psalmist implores God to arise and defend the defenseless. He notes, beginning in verse 14, “But you DO see, for you note mischief and vexation, that you make take it into your hands; to you the helpless commits himself; you have been the helper of the fatherless. Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer; call his wickedness to account till you find none. The LORD is KING forever and ever; the nations perish from his land. O LORD, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.”

OBSERVATION: In a day and age that is riddled with wicked people plotting evil on every level of the spectrum of power, what is God doing? He is taking note of every whisper of mischief, every vexation, every carelessly spoken word (Matt 12:36). He is preparing to right every wrong, break the arm of the wicked, and destroy his enemies. We take comfort knowing that HE is king forever (even when wicked men and women think that they are in control), and HE will never be dethroned. We simply trust in the Lord and wait on his deliverance. 

APPLICATION: There are so many wild conspiracies out there right now. Conspiracies from the left. Conspiracies from the right. There are people pointing blame. Most certainly, behind the scenes, there are evil men and women plotting evil and doing evil - whether in Iran, China, the USA, or anywhere. Perhaps some of these conspiracies and conjectures are, in fact, true. This is nothing new. Every generation on earth, and every nation on earth, has evil people involved in it.

My responsibility, from Psalm 10, is to cry out to God for deliverance from the wicked and to cast myself into his arms. Even though the wicked may prosper here, God is taking note of every word, every action, and will bring it all to an end. Pray more, panic less!

PRAYER: Lord, thank you that you hear the desires of the afflicted. You hear our cries for mercy, for deliverance, for safety. We are weary, Lord, but you strengthen our hearts (v17). We are confident in this: you hear us and you will act when the fullness of time has arrived. Thank you, Lord. We entrust ourselves to you.

SHARE: Who needs to hear the hopeful words of Psalm 10 today? Share these verses with them!