July 21, 2017
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Reading along with us in the first 30 chapters of Psalm? Here’s today’s reading:
Psalm 10 (ESV)
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… Continue Reading
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A psalm about perception
A psalm about how at times life involves injustice
A psalm that in the end God is just and sovreign
Again we see David trusting that God will be just in His dealings with the wicked. I especially notice that the wicked in this psalm are living long, prosperous lives and getting away with everything they do to oppress the poor, all the while rejecting God and His existence.
At the beginning of the psalm, David seems to be weary of God’s patience, and wants justice NOW. Yet by the end of the psalm, he reminds himself that God will give strength to those who are oppressed while they await justice: “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.” (Psalm 10:17-18)
When we see evil people “getting away with murder,” we can trust that God is watching. “But you do see, for you note mischief and vexation, that you may take it into your hands…” (Psalm 10:14)
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.
A clear attribute of the wicked is their denial of God’s existence, denial of His awareness of man’s actions, and denial that he will be called to account.
I really don’t like mean people and neither does David and neither does God. But for the standards of God’s word informing the conscience of the West, how much more abuse of people and power would we see? We must remember that the same evil nature of the oppressor is within me and but for the grace of God there go I. But God will deal with them in due time. We need to be careful not to get too discouraged when God seems far off and doesn’t seem to be doing anything. He is always at work but His work is not always seen. But faith let’s us know He is doing what should be done not what we want to be done.