By Bunni Pounds

*This blog is part of our weekly, virtual Bible Study through the book of Psalms. For information on how to participate, please visit this page.

“Why do You stand afar off, O Lord?

Why do You hide in times of trouble?

The wicked in his pride persecutes the poor; Let them be caught in the plots which they have devised.

For the wicked boasts of his heart’s desire; He blesses the greedy and renounces the Lord. The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God;

God is in none of his thoughts.” (verses 1-4) 

Just like in Psalm 9 - Psalm 10 is a contrast piece between the “wicked” and the people of God.

It is so clear as we read this passage how far the wicked have gone in their thoughts. “God is in none of his thoughts”. 

That is a scary and dark place to think about when you know and understand God.

Can you imagine God not being in your thoughts AT ALL? 

The wicked people in this passage do not seek God and they move in their pride toward other greedy people and away from the needy. 

In American terminology - all they think about is themselves. They are completely selfish.

It is awful to watch and observe. Then they move into complete arrogance believing that nothing bad will ever happen to them.

“His ways are always prospering;

Your judgments are far above, out of his sight; As for all his enemies, he sneers at them. He has said in his heart, “I shall not be moved; I shall never be in adversity.” His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and oppression; Under his tongue is trouble and iniquity. 

He sits in the lurking places of the villages;

In the secret places he murders the innocent; His eyes are secretly fixed on the helpless. He lies in wait secretly, as a lion in his den; He lies in wait to catch the poor;

He catches the poor when he draws him into his net. So he crouches, he lies low,

That the helpless may fall by his strength.” (Verses 5-10)

This section reminded me of the underbelly of American life - human trafficking, the porn industry, and even Planned Parenthood and abortion clinics – setting up shop in poor and minority neighborhoods- preying on the poor and “in the secret place, he murders the innocent.”

Darkness! Evil! Wickedness!

On the dark recesses of the American experience are people that all they want to do is destroy others’ lives and at the same time make themselves rich.

We think many times those things can only happen in other countries like Rwanda or India – but depravity of minds can happen anywhere and these minds that have been corrupted by evil can prey on others. 

Many times, we ask the question, why do bad things happen to good people? It is always the result of sin and evil in the world. This is the result of unrenewed minds to the Word of God acting out in the only way they know how – evil and selfishness. It doesn’t feel right to us if we are walking with God because we understand that it is NOT right. 

We are seeing suffering from the result of sin all over our world – whether it is man’s sin nature manifest, natural disasters, sickness and disease, or the breakdown of our institutions. 

He has said in his heart,

“God has forgotten;

He hides His face;

He will never see.”

Arise, O Lord!

O God, lift up Your hand!

Do not forget the humble.

Why do the wicked renounce God?

He has said in his heart,

“You will not require an account.”

But You have seen, for You observe trouble and grief,

To repay it by Your hand.

The helpless commits himself to You;

You are the helper of the fatherless. (verses 11-15)

I am writing this article in 2021 – after 2020. That is all I need to say to bring back memories of this season regardless of when you read this. This season has been hard for everyone in the entire world. Never before in this generation have we been united together in pain – across nation’s boundaries, ideologies, or political philosophies. We have all been effected by COVID-19 and it’s impact on our finances, families, and communities. We have seen injustices and hypocrisies like never before as city, county, state, and our federal governments have picked winners and losers. Certain businesses have to be closed because they don’t have enough room for social distancing - yet people can walk around in a crowded market because it is in the open air. It doesn’t make sense, and we have felt very helpless many times. 

We have seen and observed trouble and grief. We have seen the helpless probably more than any other time in our lives. Psalm 10 gives us hope that God SEES and He KNOWS what is going on. Just as He is the “helper of the fatherless” – He is the helper to all of us. He has not forgotten us. 

Break the arm of the wicked and the evil man;

Seek out his wickedness until You find none.

The Lord is King forever and ever;

The nations have perished out of His land.

Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble;

You will prepare their heart;

You will cause Your ear to hear,

To do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed,

That the man of the earth may oppress no more. (Verses 15-18)

As in every Psalm where David is lamenting but then comes back around to hope – this Psalm ends with powerful truths. 

• The Lord is King forever and ever.

• The Lord has heard the desire of the humble.

• The Lord will do justice for the fatherless and the oppressed. 

• One day – the man of the earth will oppress no more. 

Let’s just focus in for a few final moments on the final promise. The “man of the earth” – the men of power who seem to be pushing the buttons right now and destroying lives in the wake of their decisions will not oppress people forever. The real Lord and King will rule with righteousness, justice, and mercy. He will care for us as we should be cared for. He will make all things right. 

In 2021 – wondering where this story is going, many days in fear and hopelessness, these promises give us hope. The man of the earth will oppress no more. This is our eternal hope. 

As we look at human trafficking, abortion, unethical behavior in business, the destruction of neighborhoods and businesses, injustices in laws and in our courts – God sees it and has not forgotten about it. He can absolutely use us to make a difference, but if everything doesn’t turn out exactly the way we want it to on this earth – He has got us taken care of. 

“For the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” Revelation 7:17

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