Today we will begin looking at a Psalm which is an example of “Lifting one’s soul to God.” Today’s part is the first step: describing the distress of the psalmist.
Psalm 10:1
“Why, O LORD, do you stand far off?
Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?”
[So it often seems. Here the psalmist is lifting his soul to you, Lord, pouring out his thoughts, feelings and desires, wondering why you seem to be doing nothing about the suffering of the weak.
However we know from your Word and our experience that you are actually at work behind the scenes, setting things up, preparing to act, working in deep and effective ways. The psalmist goes on in his complaint about the wicked:]
10:2 “In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak, who are caught in the schemes he devises.
10:3 He boasts of the cravings of his heart;
he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD.”
[Sounds like current events.]
10:4 “In his pride the wicked does not seek him;
in all his thoughts there is no room for God.”
[Brutal, selfish, proud, greedy and arrogant—the wicked man does not think of God at all. Instead he bulls his way through life taking, getting, having his own way–while God seemingly does nothing.]
10:5 “His ways are always prosperous;
he is haughty and your laws are far from him;
he sneers at all his enemies.
10:6 He says to himself, ‘Nothing will shake me;
I’ll always be happy and never have trouble.’”
[So it seems to the psalmist. However, in all the wicked man’s seeming success and strength, he is deluded, caught in the web of Satan’s lies while enjoying it—but only for a time, for you, O Lord, are prepared to act at the right moment, to bring him low, to bring justice.]
10:7 “His mouth is full of curses and lies and threats;
trouble and evil are under his tongue.
10:8 He lies in wait near the villages;
from ambush he murders the innocent,
watching in secret for his victims.
10:9 He lies in wait like a lion in cover;
he lies in wait to catch the helpless;
he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net.
10:10 His victims are crushed, they collapse;
they fall under his strength.”
[As ever, the wicked prey on the weak, never on the strong. They are cowardly and utterly selfish. Their goal is power, domination, wealth, control and comfort—and they will find it temporarily.]
10:11 “He says to himself, ‘God has forgotten;
he covers his face and never sees.’”
[This is the utmost in arrogance, claiming that the all-seeing Creator, the all-knowing Sustainer isn’t aware of what is happening! This man’s concept of God is fatally flawed, twisted, and much too small—he has made God in his own image—his world view is willfully devoid of truth. And he will pay for it.]
May we, Lord, be exactly the opposite of such a person; may we live in the light of your presence, rejoicing in your transforming Truth, reveling in your healing Grace, submitting to your ever-flowing Love. May we carry goodness, mercy, kindness and grace to the weak and weary. May you thereby be glorified in our lives today.]