Why standest thou afar off, O Lord? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?
The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.
For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the Lord abhorreth.
The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.
His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.
He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.
His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.
He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor.
He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net.
He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.
He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.
Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble.
Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it.
Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless.
Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none.
The Lord is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land.
Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:
To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.
Psalms 10 delves into the age-old struggle of understanding God's seeming inaction in the face of rampant wickedness. It's a raw and honest expression of frustration, coupled with a resolute declaration of faith in God's ultimate justice and reign. This psalm resonates with believers throughout history who have wrestled with the prosperity of the wicked and the suffering of the righteous.
Context and Composition
Some scholars suggest that Psalms 9 and 10 may have originally formed a single unified psalm. Evidence for this includes the continuation of an acrostic pattern (where each section begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet) from Psalms 9 into Psalms 10. The Septuagint and Vulgate versions of the Old Testament even combine the two into one psalm. However, a noticeable shift in tone exists between them. While Psalms 9 primarily focuses on God's coming judgment, Psalms 10 grapples with the immediate presence of injustice and the apparent impunity of evildoers. Regardless of their original composition, both psalms address related themes but approach them with distinct emotional nuances.
A Disturbed Spirit (Psalms 10:1-11)
The psalm opens with a heartfelt cry of bewilderment: "LORD, why do you stand so far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?" (Psalms 10:1). This question echoes the sentiments of many struggling believers throughout the ages. It seems, at times, that the wicked prosper while God remains distant. The psalmist observes the wicked actively preying on the vulnerable and helpless, boasting about their evil deeds, and seemingly getting away with cursing the LORD (Psalms 10:2-3).
The psalm paints a vivid picture of the wicked person's mindset. They are consumed by pride and self-reliance, convinced that their success proves God's irrelevance. They think, “There is no God,” (Psalms 10:4) and therefore, no accountability. Their prosperity fuels their wickedness, leading them to believe that no judgment will ever come (Psalms 10:5). They are secure in their ways, continuing to afflict the innocent (Psalms 10:6-10).
The psalmist portrays the wicked as predators, lying in wait to ambush the unsuspecting (Psalms 10:8-9). They dismiss the idea that God sees or cares about their sin, reasoning that God hides his face and will never see (Psalms 10:11). This denial of God's presence and justice is a central characteristic of their wickedness.
A Plea for Intervention (Psalms 10:12-15)
Having voiced his complaint about the seeming triumph of evil, the psalmist turns to prayer, urging God to act: "Rise up, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless" (Psalms 10:12). He recognizes that God is aware of the suffering of the oppressed, the helpless, and the fatherless (Psalms 10:12, 14). He pleads for divine intervention to uphold God's glory and name by addressing the rampant wickedness around him. The psalmist longs for the divine Judge to break the arm of the wicked and evil person (Psalms 10:15), demanding a reckoning for their deeds. The core question is: When will God take action?
Triumphant Praise and Future Hope (Psalms 10:16-18)
The psalm concludes with a powerful declaration of faith and triumphant praise for the Lord, the King: "The LORD is King forever and ever; the nations will perish from his land" (Psalms 10:16). The psalmist looks to the future with unwavering confidence, knowing that God alone will reign eternally, while the wicked and their nations will ultimately face their demise.
Ultimately, the oppressed and the orphan will be delivered from those who don’t follow God (Psalms 10:17-18). God will eliminate those who cause terror (Psalms 10:18). The psalm ends with the reassurance that God hears the cries of the afflicted and will bring justice to the vulnerable.
Enduring Truths
Psalms 10 offers several key takeaways for believers today:
- Honest Expression: It is okay to express our frustrations and doubts to God when we struggle to understand His ways.
- God's Awareness: God sees and knows the suffering of the oppressed and the wickedness of the evildoers. He is not indifferent.
- Ultimate Justice: Despite appearances, God will ultimately bring justice and vindicate the righteous.
- Hopeful Trust: We can trust in God's character and His past actions, knowing that He will intervene in His perfect timing.
Even when we see nothing happening, we can be certain that God doesn’t miss a thing and has set the timer for when he will intervene. This psalm encourages us to persevere in prayer and faith, even in the face of apparent injustice, trusting in God's ultimate victory and reign.
Why standest thou afar off, O Lord? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?
The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.
For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the Lord abhorreth.
The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.
His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.
He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.
His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.
He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor.
He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net.
He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.
He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.
Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble.
Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it.
Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless.
Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none.
The Lord is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land.
Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:
To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.
Psalms 10 delves into the age-old struggle of understanding God's seeming inaction in the face of rampant wickedness. It's a raw and honest expression of frustration, coupled with a resolute declaration of faith in God's ultimate justice and reign. This psalm resonates with believers throughout history who have wrestled with the prosperity of the wicked and the suffering of the righteous.
Context and Composition
Some scholars suggest that Psalms 9 and 10 may have originally formed a single unified psalm. Evidence for this includes the continuation of an acrostic pattern (where each section begins with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet) from Psalms 9 into Psalms 10. The Septuagint and Vulgate versions of the Old Testament even combine the two into one psalm. However, a noticeable shift in tone exists between them. While Psalms 9 primarily focuses on God's coming judgment, Psalms 10 grapples with the immediate presence of injustice and the apparent impunity of evildoers. Regardless of their original composition, both psalms address related themes but approach them with distinct emotional nuances.
A Disturbed Spirit (Psalms 10:1-11)
The psalm opens with a heartfelt cry of bewilderment: "LORD, why do you stand so far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?" (Psalms 10:1). This question echoes the sentiments of many struggling believers throughout the ages. It seems, at times, that the wicked prosper while God remains distant. The psalmist observes the wicked actively preying on the vulnerable and helpless, boasting about their evil deeds, and seemingly getting away with cursing the LORD (Psalms 10:2-3).
The psalm paints a vivid picture of the wicked person's mindset. They are consumed by pride and self-reliance, convinced that their success proves God's irrelevance. They think, “There is no God,” (Psalms 10:4) and therefore, no accountability. Their prosperity fuels their wickedness, leading them to believe that no judgment will ever come (Psalms 10:5). They are secure in their ways, continuing to afflict the innocent (Psalms 10:6-10).
The psalmist portrays the wicked as predators, lying in wait to ambush the unsuspecting (Psalms 10:8-9). They dismiss the idea that God sees or cares about their sin, reasoning that God hides his face and will never see (Psalms 10:11). This denial of God's presence and justice is a central characteristic of their wickedness.
A Plea for Intervention (Psalms 10:12-15)
Having voiced his complaint about the seeming triumph of evil, the psalmist turns to prayer, urging God to act: "Rise up, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless" (Psalms 10:12). He recognizes that God is aware of the suffering of the oppressed, the helpless, and the fatherless (Psalms 10:12, 14). He pleads for divine intervention to uphold God's glory and name by addressing the rampant wickedness around him. The psalmist longs for the divine Judge to break the arm of the wicked and evil person (Psalms 10:15), demanding a reckoning for their deeds. The core question is: When will God take action?
Triumphant Praise and Future Hope (Psalms 10:16-18)
The psalm concludes with a powerful declaration of faith and triumphant praise for the Lord, the King: "The LORD is King forever and ever; the nations will perish from his land" (Psalms 10:16). The psalmist looks to the future with unwavering confidence, knowing that God alone will reign eternally, while the wicked and their nations will ultimately face their demise.
Ultimately, the oppressed and the orphan will be delivered from those who don’t follow God (Psalms 10:17-18). God will eliminate those who cause terror (Psalms 10:18). The psalm ends with the reassurance that God hears the cries of the afflicted and will bring justice to the vulnerable.
Enduring Truths
Psalms 10 offers several key takeaways for believers today:
- Honest Expression: It is okay to express our frustrations and doubts to God when we struggle to understand His ways.
- God's Awareness: God sees and knows the suffering of the oppressed and the wickedness of the evildoers. He is not indifferent.
- Ultimate Justice: Despite appearances, God will ultimately bring justice and vindicate the righteous.
- Hopeful Trust: We can trust in God's character and His past actions, knowing that He will intervene in His perfect timing.
Even when we see nothing happening, we can be certain that God doesn’t miss a thing and has set the timer for when he will intervene. This psalm encourages us to persevere in prayer and faith, even in the face of apparent injustice, trusting in God's ultimate victory and reign.