Psalm 10

A description of the wicked (vs. 1-11)—Life has it vicissitudes, its constant variations. Once again, David wants to know why the Lord isn’t acting in the face of palpable wickedness: “Why do You stand afar off, O LORD? Why do You hide in times of trouble?” (v. 1). We have a very good description of the mindset of the ungodly. He persecutes the poor (v. 2), boasts of his intended foul deeds, “blesses the greedy and renounces the LORD” (v. 3). He is full of proud, and “does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts” (v. 4). He grieves others, ignores the judgments of God, and sneers at his enemies (v. 5). He believes himself invincible (v. 6). “His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and oppression; Under his tongue is trouble and iniquity” (v. 7). He skulks, murders, and plots against those weaker than him (vs. 8-10). And all the while, he believes that God pays no attention to what he is doing: “He has said in his heart, ‘God has forgotten; He hides His face; He will never see’” (v. 11). The wicked do not see God’s patience (II Peter 3:9). They believe that because God does not immediately punish sin, that He either doesn’t care, doesn’t see, or doesn’t exist. Ecclesiastes 8:11 expresses this mentality perfectly: “Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.”

David calls for God’s justice (vs. 12-18)—The king wants God to act: “Arise, O LORD! O God, lift up Your hand! Do not forget the humble” (v. 12). The wicked continue to “renounce God,” and say to themselves “You [God] will not require an account” (v. 13). But the Lord sees—not on the evil of the ungodly, but “trouble and grief;” “You are the helper of the fatherless” (v. 14). David desires justice: “Break the arm of the wicked and the evil man; seek out his wickedness until You find none” (v. 15). And, because “the Lord is King forever and ever” (v. 16), He will come to the aid of the righteous: “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” (vs. 17-18). At some point, we can be assured that justice will be done, though the patience of the righteous is sometimes stretched. Again, remember David’s questions in verse 1: “Why do You stand afar off, O LORD? Why do You hide in times of trouble?” We simply must wait on Jehovah, as hard as that can be on occasion.