Psalms 10:1-18
A Song of Confidence in God's Triumph over Evil
1 Why do You stand afar off, O LORD?
Why do You hide in times of trouble?
2 The wicked in his pride persecutes the poor;
Let them be caught in the plots which they have devised.
3 For the wicked boasts of his heart's desire;
He blesses the greedy and renounces the LORD.
4 The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God;
God is in none of his thoughts.
5 His ways are always prospering;
Your judgments are far above, out of his sight;
As for all his enemies, he sneers at them.
6 He has said in his heart, "I shall not be moved;
I shall never be in adversity."
7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and oppression;
Under his tongue is trouble and iniquity.
8 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.
9 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.
10 So he crouches, he lies low,
That the helpless may fall by his strength.
11 He has said in his heart,
"God has forgotten;
He hides His face;
He will never see."
12 Arise, O LORD!
O God, lift up Your hand!
Do not forget the humble.
13 Why do the wicked renounce God?
He has said in his heart,
"You will not require an account."
14 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.
15 Break the arm of the wicked and the evil man;
Seek out his wickedness until You find none.
16 The LORD is King forever and ever;
The nations have perished out of His land.
17 LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble;
You will prepare their heart;
You will cause Your ear to hear,
18 To do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed,
That the man of the earth may oppress no more.
This psalm sung to the LORD demonstrates David’s absolute confidence that God will certainly deal with workers of iniquity and bring justice in judgment to them. He will triumph over evil. There is no doubt, no matter how the wicked think they are getting away with anything. The ones who pretend God does not exist will face Him in shame and terror in the end. The evil boast against the LORD and treat others abominably; they persecute the poor and take from them as they seem to temporarily prosper by that disobedience to the first and second greatest commandments. God is in none of the thoughts, is not even considered, by such men and women, but He is not standing far off - God is biding His time until their downfall and justice at His hand. Patience endures, knowing God’s righteous judgment (Romans 1:32, 2:5). Therefore the cursing, deception, and deceit of those not fearing God, the ones standing against Him, will come to an end. They refuse to believe and obey Him, so they tell themselves that God forgot them and their evil, that He won’t see what they think they are getting away with. They even tell themselves and others that God will not hold them accountable! But God does see, and will certainly repay, in this life or in eternity. He helps the weak and needy which the godless use to their own fleeting gain. These helpless ones find help in the Almighty judge and LORD over all. He will stop the evil because He is holy and righteous. He is the Sovereign King over all people and nations. None can withstand Him or His word. Therefore we understand that God hears the humble who trust His holiness and justice, putting their faith in the Faithful One because He made their hearts ready to be able to hear His voice and live righteously in response. We who are regenerated by God in Christ by His Spirit have ears and eyes opened and a new heart given to heed His word and be able to follow and live according to His word and will. This means treating others compassionately as He has done to us in great mercy and care for their welfare above our own desires (Philippians 2:3-5). Our own transformation should give us hope that God triumphs over evil. God will deal with judgment on that last day (Jeremiah 9:24); it is not our task or responsibility to take that on ourselves, but to commit ourselves to Him who deals righteously as we follow no matter what others do. We can rest in His sovereign justice, humbly and patiently.
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