Psalm 10
Psalm 10 reflects a heartfelt cry to God in the face of injustice. The psalmist laments the success of the wicked and God’s seeming absence during troubling times. Despite the oppression and arrogance of the wicked, the psalm ends on a note of trust in God’s ultimate justice, affirming that He will defend the helpless and bring justice to the oppressed.
Psalm 10:1-10 (NKJV)
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.
The psalmist expresses frustration that God seems distant in times of suffering while the wicked thrive in their arrogance. The wicked pursue the vulnerable, boast in their desires, and dismiss God entirely from their lives. They use deceitful speech and secretive actions to prey on the poor and helpless, much like a lion lying in wait for its prey. With false confidence, they believe they will never face hardship or judgment. The psalmist appeals to God’s justice, hoping the wicked will be caught by their own schemes.
Psalm 10:11-12 (NKJV)
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.
The wicked assume that God is unaware of their actions, believing they can act without consequence. In response, the psalmist pleads with God to intervene, asking Him not to overlook the humble but to act on their behalf.
Psalm 10:13-14 (NKJV)
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.
The wicked continue in their rebellion, thinking they will never be held accountable. The psalmist affirms, however, that God sees all injustice and grief and will bring recompense. God’s care for the helpless, especially the fatherless, assures that He will act in defense of the vulnerable.
Psalm 10:15 (NKJV)
15 Break the arm of the wicked and the evil man; Seek out his wickedness until You find none.
The psalmist prays for God to dismantle the power of the wicked and completely remove their evil. This plea for justice reflects a desire for God’s intervention to end the oppression of the innocent.
Psalm 10:16-18 (NKJV)
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.
The psalm concludes with a declaration of God’s eternal kingship, affirming that His reign surpasses all human power. God listens to the cries of the humble and strengthens their hearts. The final verses reflect confidence that God will bring justice to the oppressed, ensuring that no one will exploit the weak again.