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. Psalm 10:17, 18
A prayer in a time of trouble, this psalm explores the ways and motives of the wicked, and calls on God the King to arise and defend the oppressed.
Key concepts: Arrogance, Wicked
Arrogance. At heart, arrogance or pride is a denial of God’s involvement in our lives, or a refusal to obey Him. Each shows that we the mere creature, consider ourselves greater or wiser than the Creator. Ps. 10:4 says that “in his pride, the wicked does not seek God; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.” Pride puts us in danger of disaster and divine judgment.
4 The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts.
Wicked. The Heb. Root word ra’ah means “evil” or “bad.” But the emphasis of “wicked” in the O.T. is on the moral deficiencies that find expression in injuring other persons. What characterizes the wicked is pride and viciousness expressed.
10:6 Only those who stand on the sure foundation of God Word can confidently say, I shall not be moved. The wicked who have lost all sense of God assume that they can use these words themselves. But eventually they will be swept away by the turmoil and troubles of this world.
6 He has said in his heart, “I shall not be moved; I shall never be in adversity.”
10:8-10 sits in the lurking places: The psalmist views the wicked as oppressors. They are similar to lurking beasts, ready to pounce on their prey.
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.
10:11 God has forgotten: The wicked behave the way they do because they double that the Lord knows, cares or will act. They want to believe that there will be no final judgment, so they feel free to do as they please. But the truth is that God will establish justice.
He has said in his heart, “God has forgotten; He hides His face; He will never see.”
10:14, 15 God does know; He does see and He will act. God protects those like the fatherless who have no other protection. Break the arm: This is a call for God to destroy the power of the wicked.
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.
101 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.
