Sunday, June 12, 2011

Psalm 10

As you can probably tell by the title, this is Psalm 10! Get pumped! It's a little on the long side compared to some other ones, but nothing too crazy. Enjoy!

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1 Why, O Lord, do you stand far off?
     Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
2 In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak,
     who are caught in the schemes he devises.
3 He boasts of the cravings of his heart;
     he blesses the greedy and reviles the Lord.

Sometimes it seems that the Lord is far off. When bad things happen. we tend to believe that God has abandoned us. However, this is not true. Those who are arrogant think that they are better than this "far off" Lord that they imagine our God to be. They harm the weak, rather than shelter them. They boast of everything they do and say, instead of praising the Lord who gave them their very lives. They would rather worship themselves and their belongings than God.


4 In his pride the wicked does not seek Him;
     in all his thoughts there is no room for God.
5 His ways are always prosperous;
     he is haughty and Your laws are far from him;
     he sneers at all his enemies.
6 He says to himself, "Nothing will shake me;
     I'll always be happy and never have trouble."
7 His mouth is full of curses and lies and threats;
     trouble and evil are under his tongue.

Some people choose not to seek God, as they are too caught up in their own pride and selfishness. They think so much of themselves that they leave no room for God. They do whatever it takes to become prosperous, even if doing so will hurt others or go against God's laws. Cockiness is a problem for said people, for they believe that they can live happily and untroubled without their God - that they can curse and lie and threaten and reject God, yet still live a perfect life. Needless to say, they could not be more wrong.


8 He lies in wait near the villages;
     from ambush he murders the innocent,
     watching in secret for his victims.
9 He lies in wait like a lion in cover;
     he lies in wait to catch the helpless;
     he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net.
10 His victims are crushed, they collapse;
     they fall under his strength.
11 He says to himself, "God has forgotten;
     He covers His face and never sees."

The unfaithful try to pull others down to their level, away from God. Whether it be with actions or words, they do not want anyone to worship God. They go after the innocent and helpless, dragging them into their nets of lies and pain. Some, unable to withstand, give in and fall. As they lie, their faith crushed, the wrongdoer convinces himself away from Him, saying that He has forgotten His people and no longer cares. But God does see and hear us, even when it seems like He does not. With Him, we overcome our oppressors and stay strong in our faith of Him.


12 Arise, Lord! Lift up Your hand, O God.
     Do not forget the helpless.
13 Why does the wicked man revile God?
     Why does he say to himself,
     "He won't call me to account"?
14 But You, O God, do see trouble and grief;
     You consider it to take it in hand.
    The victim commits himself to You;
     You are the helper of the fatherless.
15 Break the arm of the wicked and evil man;
     call him to account for his wickedness
     that would not be found out.

The Lord does not forget about the lost and helpless - in fact, He seeks them out. The wicked scoff and cause harm, saying that God will not call them to account, while the righteous call out to Him, asking and receiving His mercy and healing. Unrighteousness and evil will not prevail, for they will meet their punishment the day they die. Now they may feel free to sin 'without consequence,' but the Lord judges righteously and will do so.


16 The Lord is King for ever and ever;
     the nations will perish from His land.
17 You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted;
     you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,
18 defending the fatherless and the oppressed,
     in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more.

The Lord has reigned since before time, and will continue to be kind for ever and ever. When generations come and go, He will remain the constant. He hears the cries of the harmed and wounded, and saves them. His touch can heal anything, and He reaches out to all who want Him. God watches over the lonely and terrified, and punished the wicked who do harm.

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