Psalm 10 is a psalm of lament. A lament is a cry to God for help. A frequent refrain in laments is “why?” Why is it taking God so long to intervene? Why isn’t God acting right now? Why isn’t God punishing the wicked? Why isn’t God helping the righteous? Why aren’t the wicked concerned about judgment? Where Psalm 9 was concerned more about an outside threat, here the concern seems to be threats from closer to home. Not an invading army, but perhaps an unjust judge. An evil neighbor. The ungodly rich. And the Psalmist recognizes that there is a false sense of security that comes when you get away with evil. But it’s a false sense! Revelation reminds us that evil doesn’t win, even though it’s so prevalent. A part of this passage is used in the New Testament to teach that the natural state of anyone who doesn’t have a relationship with God is evil. People aren’t drawn to do good!
Romans 3:10-18 (WEB) “As it is written, ‘There is no one righteous; no, not one. There is no one who understands. There is no one who seeks after God. They have all turned away. They have together become unprofitable. There is no one who does good, no, not so much as one. Their throat is an open tomb. With their tongues they have used deceit. The poison of vipers is under their lips. Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood. Destruction and misery are in their ways. The way of peace, they haven’t known. There is no fear of God before their eyes.’ “
In the face of such evil, the plight of the persecuted righteous should cause them to call out to God. And they should be assured that He will hear. He is omniscient and sees all. He will take up the cause of the oppressed and judge the unrighteous. God will heal His land, because He is King forever and ever. He is righteous in all His judgments, both in this life and the next. We can trust Him and take refuge in Him, because He is our foundation!
Thought for the day: We’re reminded in Psalm 11 that one day faith will become sight!
Revelation 22:1-5 (WEB) “He showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. On this side of the river and on that was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruits, yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. There will be no curse any more. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no night, and they need no lamp light or sun light; for the Lord God will illuminate them. They will reign forever and ever.”
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