When God Seems Far And Evil Seems Near

Day 18:  Psalms 10: 1-10

            Psalm 10:1 Why do You stand afar off, O Lord? Why do You hide in times of trouble? 

            Lord, sometimes it seems to take forever for justice to come, for mercy and deliverance. O Lord, it seems to hurt for so long and take so long for You to come to our aid. But Lord, I know You are working – even during this time of our suffering. Thank You that You have not abandoned us, O Lord. You help us through the fiery trials.

                Psalm 10:2 The wicked in His pride persecutes the poor. Let them be caught in the plots which they have devised.

                Lord, it seems so unfair that wicked people would persecute the poor and helpless. Yet I know You are still on Your throne. So many Christians and poor people are tormented and destroyed by tyrants and evil men (Romans 8:36). O Lord, how long will this go on? Please expose their evil, their hate, their wickedness. Either change their hearts or remove them from the pain they bring.

                Psalm 10:3 For the wicked boasts of his heart’s desire. He blessed the greedy and renounces the Lord.

                Lord, he boasts about evil. He justifies his sin.  Lord, have I justified my sin? Forgive me where I have done so. Lord, deal with the greedy and with those who renounce You, who do not seek You, who do not desire You, and who refuse to hear You (II Chronicles 6:22-23). Cause them to repent while there is still time!

                Psalm 10:4 The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God. God is in none of his thoughts.

                Dear God, deliver us from the wicked and their wickedness. Help us not to fall into their wicked ways. May we live just the opposite of their wicked lifestyles. Fill our hearts with thoughts of You. Help us to even love our enemies as Christ loved us while we were His enemies (Romans 5:8).

            Psalm 10:5 His ways are always prospering. Your judgments are far above, out of his sight, As for all his enemies he sneers at them.

            He does not see that judgment will one day fall on his head. He does not even acknowledge Your righteous standards. He thinks he will get away with the wickedness He does. If He thinks that God is there, He thinks that God does not care (Psalm 73:11-12). He is not afraid of any of his enemies.

            Psalm 10:6 He has said in his heart, ‘I shall not be moved; I shall never be in adversity.’

            He thinks he will never face consequences for his evil. But we know it will come (Ps 73:19). God will repay evil (Deuteronomy 32:39-43). He will settle all accounts and deliver His children and punish those who refused His gracious love and truth (Matthew 25: 31 – 46; II Peter 2:9).

            Psalm 10:7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and oppression. Under his tongue is trouble and iniquity.

            There is evil in his mouth. Instead of prayer and praise on his tongue, there is cursing. Instead of truth and faithfulness, he is deceiving and being deceived. Instead of relief and ease from pain and oppression – suffering increases under his influence. Instead of peace there is trouble, trouble with God and men. Instead of iniquity there should be holiness, but he does not care. He calls evil good and good evil (Isaiah 5:20).

            Psalm 10:8 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.

            Lord, doing sin and evil is a game, a sport to these people (Proverbs 10:23). They delight in hurting others even as You delight in relieving suffering (Proverbs 4:16). You care for the needy, the helpless, the infirm, but they do not care to help–only to hurt.

            Psalm 10:9 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 them into his net.

            Lord, he attacks those who cannot defend themselves. He makes their misery, their suffering even worse. Lord, how our hearts go out to them in their suffering. Help us help them.  Help us speak up for truth (Proverbs 24:11, 12). We are weak, but You are strong (II Corinthians 12:10).

            Psalm 10:10 So he crouches, he lies low. That the helpless may fall by his strength.

            Lord, Your enemies and the enemies of Your people plot and strategize to do evil and to do others harm (I Peter 5:8-10). They sneak and look for opportunities to catch people off guard. They seek vulnerable people and vulnerable moments.

            O Father, protect us from their evil, do not let us be taken by them (II Timothy 4:18). Help us overcome them by Christ’s strength (Revelation 12:11).