Psalms 10:1

The Bible says in Psalms 10:1, “Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?” King David asked two questions. Both questions start with the word “why.” Those are questions that are easy to ask because of the nature of evil in this world. God is a God who hides Himself. Things do happen that are wrong and that we wish and pray would not happen. That is part of living by faith. We must understand that God has a plan, and that God is so powerful that somehow He even uses the wicked to accomplish His plan.

But before talking about God’s plan for the wicked, which is called the judgment, David is going to describe just how evil the wicked ones are. David writes in Psalms 10:2-11, “The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.[3] For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.[4] The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.[5] His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.[6] He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.[7] His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.[8] He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor.[9] He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net.[10] He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.[11] He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.” The first sin mentioned in this passage is the “pride” of the wicked. This means that they are focused on self, and thus have no reason to look up to God. Whatever keeps you from God and Christ is wickedness. Pride is the most common thing that keeps people from turning to the Lord. Because the wicked are focused on self, they do not care about others. The “persecute the poor.” They target whom they can take advantage of. The wicked have many “devices.” They have plans to use others and to profit from others. They are scheming all the time.

When verse three says that “the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire,” it means that the wicked are selfish and only care about what they want. They have no feelings for others. The wicked bless “the covetous.” Of course, being a covetous person is a violation of one of the Ten Commandments. A wicked person loves the things that God hates.

Verse four explains very clearly the problem: “The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.” If you are focused on yourself in the wrong way through pride, how can you seek God? You cannot. If you think too highly of yourself, you will not see your need to seek Jesus. People seek God who know that they need God’s help. And then there is the phrase, “God is not in all his thoughts.” Jesus wants us to think about Him. Jesus told us to love God “with all of our mind.” There certainly is a lot to think about in regards to God: His creation, His eternal existence, His commandments, His great love for us, His Son Jesus Christ, the death of Jesus on the cross, the Second Coming of Christ, the beauty and wonders of heaven. But the wicked do not think about God. They are too busy thinking about themselves.

In verse 5 we are told about the wicked: “thy judgments are far above out of his sight.” One of the reasons to turn from our wicked ways is the truth that the judgment is coming. Not only that, but God judges in this life too. The wicked are totally unaware of God’s existence and God’s involvement in all that takes place. They are blinded by their own pride. Because of their pride, the wicked think they are always going to be on top. They are not wise. They do not think about the temporary nature of this life. As it says in verse 6 about a wicked person, “He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.” That is not true: for one thing, everyone will have their demise when they breathe their last. And for another thing: the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away. And for another thing: the Lord observes what human beings are doing, and not only is a judgment coming in the future, but God also brings judgment in this life when and where He sees fit.

One of the ways that the wicked can be identified is by their words. It says in verse 7, “His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.” No wonder they are going to hell. People like this cannot be in heaven. Notice the words used to describe their speech: cursing, deceit, fraud, mischief, and vanity. They do not repent of these sins. Christians may have committed such sins, but Christians turned to Jesus for forgiveness. These wicked ones refuse to repent. Concerning the deceit, and the fraud, and the mischief, they seek the poor to take advantage of them. The fact that the wicked ones use the poor, persecute the poor, and take advantage of the poor is mentioned in verses 8, 9, and 10. After hurting so many innocent people, the wicked make the following conclusion described in verse 11, “He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.” The wicked think they will get away with all that they have done.

Those who love God and Christ see what the wicked are doing in this life, and we have the attitude that King David had as expressed in Psalms 10:12-18, “Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble.[13] Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it.[14] Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless.[15] Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none.[16] The LORD is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land.[17] LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:[18] To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.” These verses are a prayer to God to act on the behalf of the humble, the poor, the fatherless, and the oppressed. There are all these evil people on the earth, and we only have God for our defense. But God will intervene because God is “King for ever and ever” as it says in verse 16. Also, God cares about the poor and oppressed. Make sure to keep your heart humble so that you will have God as your “helper.”

Notice in verse 18 that a wicked person is called “the man of the earth.” That is because they only think of this life. Jesus told us to pray, “Our Father who art in heaven.” A complete person understands the practical realities of living on the earth, but also seeks to understand the spiritual realities of God, Christ, and the Bible. God wants us all to become spiritual people. That is why Jesus said, “Ye must be born again.” Spiritual life starts by having a spiritual birth through putting one’s trust in the Lord Jesus Christ and thus finding forgiveness. “The man of the earth” resists the Spirit and thus does not come to Christ.

Notice also that King David says to God in verse 17, “LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart.” It is very important what takes place in our heart. The heart is the innermost being: who you really are and what you really believe. Jesus said that God wants us to love Him with all of our heart. If you are saved and go to heaven, it will be because you believe in Jesus in your heart. But your heart is a product of God’s work. God must prepare your heart for the gospel. God must touch your heart by the Spirit. God must reveal that which is truly important to your heart. You will stay in darkness until God enlightens your heart. But that only happens if you are “humble.” Those who are proud of heart and focused on themselves do not seek God and they stay proud, and then they are judged and go to hell as we were told in chapter 9. You are blessed if you are brought low. You have a chance to be humble and to hear from God. If you are humble, turn to Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins.

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