"Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble? The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined. For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth. The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts. His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them. He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity. His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity. 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. 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. He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones. He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it. Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble. Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it. 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. Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none. The LORD is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land. LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear: To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress." (Psalms 10:1-18)

          Psalm Ten opens in despair but closes in hope and faith. God will give victory for His people over evil. He knows the troubles that His people experience and He is there to provide hope for the hopeless. Have you ever felt that God was far away when you were going through your times of trouble? David pondered, “Why are you far away, LORD? Why do you hide yourself when I am in trouble?” The wicked do many evil things to the poor. They even hunt them down to hurt them. They hate people, curse the Lord and are filled with pride. They tell lies and talk about how to do wrong. They do not have God in their thoughts. When God is not in the minds of people a nation is on a rapid downhill spiral. Such wickedness can lead to complete ruin. These wicked ones somehow thought God was blindfolded and could not see their sins. In Romans 3:14 Paul quoted Psalm 10:7 as proof that both the Jews and the Gentiles had sinned and stood in need of the Savior! “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.” (Romans 3:14) Often the poor are totally unable to defend themselves against mischief. The poor can only committeth themselves unto God. He is the helper of the fatherless. God defends orphans and others who are in need. Therefore, no one on earth should terrify them. “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31) God still rules in the kingdoms of men. He offers hope to the suffering and hears their cries for help.

          Sinners become very wicked—Psalm 10:1-11: David desired that God would move to defend the poor against the evil ones. He even wondered why He had not already taken action. Likely, we have at one time or another wondered with David, “Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?” (Psalms 10:1) God might be waiting because, (1) He is allowing the wicked time to repent, or (2) He might be allowing some discipline into the life of the suffering. David felt that his enemies were very near and that God was to far away. In their oppression of the weak David saw the evil people as arrogant and filled with pride. These wicked people boast of their sins and they are friendly with the covetousness. They are very irreligious. They are not interested in God or truth. The evil people are so prosperous that they think they will never have trouble. Solomon wrote, “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.” (Ecclesiastes 8:11) The wicked have an evil tongue, “His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.” (Psalm 10:7) The wicked are very violent. They may claim faith in God but they do not believe that He is active at all in the affairs of men.

          David pleaded for justice—Psalm 10:12-18: David named a number of evils that were being done and then he prayed that God would act quickly and do something to help the poor, persecuted people. Through faith he saw the Sovereign God defending the weak. David pleaded for God to take action saying, “Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble.” (Psalm 10:12) He felt that both the poor and God were being mistreated by these evil people. The wicked were saying “God will do nothing.” David knew better. He knew that the wicked would be punished. In God’s own time justice will be carried out. If you are going through some struggle commit yourself to God remembering that God is the “helper of the fatherless.” These evil ones were acting as if there was no God, yet the “The LORD is King for ever and ever.” He rules as King and Lord over godly lives. He will never be king upon a throne here on earth! David predicted the final over­throw of the godless na­tions. He recognized that God is at work in our times of trouble. He defends “the fatherless and the oppressed.” God will defend His children in this present life. Then finally, the oppression of the wicked will ultimately end when the earth is burned with fire. God will rescue His children from the troubles of this life and take them home to heaven to be with Him.