Psalm 10 is real talk about the real world. Throughout, the author really wrestles with “Why?”
Why, O LORD, do you stand far away?
Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? (10:1)
What sort of trouble? In arrogance, the wicked hotly pursue the poor with deceitful schemes. Some boast of the desires of their souls as if there will be no consequences for their self-seeking actions. Others, full of pride, curse and renounce their Creator. The psalmist has heard people created in God’s image say, “There is no God.” “I shall not be moved.” “Nothing bad will ever happen to me.” “I’ll always get away with it.” “If there is a God, he isn’t watching. He doesn’t even see me. I can do or say whatever I want because I’ll never be held accountable.”
The author of Psalm 10 is wrestling with real talk about the real world. It seems like the wicked can do whatever they want, unchecked, and prosper along the way. God’s judgments seem distant and out of sight, especially to those who don’t even care about them. When confronted or warned, the prideful puff at the reasons of the righteous. God-given mouths are full of cursing, deceit, and oppression. Tongues cover mischief and unleash devastating iniquity into the world. The unsuspecting are ambushed and the innocent are murdered. The poor are trampled and the helpless are crushed, all while evil, self-seeking hearts arrogantly say, “What’s God going to do about it?”
Real wrestling in real talk about the real world. So how can Psalm 10 help us? Does the psalmist have anything to offer beyond despair and hopeless recognition of a broken world? He does indeed. He prays, and in the process, teaches us to do the same.
Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up your hand;
forget not the afflicted.
Why does the wicked renounce God
and say in his heart, “You will not call to account”?
But you do see, for you note mischief and vexation,
that you may take it into your hands;
to you the helpless commits himself;
You have been the helper of the fatherless.
Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer;
call his wickedness to account till you find none. (10:12-15)
As we wrestle in our own generation with real talk about the real broken world, what do we do? Where do we turn? Do we have anything to offer beyond cable news despair? Anything on which to stand beyond social media doomscrolling? Psalm 10 reminds us to pray and even equips us with the “how” to pray when the “why” of the real world seems overwhelming.
“Arise, O LORD. Lift up your hand. There are afflicted people who desperately need you, and we lift them up before you. There are ‘whys?’ that we don’t understand, but we bring those ‘whys?’ to you and lay them at your holy throne. Though it seems the wicked can scoff at you and everyone else and get away with it all, we believe that you do see. You do hear. You know, and you are not overlooking one thing. But these burdens are far too big for us to bear on our own, so we leave them in your infinite hands. We commit ourselves to you and trust that as we try to help the helpless, you are there. You have been the helper of the helpless throughout time, and we believe that you still are, so use our hands as your own. As for the wicked and evildoer? They are in your hands. They are accountable to you, just as surely as every single one of us are. We will all eventually stand before you. We trust you and humbly plead for the grace and mercy we do not deserve.”
Real prayer in real talk about the real world. Can I really pray like that? I can if Psalm 10:16-18 is still true, and it is.
The LORD is king forever and ever;
the nations perish from his land.
O LORD, you hear the desire of the afflicted;
you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear
to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed,
so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.
A perfect Sovereign Lord has reigned, is reigning, and will continue to reign forever and ever. What we build, we build on his land. He hears every arrogant scoff of the wicked, every helpless cry of the afflicted. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne; steadfast love and faithfulness flow like a river from him. And so, his people continue to shine and serve and pray to the God who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them. “Incline your ear and strengthen our hearts that we may not be overcome by evil. We believe, O LORD, that though the ‘whys?’ are dark and daunting at times, you will overcome evil with good. In the meantime, please hear and be near.”
Psalm 10 equips us with real prayer in real talk about the real world.