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Why are you so far away, Lord? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
Arrogant, wicked men devise evil schemes to hunt down the weak.
These men boast about the cravings of their hearts;
They bless the greedy and revile the Lord.
They do not seek the Lord — in all their thoughts, there is no room for God.

Somehow, these arrogant, wicked men prosper in all their ways;
they reject the laws of the Lord,
sneering at all his enemies.
They say to themselves, “Nothing will ever shake us,”
and swears, “No one will ever do us harm.”

His mouth is full of lies and threats,
trouble and evil are under his tongue.
He lies in wait in our communities to murder the innocent.
In secret, he looks for his next victim to ambush.
Like a lion in cover, he lies in wait to catch the helpless.
He catches them and drags them off.
His victims are crushed, they collapse; they fall under his strength.
He says to himself, “God will never notice; he covers his face and never sees.”

Arise, Lord!
Lift up your hand, O God.
Do not forget the helpless.

Why does the wicked revile God? Why does he say, “He won’t call me to account”?

But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted;
you consider their grief and take it in hand.
The victims commit themselves to you;
you are the helper of the fatherless.

Break the arm of the wicked man;
call the evildoer to account for his wickedness that would otherwise remain a secret.

The Lord is King for ever and ever; the nations will perish from his land.
You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted;
You encourage them, and you listen to their cry.
You defend the fatherless and the oppressed,
so that mere mortals will never again strike terror.

Reflection

Drug dealers. Gang leaders. Men and women filled with anger. Those who prey on the weak. Surely God sees them all.

When I read Psalm 10, I can’t help but see the faces of people we have encountered who are arrogant and wicked. While I know and will continue to preach that all are made in the Image of God, their present behavior is far from Godly. They are lost in a world that applauds the loud and swallows the quiet.

The surprisingly contemporary nature of this psalm reminds me that there is nothing new under the sun.

In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak,
    who are caught in the schemes he devises.

Psalm 10.2

The attributes of these arrogant, wicked men are troublesome:

• hunt down the weak
• boast about the cravings of their heart
• bless the greedy
• revile the Lord
• full of pride
• rejects the laws of the Lord
• sneers at his enemies
• full of lies and threats
• lurks around waiting to ambush the innocent
• drags off the helpless
• crushes his victims

As I write these down, my soul is troubled because I have come face to face with evil, arrogant men. I’ve watched these men feed the weak illicit drugs and promises that only serve to make their lives worse. At the beginning of each month, they appear to extort what little money some people have to survive. They offer no hope. They thrive on hate and threats. They look for opportunities to harm others, to literally beat them into the ground.

They sneer at law enforcement and continue to grow their territory. If they are arrested, they quickly bond out and retaliate against those under their control even more.

Arise, Lord! Lift up your hand, O God.
    Do not forget the helpless.

Psalm 10.12

Lord, I know you hear the cries. I know you can change hearts, even the arrogant and wicked. I know you see the oppression, the poor, those who barely survive on the streets. Lord, hear my cry! Hear the cry of long ago:

Break the arm of the wicked man;
    call the evildoer to account for his wickedness
    that would not otherwise be found out.

Psalm 10.15

You, O Lord, know the pain and suffering in this world. You, King of kings, see all. I can only stand here and offer hope to the hurting, a brief safe haven from the vile and ugly world. Remind me once again that you see the unseen, you hear the unspoken, you feel the pain.

You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted;
    you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,
defending the fatherless and the oppressed,
    so that mere earthly mortals
    will never again strike terror.

Psalm 10.17-18

Lord, give us strength to spread your Gospel message to the dark places of this world. Grant us the courage to stand between the hurting and the wicked. Protect us each day as we trust in you to defend those who call upon the name of Jesus for help.

And we will be faithful to give You the Glory. Amen

Thanks be to the Lord!
With all my heart, I will tell of his wonderful deeds.
I will be glad and rejoice in the Lord.
I will sing praise to the Lord, O Most High!

My enemies stumble and perish before you.
Ruin is their friend!
For you have upheld my right and my cause.
You sit as the righteous judge.
You have rebuked the wicked.

The Lord rules the world in righteousness and rules with equity.
His reign is forever.
The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.
You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.

Sing praises of the Lord; proclaim what he has done.
He does not ignore the cries of the afflicted.

Lord, see how my enemies persecute me!
Deliver me from those who seek my harm that I may declare your praises and rejoice in your salvation.

The wicked die in their own traps.
They fall into the pit they dug themselves.
Those who do not honor God will learn of his justice.
But God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish.

Come on, God! Judge those who persecute your name.
Strike them with terror, Lord.
Let them know they are mere mortals!!

Reflection

Every day, it seems, there is the temptation to get riled up with some current issue and deal with troubles in human terms. The temptation to think that I have “the answer” enters my mind too frequently. David’s reminder here is that God is always in control.

Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.

Psalm 9.10

He has not forgotten or forsaken those who trust him. God alone deserves praise and adoration for all the wonderful things he has done and will do for those who seek him.

he does not ignore the cries of the afflicted.

Psalm 9.12

But God will never forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish.

Psalm 9.18

If God remembers the needy, it is no small thing for us to stand with those we get to serve.

God is in control. Always was. Always is. Let’s sing his praises with full confidence that his ways are far greater than anything we could imagine! Thank you, LORD! I will sing your praises above all others!!

Read Psalm 8

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Out of the mouths of children, even infants, you silence enemies.

What is man that You are mindful of him? Why do you care for mere human beings? You are the Lord that created the heavens and the earth with a whisper.

You made us a little lower than the angels and gave us glory and honor. You set us up to tend to your creation, flocks, herds, animals, birds, and fish.

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Reflection

One of my favorite worship songs from way back around 2000 (23 years ago!) focused on this psalm and the repeated chorus, “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth.” The NIVAC tells us a better interpretation might be, “O Yahweh, our Lord…” The significance of this seemingly simple substitution is the assignment of God’s name to Israel. He is our God, the Lord of all, and he has given us his name. In the prologue to John’s Gospel, he explained this further when he said,

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

John 1:12-13

We are heirs to the throne. We have been adopted into the name of Yahweh. Those who bear this name call upon the One who created the heavens and the earth. As such, God has given us the distinct honor and privilege to care for creation and to care for one another. My experience on earth suggests we’ve not done very well on either account. But the psalm isn’t trying to deal with anything negative. Instead, here is a simple psalm of praise to our Lord for his favor. Let’s focus on that!

O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

Read Psalm 7

David sings a song to the Lord to proclaim his innocence and plead for deliverance.

Save and deliver me, O Lord, for those who pursue me are planning to rip me to pieces!

I am innocent!

Search me. If I am guilty or have offended my allies or acted unjustly, then let my enemy destroy my pitiful life! Crush me into dust!

Get angry, Lord, and rise up against my enemies. Judge them now. You know my mind and heart, Lord. Vindicate me. Put an end to the violence and let peace reign.

I don’t need to do anything, for my God is my shield. He saves those who are righteous. He will not look away.

Beware, you who are pregnant with evil; those who conceive trouble and give birth to lies. Go ahead and dig a trap for yourselves! Your violence will come down on you!

As for me, I will sing to the Lord Most High. I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness.

Reflection

Music is a wonderful form of art that often defies explanation. The right song in the right place can change hearts from angry and contrite to peaceful and content. How can this be? Somehow, words mingled with rhythm, melodies, and harmonies speak to our souls. Songs have a way of soothing when mere words are not enough. Oddly enough, one song may speak to me while having no impact on you and vice versa.

This psalm is one of those songs in David’s life that he played when things seemed to be going the wrong way. Unlike the modern lyric of songs today, David does not take revenge. Instead, he teaches us to lean on God. He is our shield. He will avenge.

Jesus said to take his yoke upon us. May we lean on Jesus and find rest for our souls.

Read Psalm 6

Lord, I can see you are angry. Do not rebuke me now. Have mercy on me. I am exhausted; even my soul is worn out.

Instead, Lord, save me by your unfailing love — deliver me!

How can I praise you if I’m dead? Who can proclaim you from the grave?

I’m worn out from groaning. Tears flow all night long. My bed is soaked. My eyes are weak with sorrow; they fail because of all my foes.

Go away, all who do evil, for the Lord has heard my weeping. He has heard my cry for mercy.

The Lord accepts my prayer.

All my enemies will suddenly be put to shame. I trust the Lord will overwhelm those who are against me.

Reflection

Before we quickly dismiss this psalm as a whining treatise that begs God for help, it’s important to note this is “a psalm of David.” Here we are invited into the mind of one who has everything the world could want at his disposal — and yet he is in agony. He is tired. He is worn out physically and emotionally. Those who oppose him are eager to jump in like Job’s friends and add insult to injury.

Contemporary leaders can learn a lot from this short psalm. Imagine what it would be like if those who wear titles like CEO, Lead Pastor, etc., were so transparent. Or perhaps it’s a lesson for us to bear one another’s burdens as we all experience times of emotional darkness.

If the king can feel so drained, yet have the confidence that the Lord will hear his cry and accept his prayer, so can I. The pain is only temporary. The enemies will lose.

Read Psalm 5

Hear me, O Lord, as I cry for help and pray to you alone.

As I pray this morning, I lay my requests at your feet and wait expectantly, for I know you hear my prayers.

You are not a God who is pleased with wickedness, arrogance, and bloodthirsty deceivers who speak lies as their native language.

You hate all who do wrong.

By your great love, I can come into your house. In reverence, I bow down in your presence.

Lead me, Lord, in your righteousness.

Make your way straight before me as I walk among those whose hearts are filled with malice. Their throats are open graves. All they do is lie. Banish them for their many sins, for they have rebelled against you.

But for those of us who love you, who take refuge in you, let us sing for joy. Protect us in this battle.

Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.

Reflection

In reading the NIVAC for this psalm, the author presents an intriguing phrase, “relentless goodness,” to describe our Lord. He explains “that from the beginning, God’s only intent was and still is to bless his creation.”* Amen! That is our God! Jesus perfectly embodies this concept in all his actions. Over and over, we see our Lord and Savior seek to bless and not curse, to love everyone. But there are those who are hell-bent on evil, those who mock the Lord and choose a path of destruction. While we must be careful not to judge hastily, we must not be confused: God hates all who do wrong. He detests the bloodthirsty and deceitful.

God’s holiness offers sinful humanity both its greatest problem and its greatest hope. Because a holy God cannot “wink” at sin or turn a blind eye to it, sinful humans find themselves under his judgment, in need of salvation and reconciliation. But because he is also relentlessly good, he has provided a way, first through Israel and ultimately through Christ, that they can be restored to right relationship with one another and with God in order to continue to receive blessing and not judgment.

NIVAC*

In light of psalm 5, how do we love our enemies? Are we not commanded to pray for those who persecute us?

We feel constrained to moderate our anger and sense of injustice after the words of Jesus, “Bless those who curse you” (Luke 6:28; cf. Rom. 12:14). But the psalmist’s words call us to remember that Jesus was never afraid to call evil what it was or to take a firm stance of condemnation against all its forms. We too must take evil seriously, aligning ourselves with God’s essential character of holiness.

NIVAC*

Lord, help me to judge wisely. I know that all are redeemable while there is still breath in their lungs. The Gospel message must continuously be offered as we rely on you to be the ultimate judge, not us. Help us to seek you first, not our own ways. Make your way straight before me (v8). I will trust in you alone.

---

*Walton, John H.; Wilson, Gerald H.; Koptak, Paul; Provan, Iain. NIVAC Bundle 3: Wisdom Books (The NIV Application Commentary) (p. 802). Zondervan Academic. Kindle Edition.

Read Psalm 4

O God, I need your help! Please answer me, my righteous God. I need you now more than ever.

Shame on you people for stripping me of the honor God has given me. Keep on chasing false gods, but know that the Lord will hear me when I call.

In your anger, do not sin. Be quiet and take a look deep inside. Confess appropriately. Do whatever it takes to absolve yourself from mistakes.

Others will ask for a new leader, someone to step in and right the wrongs that have happened. Let the light of your face shine on us. Fill my heart with joy once again.

I will sleep in peace, knowing that I have done what I can. I’m letting go and trusting you. My God will let me live in peace.

Reflection

We live in a fallen world where calamities abound, and disasters come out of nowhere. Our modern society seeks sensational news. We want someone to blame when things don’t go the way we intend. Patience is the key, but this doesn’t mean ignoring the issue. Verse 4 reminds us that we can be angry, a valid emotional response, but that doesn’t give us a license to sin. Chances are, we are complicit in some way, so take a good look inside, “search your hearts and be silent.” This might be a good time to fast for a while.

Through it all, trust God completely. In Gethsemane, Jesus was overwhelmed with sorrow. He understands our pain. Lean on him in times of great difficulty. Find peace within your new heart. Sleep well.

Read Psalm 3

Lord, I am surrounded by enemies, those who want to destroy me, many that taunt me saying, “God will not deliver him.”

I will not succumb to their threats because you, O Lord, are my shield. You are the source of my honor. You will answer on my behalf.

I will be able to sleep and wake in the morning because you will sustain me. Even though tens of thousands would rejoice in my defeat, I will not fear.

Arise, Lord! Deliver me, my God! Put these people to shame. Destroy their pitiful plans!

From the Lord comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people.

Reflection

My mind is drawn in two different directions as I reflect on this psalm. On one hand, I see King David, leader of God’s people, being taunted and mocked by godless enemies. Tens of thousands are misled. Many would prefer to see him dead. Based on the heading for the psalm, David is remembering the tragedy of Absalom, his son. While this makes the words very personal, the text is offered as a general response to those who oppose the Lord. Anyone that stands up to lead can relate to the experience. One stands, others mock. In today’s society, this is the expected response. Deliverance comes only from the Lord.

On a completely different line of thought, I see the opposite end of the spectrum. Instead of a king, I see those who society despises: addicts, poor, impoverished, homeless, and incompetent. Scorned by many, these people are looked down upon and labeled as worthless, liabilities, tramps, and worse. Whether mental illness, addiction, or both torment the nameless humans, we must admit they are all created in the image of God. They were once young children splashing in puddles and singing senseless melodies full of bliss. Their current predicament defies their innocence and further exacerbates their ability to climb out of the desperate condition they find themselves. Deliverance comes only from the Lord.

Lord, bless your people.

Read Psalm 2

Why do kings and nations rage against the Lord? Why do people plot in vain?

Will they mock the Lord? It is foolish to think anyone can break away from the Almighty. Where will they go?

The Lord laughs at vain attempts to remove those he has appointed. Even worse, he rebukes them in his anger.

Let us all proclaim: He said to me, “You are my son; today, I have become your father.”

The Lord’s promise is greater than we could ever imagine: the nations our inheritance, the ends of the earth our possession. Those who conspire will be dashed to pieces like discarded pottery.

Here’s a warning for those who think they are greater than The Lord Almighty: serve the Lord with fear, celebrate his rule, and kiss the feet of the king. If you choose anything less, you will be destroyed.

Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Reflection

While this psalm focuses on national entities opposing God’s divinely appointed, I can’t help but consider the significance of individual arrogance. So many times, we elevate ourselves by thinking we are greater than God. We mock his authority. We proclaim our individual freedom from his law.

One day we will all meet our maker face-to-face. We will bow before the Lord, the God of the universe. Some will face him with overwhelming joy! Others will faint in his presence.

Jesus came into the world for our benefit. The greatest of all became a baby. He was from a poor family. He did not demand we cower in his presence even though he knew everything on earth and heaven were his from the beginning of time.

Be careful how we treat others, especially those of little means. Arrogance will lead to destruction.

Read Psalm 1

Blessed is the one who delights in the Lord. Not so the wicked!

Blessed are those who walk with the wise, those who stand with others that seek the Lord with all their heart, and seek others who love the Lord.

Consider the tree planted by a stream that grows strong for years. It bears fruit in its season; its leaves do not wither. Those who are like the tree prosper in all they do.

The wicked choose a different path. They sit with those who mock those who follow the Lord. They seek to build themselves up by tearing others down. Any prosperity they find is at the expense of others. The wicked will not survive judgment. They will not be seen with those whose heart is set on the Lord. The way of the wicked leads to destruction.

Though we may struggle to see how God is working, the Lord watches over the way of the righteous.

Reflection

Jesus Christ demonstrated this psalm in every interaction he had on earth. He saw beyond outward appearances and looked directly into the soul of those who confronted him. Jesus stepped out of eternity and walked with those who are bound by time for our benefit.

Lord, help me to slow down long enough to ponder the tree planted by streams of water. Help me to see its faithfulness as a metaphor for life in Christ. Keep me from being distracted from worldly definitions of prosperity. Show me true prosperity is found only in Christ. Bear in me the fruit required for this season. Give me the patience to trust in your timing. Protect me from the wicked, the mockers, those who seek to destroy.