The Psalmist Understands His Enemies

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The Psalmist Understands His Enemies - Psalm 10: 1-18

By Skip Toomaloo
Mar. 15, 2006

“1 Why, O LORD, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? 2 In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak, which are caught in the schemes he devises. (Psalm 10:1-2 NIV)

The Psalmist is in despair thinking the Lord is not seeing his trouble. The wicked are taking advantage and for the moment there seems no relief. The Psalmist knows the wicked though. He knows the heart and mind of those who say there is no God.

“3 He boasts of the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD. 4 In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.” (vs. 3-4 NIV)

And this is their way. They are smarter than God and it is more important that their heart is satisfied with things other than God. It is all based in pride. Pride destroyed Satan and no man should think he will survive his pride thinking God does not exist. The Psalmist continues:

“5 His ways are always prosperous; he is haughty and your laws are far from him; he sneers at all his enemies. 6 He says to himself, "Nothing will shake me; I'll always be happy and never have trouble." 7 His mouth is full of curses and lies and threats; trouble and evil are under his tongue. (vs. 5-7 NIV)

This is the way the wicked survive. They ignore God and sneer at anything that opposes their arrogance. The Christian prays for his enemies because he understands they only condemn themselves by their attitude and actions. The wicked “sneer” “nothing will shake [them]”. It is right for the Christian to ask God to show them mercy. They will not ask mercy for themselves.

“8 He lies in wait near the villages; from ambush he murders the innocent, watching in secret for his victims. 9 He lies in wait like a lion in cover; he lies in wait to catch the helpless; he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net. 0 His victims are crushed, they collapse; they fall under his strength. 11 He says to himself, "God has forgotten; he covers his face and never sees." (vs. 8-11 NIV)

We read these things in headlines every day. We hear on the news about kidnappings and child murders and the killings of defenseless women. We see these actions in the war zone in the Middle East. This is how enemies act. This is how they prey upon the weak and the helpless. Because the wicked do not recognize God they are capable of all kinds of unreasonable wickedness. Even those who do not participate in such things still turn their backs on those being victimized. It is not their problem. Why should they care?

In the final judgment men will be asked: why did you not give me drink when I needed it, why did you not feed me when you saw the need, why did you not visit me when I was sick or in prison? And those facing that question will ask when did we see you sick, or hungry or thirsty? And the answer will come. You did not do anything for the least of these, and therefore, you did not do anything for me. The unbeliever might think there is no God to see his actions or inactions. He might think God forgets. He would be wrong.

“12 Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless.” (vs.12 NIV) and this call will find its fulfillment in all the final actions leading into the establishment of the eternal kingdom. All the promises God made to those who exhibited their trust in Him will find completion. God’s sovereignty will be settled.

“13 Why does the wicked man revile God? Why does he say to himself, "He won't call me to account"? (vs.13 NIV) to which the simple answer is “pride”.

“14 But you, O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand. The victim commits himself to you; you are the helper of the fatherless. 15 Break the arm of the wicked and evil man; call him to account for his wickedness that would not be found out.” (vs. 14-15 NIV)

The scriptures tell us many times that every thought, word, and action of man will be judged. Man gets a single physical existence and afterward, a judgment. Those who committed to God will find mercy because that is promised. Those who do not repent will be “called to account” for their evil.

“16 The LORD is King for ever and ever; the nations will perish from his land. 17 You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, 18 defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more.”

The man who holds Christ as Lord understands God’s eternal nature. He also understands that God will eventually eliminate “nations” for all peoples who survive the judgment will be under the singular eternal throne. There will be no need for other governments or leaderships. The “afflicted” will finally be avenged. All the wrongs against them will have been adjudicated rightly by God Himself. The man of the earth, who ignored God in his existence, persecuting the meek, will “terrify no more”.

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Email Skip: skiptoomaloo@hotmail.com

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