Passage: Psalm 10
The Big Idea
Psalm 10 begins with a hard question: “Why do You hide in times of trouble?” Then it gives a sobering portrait of pride, the heart that has no room for God. But it ends with confidence: the Lord hears the desire of the humble and helps the helpless. When God seems far, the gospel tells us He has drawn us near.
Reflections
Why do You stand afar off? (v. 1). Your silence can feel like You don’t care. I feel like You’re far away. But the gospel says You love me, You’ve drawn me close, You always care, and You aren’t angry with me.
The portrait of pride (vv. 2-11). It looks like the proud are winning. But You’ll deal with them in Your time.
- Pride is always about me and my desires. But what do I have to gain when You’ve already given me every spiritual blessing in Christ (Ephesians 1:3)?
- God is in none of his thoughts (v. 4). Self consumes the proud heart, leaving no room for the only One who could satisfy it. Pride is treated as the most important thing to hold onto.
- Pride wrecks everything it touches. It always heads in the opposite direction from God. In time both God and people become its enemies. Self is a black hole.
- Pride gives a false sense of security: “I shall not be moved” (v. 6). It isn’t ready for trouble.
- Pride’s mouth is full of cursing, deceit and harm (v. 7).
- Pride is never at rest. It lurks and ambushes (vv. 8-10). The enemy prowls like a roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8), and his net is the false safety of pride.
- But pride crushes the one who falls into it. Pride goes before a fall (Proverbs 16:18).
- And pride poisons the mind so we can’t see God’s love and mercy (v. 11). It makes us believe a lie.
Arise, O Lord! Lift up Your hand! (vv. 12-13). O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me? The Lord will. He’ll lift His hand and remember me even though I’ve sinned. God’s righteous wrath poured on Jesus is the only reason I can be confident I’m forgiven and accepted. Otherwise I’d pay for all my sins, and I could never pay that much.
The helpless commits himself to You (v. 14). You know my weakness, brokenness and constant tendency to trust myself. All I can bring You is helplessness. All I can do is abandon myself to You. You help those who have no other helper. That’s the humility and faith You bless.
Break the arm of the wicked (v. 15). Break whatever I’m trusting in instead of You, so I’ll call on You. Search my whole heart. In my flesh nothing good dwells. How amazing that You’re willing to work with someone like me.
The Lord is King forever (v. 16). All power and authority are Yours.
You will hear the desire of the humble (vv. 17-18). When the humble cry out, You hear. You want to heal and secure them. You’re not playing hard to get. You run to us like the father ran to the prodigal son. The weak who call on You are freed from fear. What can man do to me? (Hebrews 13:6). Lord, I need You.
Grace Takeaway
When God feels far away, don’t trust your feelings over the gospel. Lay down your pride, bring Him your helplessness, and call on Him. He hears the desire of the humble.
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