Studies in the Psalms - Psalm 10

In Psalm 9 the enemy that concerned the writer was an enemy from outside, but in Psalm 10 he writes of the enemy from within. Psalm 10 addresses the age-old question, “Why does God seem to be letting the wicked prosper and get away with their sin?”

Four statements about the wicked are addressed.

1. The wicked say there is no God.

Psalm 10:4
In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, “There is no God.”

2. The wicked say they will not be moved by the way of the God they deny and will follow their own way.

Psalm 10:6
He says in his heart, “I shall not be moved; throughout all generations I shall not meet adversity.”

3. The wicked think God does not see them or their sin.

Psalm 10:11
 He says in his heart, “God has forgotten, he has hidden his face, he will never see it.”

4. The wicked think there will be no judgment for their evil.

But the psalmist answers each of these charges.

1. God sees.

Psalm 10:14
But you do see, for you note mischief and vexation, that you may take it into your hands.

2. God does and will judge sin.

Psalm 10:15
Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer; call his wickedness to account till you find none.

3. God is king over everything and in His sovereign reign, He sees.

Psalm 10:16
The LORD is king forever and ever; the nations perish from his land.

4. God judges the wicked and defends His own.

Psalm 10:17-18
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.

Whether you or God’s child or you are one who thinks there is no God, God is one day soon going to bring the hand of justice to its final end. The choice today is to bend your knee now before Christ or wait until the eternal sentence has been passed for good. Today is the day of salvation. Turn to the only one who can save you from the coming judgment. Turn to Jesus.

Studies in Psalms - Psalm 9

The life of the Christian is a life of growth. From the moment of our new birth, we are like babies. Through the years as we feed on His Word we grow in many ways, like a baby who learns to crawl and then walk, we learn new things as well. One of the areas in my life I just never feel right about is my worship. The more I read the scriptures, the longer I spend time in prayer with God, and the longer I see God move in my life, the more I long to give back to God my whole-hearted worship. Psalm 9 begins with that theme.

Psalm 9:1-2

I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

David writes in this psalm many reasons why he gives thanks to God with his whole heart. He remembers the wonderful deeds God has done in his life. As Christians, we have many things to look back on that our God has given to us. Just as David does, we must be glad in Him, exulting Him, and singing praise to His name.

Most of us here have never faced true persecution, though in many places in the world Christians fear for their lives just for being Christ’s. Sometimes God turns back our enemies.

Psalm 9:3
When my enemies turn back, they stumble and perish before your presence.

David knew that one way or another, God’s justice would prevail and we can stand in faith knowing the same thing.

Psalm 9:4-6
For you have maintained my just cause; you have sat on the throne, giving righteous judgment. You have rebuked the nations; you have made the wicked perish; you have blotted out their name forever and ever. The enemy came to an end in everlasting ruins; their cities you rooted out; the very memory of them has perished.

But even when it seems the unrighteous are running this world, we can trust they are not and that judgment will one day come. So, until then we must rest in Him.

Psalm 9:9-10
The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.

The answer to what to do when the enemy appears to have us surrounded, is to stay committed to prayer and praise.

Psalm 9:11-14
Sing praises to the LORD, who sits enthroned in Zion! Tell among the peoples his deeds!
For he who avenges blood is mindful of them; he does not forget the cry of the afflicted.
Be gracious to me, O LORD! See my affliction from those who hate me, O you who lift me up from the gates of death, that I may recount all your praises, that in the gates of the daughter of Zion I may rejoice in your salvation.

God does not forget those who have humbled themselves before Him.

Psalm 9:18
For the needy shall not always be forgotten, and the hope of the poor shall not perish forever.

Stay the course Christian, even when the enemy is at hand. David’s prayer reminds us of the coming day of the return of Christ. To the nations who choose to stay in their own pit; judgement is coming. To those who put their faith in Christ and submit to Him; peace that transcends all understanding.

Psalm 9:19-20
Arise, O LORD! Let not man prevail; let the nations be judged before you!
Put them in fear, O LORD! Let the nations know that they are but men! Selah

Studies in Psalms - Psalm 7

Let God Be your Judge

“Do not judge me”, one of those oft heard refrains from people in the world. Psalm 7 speaks of judgment and in it we find David crying out to God about the judgment of him that led to Saul’s pursuit on his life. So, David cries out to God.

Psalm 7:1-2

O LORD my God, in you do I take refuge; save me from all my pursuers and deliver me,
lest like a lion they tear my soul apart, rending it in pieces, with none to deliver.

The secret to judgment in our lives is honesty with ourselves and with God. In response to his ordeal, David goes to God in a soul-searching appeal. David knows that God sees the truth and has enough faith in God to allow Him to be His judge. Like David, we’re not getting away with anything. God sees all sin, even the sin we hide from others.

Psalm 7:3-5
O LORD my God, if I have done this, if there is wrong in my hands, if I have repaid my friend with evil or plundered my enemy without cause, let the enemy pursue my soul and overtake it, and let him trample my life to the ground and lay my glory in the dust. Selah

David speaks here to the truth of God being the righteous judge. He is willing to accept the judgments of our righteous God. David knows the importance of repentance.

Psalm 7:6-13
Arise, O LORD, in your anger; lift yourself up against the fury of my enemies; awake for me; you have appointed a judgment. Let the assembly of the peoples be gathered about you; over it return on high. The LORD judges the peoples; judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness and according to the integrity that is in me. Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to an end, and may you establish the righteous— you who test the minds and hearts, O righteous God! My shield is with God, who saves the upright in heart.
 God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels indignation every day.
 If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword; he has bent and readied his bow;
 he has prepared for him his deadly weapons, making his arrows fiery shafts.

David also understands that sin will in the end, bring its own judgment. He knows a man can dig his own hole and it can get so deep that he cannot get himself out of it. This is why we need a savior. This is why we need Jesus.

Psalm 7:14-16
Behold, the wicked man conceives evil and is pregnant with mischief and gives birth to lies.
He makes a pit, digging it out, and falls into the hole that he has made. His mischief returns upon his own head, and on his own skull his violence descends.

The lesson for us? Examine yourself daily as scripture tells us to in 2 Corinthians 13:5. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal you own sin, then confess and repent of it. Then by faith in Christ, let His blood cover your sin. Rejoice and praise God for the gift of Christ’s righteousness is imputed to you and be restored to relationship with your heavenly Father.

Psalm 7:17
I will give to the LORD the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the LORD, the Most High.