Psalm 10

Perhaps Psalm 10 is the second half of Psalm 9, perhaps not. Either way, as Martin Luther says, it is a Psalm that describes the mind and the manner of the ungodly like few others. It confronts us with two sides; Psalmist and sinner. Which side we find ourselves on might surprise you.

Vv.1-4 begin by the Psalmist questioning, as I would suggest we all have at some point, the seemingly slow and inactive work of God towards the wicked and sinful. Why, we wonder, does the ground not open up and swallow those who have so grievously injured others and so flagrantly transgressed the Word, ways, and will of God (cf. Numbers 16)? We then read of how prideful those transgressing can actually be in vv.5-7 and the types of transgressions are listed in vv.8-11. Until this point, most of us would see ourselves as the Psalmist.

As we read on, just maybe, we start to see ourselves as the sinner and not the sinned-against.

God is called into action in vv.12-13 and the reason for his intervention is given in vv.14-15: you deliver the fatherless. The Lord is a God of help, of support, of compassion, and of love. Why, then, do we ever doubt that wrongs will be put right and justice will be done? This end, we read in vv.16-18:

“The Lord rules forever!
The nations are driven out of his land.
Lord, you have heard the request of the oppressed;
you make them feel secure because you listen to their prayer.
You defend the fatherless and oppressed,
so that mere mortals may no longer terrorize them.”

(NET)

The Psalmist has returned to the sure and settled state that belongs to every believer: The Lord rules forever! May we never forget this when we feel that God is slow to judge and to right wrongs.

Maybe, though, even more importantly, may we never see ourselves as the Psalmist more than the sinner. Pause here and think: if God dealt out the types of punishment we see in extraordinary instances in the Old Testament (cf. 2 Samuel 6.7) and the like of which we all-too-easily call down for others, then would I be here now?

Have I, like the sinner in this Psalm, acted wickedly?

Have I ever thought “God won’t hold me accountable“?

Or, have I, like Uzzah in 2 Samuel acted irreverently?

If we’re honest, we have.

If we’re honest, we know we are the sinner and not the Psalmist and what we deserve for that (Romans 3.23, 6.23). How, then, can this not be so?

Thankfully, through the sacrifice of Jesus made on your behalf the accountability for transgression and the freedom are perfectly balanced:

“God made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us,

so that in him we would become the righteousness of God”.

(2 Corinthians 5.21, NET)