Psalm 10 - Why, LORD?

Psalm 10 - Why, LORD?

It’s ok to ask questions and its ok not to understand. It’s ok not to understand what is going on in the world and it’s ok not to understand what God is doing in a situation. In fact we should probably be very cautious when anyone tells us that they do know what God is doing or that they know why certain things are happening. 

In 1 Corinthians 13 vs 12 we read these words: ‘Now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face.’

Psalm 10 begins with a question ‘Why?’ In this Psalm the writer of the Psalm (and we’re not told who he or she was) asks God ‘Why?’ Why does God seem to be far away when He’s desperately needed? Why does God seem to be hiding when there is trouble all around? 

The writer of this Psalm looks out at a troubled world and he sees two different types of people. There are people who he describes as ‘arrogant’, people who are proud and self-sufficient. Vs 4 puts it this way:

‘In his pride the wicked man does not seek Him, in all His thoughts there is no room for God.’

There is a different kind of person and they are described in vs 2 as ‘the weak’, and in vs 12 as ‘the helpless.’ This Psalm announces the news that God is a God who does not forget the helpless, a God who (vs 14) ‘see the trouble of the afflicted’, who ‘considers their grief and takes it in hand’.

There are many things we do not know, many things for now that we do not understand. There are however some big things that we do know. This questioning Psalm ends (vs 16) with a declaration that ‘The LORD is King for ever and ever. Somehow this is enough. Enough to breathe life and strength and confidence into someone’s heart, living in a world of many questions.

Pause for thought: If the LORD encourages the afflicted (vs 17) how, as followers of Jesus, might this affect our actions when we find ourselves surrounded by need and suffering?