Psalm 10:1-18 Why stand you afar off, O LORD? why hide you yourself in times of trouble?… I. A THEOLOGICAL DIFFICULTY. — "Why standest Thou afar off, O Lord?" Some great enormity was now under the eyes of David. We know not what. He had witnessed many such scenes. They have a tendency to suggest that God is indifferent. Even Christ felt this. "Why hast Thou forsaken Me?" Why does not God interfere? We cannot fully answer the question, but we may consider — 1. That God respects that freedom of action with which He has endowed man. 2. The sufferings which the wicked inflict upon the good are often disciplinary. Faith rests itself deeper. 3. There will be a period of retribution, "For all these things God will bring thee into judgment." II. A HAUGHTY IMPIETY. "The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor. See this impiety — 1. In its conduct towards men. It is cruel — "persecutes." It is fraudulent — "his mouth is full of deceit and fraud," both in speech — "under his tongue," etc., and practice — "he sitteth in the lurking places," etc. 2. In its conduct towards God.There is here — 1. An expressed contempt for the Eternal. "For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire," etc. 2. A practical disregard for the Eternal, "God is not in all his thoughts." He is without God. 3. An awful calumny on the Eternal. "He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten me." Haughty impiety indeed. III. AN EARNEST PRAYER. Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up Thine hand. He desires — 1. A merciful interposition on behalf of the good. "Forget not the humble." Piety ever breathes its prayers to heaven for such. 2. A righteous interposition against the wicked. "Break Thou the arm," etc. "Seek out his wickedness," etc. We cannot justify this part of David's prayers, which were often as imperfect as many parts of his conduct. IV. AN EXULTANT FAITH. "The Lord is King forever and ever." David believed — 1. In the perpetuity of God's Kingdom. 2. In His attention to human entreaties. "Lord, Thou hast heard the desire of the humble." 3. In His vindication of the right. "To judge the fatherless," etc. The wicked man is in an especial sense "the man of the earth." Sprung from, living by and for it, and it only. (D. Thomas, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?WEB: Why do you stand far off, Yahweh? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? |
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