Essentials Of The Faith / Sunday Morning Bible Study / Summer Psalms

Psalm 10 06/17/01

Introduction:
    Why? It is the easiest question to ask but the hardest to answer.

    As we were setting up for the Pioneer Clubs Dinner little Samantha Hoke began, what for children is just a hoot of a time, the why game. When I answered, what did she ask? That's right Why? Each answer brought another why till mom came to the rescue. I really didn't mind because it had been some time since Becky had done that to me. It was fun.

     But there are times when the why question is not fun and has very serious consequences related to the answer. This is what we find in our text this morning. The focus of this Psalm is on the question of the justice of God in the face of the prosperity of the wicked. The question is why?

     If you have ever asked God the why question, you need to listen to the words of the psalmist.

Trans: Open your Bibles to Psalm 10 where we see David asking the question...

I. Why God are you absent? (vs 1)
    Read: Psalm 10:1
         This is a bold question arising from the true feelings of people in desperate situations. God...why are you so far away? Why are you hiding yourself from me in my time of need? I am sure many, if not all of us have felt the psalmists pain. But it is not the trouble that is bringing pain to the Psalmist, it is the hiding of the Lords face. It is very common for us to feel forgotten by God when trouble hits, especially when those who are bringing us such trouble seem to be doing so well without God. (which is the context of the Psalm)

     'Why God is my life so miserable and their life is so ...perfect. I am a Christian, it is not supposed to be this way.' 'What's the use of believing in you if you are not around when I need you most. Have I hit a sensitive place in your heart?'

     Well, when we get to that place, we need to ask another why question? Why could it be that God seems distant?

         -God seems distant at times because He is utterly holy. Perhaps the reason we are in such hard times is because of some sin in our lives. God may have turned His face because He could not stand the sight of our unconfessed sin.

         -God seems distant at times because in our distress we just don't look for Him. We cry out for help but don't actually look for His specific intervention. And when it comes we miss it and say that God is unfair because he has left us alone.

         -God seems distant at times because without His absence, we might not be challenged to grow in our faith. He may seem to be absent so that our dependence and trust  in Him will deepen.

    But what we need to remember is that God's distance is only perceived separation. For the Christian has wonderful promises of God, promises that He will forever keep to those who are in Christ. Promises like...

    Psalm 139           which states that there is no place we can go that God is not present.
    Joshua 1:5           'I will be with you'
    Hebrews 13:5     'I will never leave you nor forsake you'
    Psalm 121:1        'He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep'

     What we need to remember is that the presence of God is not based on whether we feel Him near or not. It is based on the surety of God's Holy Word. It is based on faith in the character of God.

Trans: The psalmist in his despair cries out to God...'Why are you so far away, why do you hide yourself from me in my time of trouble.' In verses 2-11 he tells you about the trouble he is in and why the urgency of his cry to God.

II. What is the response of the wicked? (vs 2-11)
     It was not just the psalmist who felt that God was missing in action. The ungodly felt it too. The idea that God is 'somewhere out there'  out of reach,  frees some to live as if He doesn't exist. This too is the context of the Psalm. Well, how do the ungodly act when they think God is not watching?

    Read: Psalm 10:2-4

 Arrogance  (vs 2-4)
     The ungodly are proud, and conceited. In their pride and arrogance they boasts that they can do whatever they please.  And what do they want to do? Bring misery upon the godly; referred to in this Psalm as the poor, the afflicted, fatherless and humble.

     The ungodly are controlled by their passions and pride is the motive of their heart. When pride is enthroned in their heart and God is dethroned, the ungodly are free, so they think, to do as they please. They believe they are the master of their fate and the captain of their soul. Interestingly that was the quote from Timothy McVeigh when he was executed. No remorse, no repentance just pride till the very end.

Trans: Another response of the ungodly to the perceived absence of the Lord is found in ...

    Read: Psalm 10:5

Prosperity (vs 5)
     Come on be honest, don't you just hate this? His ways prosper at all times. The ungodly always seem to be on top of things while more and more things pile up on top of us. It's just not fair. Why are the ungodly living so well and the children of God struggling to get by. And in some parts of the world, not even getting by? Why, God? It seems the more you allow them to prosper the more arrogant and prideful they get.

     So they ungodly say, 'hey if you aren't successful like me, it's nobodies fault but your own, the poor are poor because they want to be. Ever hear that? They say 'get with it and give up on God, He doesn't care about you.'

Trans: Another response of the ungodly to the perceived absence of the Lord is found in ...
    Read: Psalm 10:6

 Security (vs 6)
     The prosperity of the ungodly breeds a false sense of security in them.  They say 'I shall not be moved'.

ILL: In the 2nd WW the  dictator Benito Mussolini was shot at and nearly killed. But he laughed it off saying that 'the bullet has never been made that can kill him.'

     This is the security of the ungodly. They believe that no one can touch them...not even God.

Trans: Another response of the ungodly to the perceived absence of the Lord is found in ...
    Read: Psalm 10:7

Vile Speech (vs 7)
     This is perhaps a bit surprising. But it is spoken of often in the Psalms and in all Scripture. Vile or destructive speech.
 We usually think of our actions as being destructive and wicked while our words are really harmless and unimportant.

ILL: What is that children's rhyme 'Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me.'

     Is that true? Are words really not harmful? The ungodly expose their heart through their mouth. That means who one is on the inside will be revealed by their speech. The ungodly person will use their words to intimidate and force others into submission.

     Vile speech has it's root in the belief that God will not hold them accountable for what they say.

 Eph. 4:29  'Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth but only such a word as is good for edification according
                   to the need of the moment that it may give grace to those whohear.'

     This is intimating that if your speech is critical, hurtful or abusive and you are a Christian, you are living the life of the ungodly and will answer to God for your vile speech. Remember what comes out of your mouth is a reflection of what is in your heart.

Trans: The final response of the ungodly to the perceived absence of the Lord is found in ...
    Read: Psalm 10:8-11

 Violence (vs 8-11)
     Here the words become actions. The ungodly person is described as an assassin, a lion and a hunter. The one thing that joins the three together is the fact that the ungodly lie in wait to pounce upon their unsuspecting prey...and they are successful.

     The ungodly are really cowards, in that they need to lie in wait, to hide or conceal themselves to be successful. If they showed themselves for who and what they are, we would have nothing to do with them. But we are cunningly duped by their disguise and misled by their facade of humility or friendship. Only to have them rip out our hearts and stab us in the back the  first chance they get. Ever have that happen to you?  It hurts deeply.

     And then what do they do? They boast that God has either forgotten, as if God suffers from altzheimers or that God is so distracted by everything else in the world that God will not see the evil he has done.

     The ungodly believes that God is not watching...do you? Of course the question to each one of us is what do we do when we think God is not watching? Do we think we can sin and not be held accountable for our actions?

Trans: That is the response of the ungodly to the perceived absence of God...

III. What is the response of the godly? (vs 12-15)
    Read: Psalm 10:12-15

     When God seems distant, when He seems not to act, when we look around and see great injustice and God's silence we get perplexed, we doubt and question God's purpose. But understand it is never inappropriate to ask God to intervene. He may not do it when you ask but it is right to ask.

     We can pray for God to arise, and act on our behalf in troubled times or to act in the lives of others as we intercede on their  behalf to God.  But our intercession and our plea for God to act must be based on faith...faith in His character.

 We know that God is our present help in times of trouble.
 We know that He remembers His promises to His people.
 We know that God sees the evil committed by the ungodly.
 We know that God is shepherd to those in His flock and will protect them from the enemy.
 We know that Jesus said he will not leave us as orphans, that He will send the comforter to help us.

     And the psalmist knew that too. But, almost in desperation, the he cries out, 'Break the arm of the wicked' How do you like that? Don't you wish, sometimes that you can ask God to do that? Break your bosses arm, your arrogant neighbors leg or the nose of that family member who just won't leave you alone?  Don't you just wish...

     Well, you can't. Because the Psalmist is not talking about physical injury but the cessation of  their evil way and the power the ungodly have over the poor, humble, fatherless and helpless.

     The psalmist is saying in these verses...God, please act, defend me and all those who are oppressed by the ungodly. Stop their evil ways.

IV. What is the response of God? (vs 16-18)
    Read: Psalm 10:16-18

 God is sovereign and in control of everything, even when it seems He is not.
 God has destroyed nations for their ungodly behavior and evil towards the people of God.
 God has heard the desire of the humble, His children and will strengthen their hearts.
 God will show his vengeance against all those who oppress those who cannot help themselves.
 God will one day end the reign of terror.

     That is the response of God. But did you notice that there are no time restraints? The psalmist doesn't say when God will do this. He just believes he will.

     This is a psalm of faith. Faith in the promises of God and  in the timing of God. The hope of the godly, in a world of ungodly and wickedness is God Himself. He is our hope and our shield. And we must have faith that His timing is always right. And always best.

Conclusion

     Is God absent? No, often He is just patient, waiting and wanting the wicked to repent and live. But that doesn't really bring us much comfort when we are in the middle of a desperate time.

 Why God?

    David does not speculate on how his faith can grow when his prayers go unanswered.

    He doesn't write about what the godly are learning in their oppression by the ungodly.

    David doesn't offer a theological treatise concerning God's choice not to act when called upon to do so.

    Rather, in simple faith, David sees the hardships of the godly and desperately cries out to God for help w/o giving God a time limit. He just believes that God will answer.

    And that is what I want to leave you with this morning. Trust God, even when He seems far away.

ILL: Bette Midler had a hit song  titled 'From a Distance'. Do you remember it?  The end is 'God is watching us, God is watching us, God is watching us...from a distance.
 

     How close does God seem to you? If you desire to be closer, fill your mind with the truth of God and your heart with the love of God and trust Him. James 4:8 says Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. And God says  I promise!