10:1“Why do you hide when I am in trouble?” To the psalm writer, God seemed far away. But even though the writer had honest doubts, he did not stop praying or conclude that God no longer cared. He was not complaining but simply asking God to hurry to his aid. It is during those times when we feel most alone or oppressed that we need to keep praying, telling God about our troubles. being hunted by Saul (1 Samuel 18-31) or during the days of Absalom’s rebellion (2 Samuel 15-18). In both instances, David fled, but not as if all was lost. He knew God was in control. While David wisely avoided trouble, he did not fearfully run away from his troubles.
Life Application Study BiblePsalmsChapter 10
Psalm 10
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 851, 852
10Psalm 10
1Why do you hide when I am in trouble?
2The wicked arrogantly hunt down the poor.Let them be caught in the evil they plan for others.
3For they brag about their evil desires;they praise the greedy and curse the LORD.
4The wicked are too proud to seek God.They seem to think that God is dead.
5Yet they succeed in everything they do.They do not see your punishment awaiting them.They sneer at all their enemies.
6They think, “Nothing bad will ever happen to us!We will be free of trouble forever!”
7Their mouths are full of cursing, lies, and threats.*Trouble and evil are on the tips of their tongues.
8They lurk in ambush in the villages,waiting to murder innocent people.They are always searching for helpless victims.
9Like lions crouched in hiding,they wait to pounce on the helpless.Like hunters they capture the helplessand drag them away in nets.
10Their helpless victims are crushed;they fall beneath the strength of the wicked.
11The wicked think, “God isn’t watching us!He has closed his eyes and won't even see what we do!”
12Arise, O LORD!Punish the wicked, O God!Do not ignore the helpless!
13Why do the wicked get away with despising God?They think, “God will never call us to account.”
14But you see the trouble and grief they cause.You take note of it and punish them.The helpless put their trust in you.You defend the orphans.
15Break the arms of these wicked, evil people!Go after them until the last one is destroyed.
16The LORD is king forever and ever!The godless nations will vanish from the land.
17LORD, you know the hopes of the helpless.Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them.
18You will bring justice to the orphans and the oppressed,so mere people can no longer terrify them.Theme: God's rule provides stability in the midst of panic. Because we can trust him,we can face our problems.
Author: David
11 For the choir director: A psalm of David. 141
Textual footnotes
- 10:7 Greek version reads cursing and bitterness. Compare Rom 3:14.