Psalm 10

“Why do You stand afar off, O Lord? Why do You hide in times of trouble? he wicked in his pride persecutes the poor; let them be caught in the plots which they have devised.”  Psalm 10:1-2 (NKJV)

“Why, Lord?”  It is the age-old question that shows no signs of going out of style. Who can know the mind of God that they could call His character into account? He has an aerial view of time (accompanied by a precise, detailed knowledge of how creation was designed) that our imaginations and calculations could never envision. He knows the cause-and-effect nature of circumstances concerning world happenings, and He ALWAYS chooses to act (or not) correctly. No degree or error. Still, we are human, so we ask, “Why?”

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 (NKJV)

Consider the conversation between Moses and the children of Israel when Pharaoh overtook them as they fled in the Exodus, hemmed in at the edge of the Red Sea. Does it not mimic David’s internal struggle in Psalm 10?

“And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them. So they were very afraid, and the children of Israel cried out to the Lord. Then they said to Moses, ‘Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you so dealt with us, to bring us up out of Egypt? Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, “Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians”? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness.’ And Moses said to the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.’”  Exodus 14:10-14 (NKJV)

“Arise, O Lord! O God, lift up Your hand! Do not forget the humble. Why do the wicked renounce God? He has said in his heart, ‘You will not require an account.’ But You have seen, for You observe trouble and grief, to repay it by Your hand. The helpless commits himself to You; You are the helper of the fatherless. Break the arm of the wicked and the evil man; seek out his wickedness until You find none. The Lord is King forever and ever; the nations have perished out of His land. Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear, to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may oppress no more.”  Psalm 10:12-18 (NKJV)

Whatever you are going through, remember that the Lord knows. Cry out in prayer and know that He is there. He is holy, cares, and has the power to affect change!