Psalms 10

Psalms 10:1-18

God Will not Forget the Lowly Psalms 10:1-18 The malice of our foes, and especially of Satan, is powerfully described, Psalms 10:1-11. Now it is the venom beneath the serpent’ s tongue, Psalms 10:7; now the bandit in ambush, Psalms 10:8; now the lion in his den, and again the hunter snaring his unsuspecting prey, Psalms 10:9. And all the while God is so quiet that it seems as if He has abdicated His throne. Then the oppressed begin to pray, committing themselves to Him, Psalms 10:12-15. May we not rise above the spirit of the Old Covenant and ask that the venomous evil which is in the heart of our foes may be exterminated, so that it leave no vestiges? And such prayer must be answered. Compare Psalms 9:19 with Psalms 10:16-17. True prayer begins with God and returns to Him. When He prepares the heart, Psalms 9:17, He prepares the answer, which exceeds all, 1 Corinthians 2:9.

Thou hast seen! Thou hast heard!This Psalm is full of sorrowful complaint, and befits God’s people in all seasons of distress.

Psalms 10:1-11 The malice of the foe is powerfully described. The treatment which the unjust oppressor deals out to his prey is set forth in many rich and striking images. Now it is the serpent with venom under his tongue (Psalms 10:7); now, the bandit secreted in ambush (Psalms 10:8); now, the lion in his den, and again the hunter snaring the unsuspecting prey (Psalms 10:9). And all the while God seems to stand afar off and hide his eyes from the tribulation caused to his own; so much so that the thoughts of the wicked, that there is no God, seem confirmed (Psalms 10:4-11).

Psalms 10:12-15 The prayer of the oppressed. God is asked to lift up his hands from rest in the folds of his robe. He is the helper of the helpless and hapless, who commit themselves to Him. Let us commit ourselves to Him who judgeth righteously (1 Peter 2:23).

Psalms 10:16-18 The boast of faith. What in Psalms 9:19 was a prayer is here taken as an accomplished fact. Forget not the humble (Psalms 10:12) is here recalled: Thou hast heard the desire of the humble (Psalms 10:17). The preparation of the heart in prayer is His work; and so of course He is able to hear and answer. When we abide in Jesus, and the Holy Ghost flows through our hearts as sap through the vine, we are taught how to pray; and whatsoever we ask we receive. True prayer begins with God, and returns to Him again.