Read Psalm 10
The Psalm starts out with a plea to the Lord, "Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?"
As believers, we know that the Lord does not actually hide Himself in times of trouble. Psalm 46 calls the Lord “a very present help in trouble”, and in Matthew 28, He promises, “I am with you always, even to the end”. It’s even in his name, Emmanuel, meaning “God with Us”. But at times, we feel that the Lord is hiding himself, especially in the moments when we encounter hardship or persecution. The ways of the world seem to be winning, hope seems lost when what is seen triumphs over what is unseen.
Have you been grieved by the oppression in the world? Have you been on the receiving end of that oppression? Do you feel like God has hid Himself in a time of trouble? It’s okay to be honest about feelings like that. And in the same way David did, you can express them to the Lord. Validate the feeling in order to magnify the joy found in the Lord’s presence. “In your presence there is fullness of joy” (Psalm 16:11). It's so easy to forget the command to be joyful always, especially when life’s circumstances bring suffering. But with the command comes the assurance that he is with us, always.
David then goes on to explain the deeds and character of the evil doer. We live in this “already saved, but not yet at home with the Lord” reality. Evil does exist, justice seems delayed, acknowledgement is denied. Sin brings destruction wherever it is reigns. It's so much easier to hate sin when it hurts us than when we are the ones being led into temptation. But sin is sin, this is why we all so desperately need a savior. God in his wisdom, grace, and love knew this to be true and mercifully provided a means for our rescue. Sin is powerful, and we can be so easily deceived into thinking our ways are right. Or worse, that “there is no God." The evil man is convinced of his rightness and independence.
Have you convinced yourself of your rightness and will apart from God? Do you recognize independence in your heart as the seed of sin? This is a temptation not only for the evil man but also for me each day. I am required to remind myself of truth, who I am and who He is, in order to rightly orient myself and live out a childlike faith. Romans 1 says, "For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks." When I honor God as King and give thanks, I recognize the truth of my dependence on the Lord as a gift and a blessing.
David calls on the Lord to "arise…lift up your hand". He remembers the truth that God is the helper of the orphan, who hears the desire of the humble, strengthens their heart, and vindicates the oppressed. This truth brings tremendous comfort and safety amidst turmoil. Honestly, it is the only way I would be able to not let "the man who is of the earth no longer cause terror". Because my God is greater. "Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world" (1 John 4:4).