“But you do see…” v. 14
El-Roi, “the God who sees”, is the name Hagar called God after he saw her and cared for her in the wilderness (Genesis 16). This psalm is about how we respond to God when we feel like He sees us and even when we feel like He doesn’t.
Verse 4 of Psalm 10 says the wicked have the thought “there is no God”, which then seems to form into a worldview. If God is not their authority, who is? It appears that in “arrogance” and “pride”, the wicked reject God and declare themselves as almighty. (“He says in his heart, “I shall not be moved; throughout all generations I shall not meet adversity.” v.6) What, then, drives the actions of the wicked’s heart? It seems they are inevitably determined by personal desires (“but the wicked boasts in the desires of his soul” v.3). By having “what feels good to me” as a moral compass, the unconscionable acts of oppression, pride, greed, and mischief mentioned in the psalm [as acts of the wicked] are justified by their own pursuit of happiness. They will forcefully act to gain power over their surroundings and relationships to preserve their personal sovereignty.
By contrast, the psalmist sees this and may even have been tempted by the same thought, “there is no God”. We are certain he feels God is far away and is asking questions as if to say, “Why? Why are you letting these bad things happen?”. However, in faith, he recalls and declares truth instead of letting his experiences and sensations of the moment dictate his response. He recognizes that the Lord does see what is going on and that despite what is happening, God is in control (“But you do see, for you note mischief and vexation, that you take take it into your hands” v.14). He affirms God as the king who establishes rule, hears the desires of the afflicted, does justice and strengthens hearts.
Truth and force are two opposing means of authority in our lives. When faced with circumstances and thoughts that tempt us to ask “Where are you God?”…”Why is this happening?”…or even to think, “There is no God” – let us be like Moses, who “By faith…refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin.” (Hebrews 11:24-25) I pray that we, Christ City Church, train our hearts and minds to trust in El-Roi’s good, just and faithful rule despite what we may feel in times of trouble.
- Dana H.