Heavenly Devotion: Psalm 10 – Prayers to Our Protector against Predators

(Meditation written by Yoong Yuen Soo)

Is there God? If there is, why are You so far away? This is a prayer by the helpless, the poor, the innocent, the orphans, the oppressed, the isolated and hopeless. They are preyed upon by the wicked ones. The wicked ones and evil doers are like predators. They are arrogant, greedy, proud, foul-mouthed, deceitful, murderous, merciless, and brutal. They seem to get away without being punished for violations against the helpless. They renounce the LORD. They also say, “There is no God.”

The LORD is our Protector, a Helper to the helpless. The LORD will arise. For He sees all things. He hears the cries of the afflicted. He will strengthen their hearts. He will act and do justice to the orphans and the oppressed when He, as the eternal King, comes with His judgments.

Let’s read Psalm 10,

1 Why, Lord, do you stand far off?
    Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

2 In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak,
    who are caught in the schemes he devises.
3 He boasts about the cravings of his heart;
    he blesses the greedy and reviles the Lord.
4 In his pride the wicked man does not seek him;
    in all his thoughts there is no room for God.
5 His ways are always prosperous;
    your laws are rejected by him;
    he sneers at all his enemies.

6 He says to himself, “Nothing will ever shake me.”
    He swears, “No one will ever do me harm.”

7 His mouth is full of lies and threats;
    trouble and evil are under his tongue.
8 He lies in wait near the villages;
    from ambush he murders the innocent.
His eyes watch in secret for his victims;
9     like a lion in cover he lies in wait.
He lies in wait to catch the helpless;
    he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net.
10 His victims are crushed, they collapse;
    they fall under his strength.
11 He says to himself, “God will never notice;
    he covers his face and never sees.”

12 Arise, Lord! Lift up your hand, O God.
    Do not forget the helpless.
13 Why does the wicked man revile God?
    Why does he say to himself,
    “He won’t call me to account”?
14 But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted;
    you consider their grief and take it in hand.
The victims commit themselves to you;
    you are the helper of the fatherless.
15 Break the arm of the wicked man;
    call the evildoer to account for his wickedness
    that would not otherwise be found out.

16 The Lord is King for ever and ever;
    the nations will perish from his land.
17 You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted;
    you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,
18 defending the fatherless and the oppressed,
    so that mere earthly mortals
    will never again strike terror.

Let’s pray,

Lord Jesus Christ! My Lord and my God! You have taken all my sorrows and griefs. I can come boldly into Your presence by faith. The wicked ones seem to go unpunished, but Your righteous judgments on high are near. For You are slow to anger and are compassionate. You are merciful and gracious to all. You took upon Yourself the wrath of God, so that justice and mercy meet at the Cross! You are my Protector, O merciful and gracious God! In the Name of my Saviour Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen.