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Psalms 10

18 verses

TL;DR

The psalm laments the seeming dominance of the wicked while calling on God to defend the poor and affirm divine justice.

Summary

Psalm 10 opens with the psalmist questioning God's apparent distance as the wicked prosper, depicting them as proud, deceitful, and violent against the poor. The verses then describe the wicked’s cunning strategies—lying in wait like a lion and trapping the vulnerable in a net—emphasizing their moral corruption and indifference to God’s righteousness. In contrast, the psalmist appeals to the LORD, urging Him to lift His hand and not neglect the humble, especially the fatherless and oppressed. The psalm concludes with an affirmation that God is the eternal King who will deliver the humble and destroy the wicked, ensuring that earthly oppression will end.

Outline
  1. The wicked’s pride and oppression of the poor (v.1‑12)
  2. The psalmist’s plea for divine justice (v.13‑15)
  3. Assurance of God’s righteous rule and salvation for the humble (v.16‑18)
Themes
Injustice and oppressionDivine justice and judgmentHope and faith in God’s righteousness
Keywords
wickedpoorjusticeGodhumbleoppressionkinglordfatherless
People
LORDGodthe wickedthe poorthe fatherlessthe humble
Places
villagesdenthe land of the heathen
Things
pridehand of Godnetlionarm
Key Verses
  • Psalms 10:1: Sets the central lament of God’s seeming distance during trouble.
  • Psalms 10:8: Uses the vivid image of a lion to illustrate the wicked’s predatory nature.
  • Psalms 10:17: Conveys the psalmist’s confidence that God has heard the pleas of the humble.
Questions
  • How does Psalm 10 portray the relationship between injustice and divine presence?
  • What does the psalm suggest about the nature of God’s response to the oppressed?
  • In what ways can believers today apply the psalm’s call for justice?
  • How does the imagery of the lion and the net deepen our understanding of the wicked’s behavior?
  • What comfort does the promise of God’s everlasting kingship offer to those facing oppression?
Sentiment

mixed
Lament over injustice coupled with hopeful assurance of divine justice.