286 – Psalm 10 – Wickedness

I noticed David spends significant time talking about the wicked in Psalm ten. Roughly half of the eighteen verses describe what the wicked person does and to whom he does it. Let’s continue our study starting in verse five.

Psalm 10:5-7 (NKJV)

           5       His ways are always prospering;

    Your judgments are far above, out of his sight;

    As for all his enemies, he sneers at them.

           6       He has said in his heart, “I shall not be moved;

    I shall never be in adversity.”

           7       His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and oppression;

    Under his tongue is trouble and iniquity.

How is it that this terrible person is always prospering as verse five informs us? That does not seem fair at all. We find out that this guy “enables the greedy”, “renounces Yahweh”, “lies in wait for the poor”, and “overpowers” the helpless, and more! How is it that a person like that is “always prospering”? That certainly doesn’t seem fair!

I hope you will read through this Psalm. If you do you will notice that sometimes the Psalmist refers to God as “LORD” and other times as “God”. Let’s think about that for a minute. The word translated LORD is actually God’s personal name Yahweh and means something like the self-existent one who has life within himself. The word “God” is the Hebrew word “Elohim”. It is a plural word, and although it is talking about the one and only God, it should be translated as “Gods”, which speaks of the three persons of the Godhead. Elohim means something like “mighty God” – it speaks of Yahweh’s strength and power.

Keep the two different ways of referring to God and what they mean in your mind and let’s go back and consider the top of verse five, “His ways are always prospering…”. It actually gets worse as is stated in verse eleven.

Psalm 10:11 (NKJV)

           11       He has said in his heart,

    “God has forgotten;

    He hides His face;

    He will never see.”

In your Bible, you’ll notice verse eleven is indented. That’s an attempt to demonstrate that the Psalmist is quoting this wicked person. You have to look to see it, but it becomes obvious when you understand the word “God”, Elohim, or Mighty God. This person in his arrogance is mocking God! It’s as if he’s snorting, Mighty God, ha! He has forgotten, He will never see what I’ve done! 

David tells us about it again in verse thirteen. Let’s consider verses thirteen and fourteen together. 

Psalm 10:13-14 (NKJV)

     13       Why do the wicked renounce God?

    He has said in his heart,

    “You will not require an account.”

           14       But You have seen, for You observe trouble and grief,

    To repay it by Your hand.

    The helpless commits himself to You;

    You are the helper of the fatherless.

Do you see that? The wicked person is wrong about God. He will not get away with his wickedness. God indeed does see all that was done against the poor and helpless and He will “repay” (avenge) the wrong done.

A question comes to mind. How does a person get to the point of being so very wicked? I think we can find the answer in the first half of verse three. Here are verses three and four together.

Psalm 10:3-4 (NKJV)

           3       For the wicked boasts of his heart’s desire;

    He blesses the greedy and renounces the LORD.

           4       The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God;

Remember what I told you about the meaning of the references “LORD” (Yahweh) and “God” (Elohim)? This individual renounced and continues to renounce Yahweh the one who has life within Himself and is the giver of life. He actively avoids seeking God, Elohim, the mighty God and in doing so has come to rely upon his own strength. He is deluded into believing himself to be invincible!

What a horrible exchange! The wicked person has given up the God of life and now is dead inside. He has no relationship with God and nothing but unhealthy relationships with others. He is their oppressor and they are his victim. How very sad. Contrary to his belief he will one day give an account before God for his actions.

If you are one of his victims take heart! God has not forgotten you and he will judge the wicked. Consider these few verses from Psalm 37.

Psalm 371:4 (NKJV)

           1       Do not fret because of evildoers,

    Nor be envious of the workers of iniquity.

           2       For they shall soon be cut down like the grass,

    And wither as the green herb.

           3       Trust in the [Yahweh], and do good;

    Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.

           4       Delight yourself also in the [Yahweh],

    And He shall give you the desires of your heart.

Yahweh Elohim truly is worthy of all praise, worship, and adoration!