Have you ever asked, “Why do bad people seem to prosper and get away with it?”  That question is usually accompanied by, “Where is God when good people suffer?”  God’s heart is definitely for the widow, poor, and the orphan (e.g. Psalm 68:5; Isaiah 1:17; James 1:27).   It seems there are some who do whatever they want, no matter how sinful, and never face the justice they deserve.  They laugh in the face of God and it can look as if He doesn’t care.    Psalm 10 deals with this difficulty and shows David’s confidence in the Lord to care for the helpless and punish the wicked. 

Psalm 10 begins with, “Why, Lord, do you stand far off?  Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?”  It can feel this way when something bad has happened to good people.  Verses 2-10 go on to describe the attitude and actions of the wicked.  Arrogant, scheming, greedy, and prideful are just a few words the psalmist uses to portray the evildoer.  This type of person preys on the weak with evil schemes (v. 2), craves immorality in his heart (v. 3), rejects the ways of the Lord (vv. 4-5), and feels invincible even with God (v. 6).  Will God step in a deal with them?  They lie and make threats (v. 7), await their next helpless victim (v. 8-9), and believe God will never notice (v. 10).  I’ve experienced people like this and have become angry.   Christians aren’t called to sit back and wonder where God is in the middle of suffering. He is in us and has called us to help others as His ambassadors. That’s why I’m involved in ministries to help those in foster care, protecting the unborn, and battered women.  Believers should always defend the weak, helpless, and innocent and not just sit around blaming God.  He has filled us with His compassion and justice and we must act accordingly.  When someone abuses or takes advantage of a child, woman, elderly, or those with special needs it makes my blood boil!  I want to step in to protect and avenge and become like David, asking God to “break the arm of the wicked man” (v. 15). 

David prays to the Lord to intercede on behalf of the helpless and so must we.  David, like many others, wondered how evil people thought they would never get caught (v. 13).  God sees those being taken advantage of and abused (v. 14).  Verse 14 says God sees the trouble and grief of the afflicted.  Not only does God deal with the problems surrounding us, He heals the hurt inside us as well.  Believers must not only protect people from the evil doers, but we must also help them heal internally also.  God is the Lord and King (v. 16) that hears, encourages, listens, defends, and protects (v. 17).  God deals directly with some evildoers in this earth and all of them in the eternity to come (v. 18).  No one will escape the justice of the Lord (Romans 2:1-16)!  One thing believers must remember is we are agents of the Lord who must stand in the gap for the orphan, widow, abused, poor, and disadvantaged.   Christians must, “Defend the weak and the fatherless and uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed” (Psalm 82:3). 

Questions:

1.  Have you ever wondered why good people suffer and evil people prosper?

2.  Do you sometimes blame God for not intervening on behalf of the helpless?

3.  Do you feel any responsibility to help those in need, abused, or being taken advantage of?

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for defending and helping the orphan, widow, helpless, and poor.  Give me the same compassion and ability to help these who are close to Your heart.  Deal justly with evildoers and give me the wisdom and boldness to know my part to help.  I know one day every injustice and evil will be made right.  One day every hurt will be made whole.  In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

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stephenrharrison

Stephen and his wife Haley have called Arkansas home all of their lives. Stephen has served in several ministry roles over the last 25 years and as a lead pastor for the last 8 years. Stephen attended Williams Baptist College and earned a BA in Biblical Studies from Ouachita Baptist University, an MA, MDiv, and DMin in Christian Leadership and Pastoral Ministries from Liberty University. When not pastoring, Stephen enjoys running, cycling, reading, writing, camping, fishing, and spending time with his family.