“O LORD, why do you stand so far away? Why do you hide when I am in trouble? The wicked arrogantly hunt down the poor. Let them be caught in the evil they plan for others. For they brag about their evil desires; they praise the greedy and curse the LORD. The wicked are too proud to seek God. THEY SEEM TO THINK THAT GOD IS DEAD. YET THEY SUCCEED IN EVERYTHING THEY DO. They do NOT SEE your punishment awaiting them. They sneer at all their enemies. They think, “Nothing bad will ever happen to us! We will be free of trouble forever!” (Psa. 10:1-6)
Suffering injustice is commonplace for God’s people. Abel suffered injustice at the hand of his brother. Joseph did too. Esau’s blessing was stolen by Jacob. David suffered horrible injustice at the hands of Saul. Peter was thrown in prison for his faith. The Judaizers lied about Paul. Paul was beaten and left for dead. Paul and Silas were beaten and thrown into prison. As far as we know, ALL of the Apostles suffered injustice for Christ. And of course, Jesus suffered injustice at the hands of His own countrymen. Church history is filled with similar stories. Every believer will suffer injustice it seems. While it should not surprise us, that truth does not take away the anger, fear, desperation, and sense of helplessness that victims feel. SO HOW SHOULD WE RESPOND?
I love how Psalms like this one start by expressing what I am thinking and feeling and then LEAD ME to what I SHOULD BE thinking and feeling. The bulk of the Psalm describes the wickedness and perceived prosperity of the oppressors. However, at the moment when all seems lost and helpless, THE CALL GOES OUT TO GOD. “Arise, O LORD! O God, lift up Your hand! DO NOT FORGET THE HUMBLE…The LORD IS KING FOREVER AND EVER; The nations have perished out of His land. LORD, YOU HAVE HEARD the desire of the humble; You will PREPARE THEIR HEART; You will cause YOUR EAR TO HEAR, TO DO JUSTICE to the fatherless and the oppressed, That the man of the earth may oppress no more.” (Psa. 10:12,16-18)
-Bill Stockham