Psalm 10: The Ways of The Wicked
Some things we can learn.
v.1 Why dost Thou stand afar off, O Lord? Why dost Thou hide Thyself in times of trouble?
Do we sometimes ask; “where is God?”
Do we wonder why God allows trouble and wickedness to attack us who are only trying to humble ourselves before God and live in peace.
v.2 In pride the wicked hotly pursue the afflicted; Let them be caught in the plots which they have devised.
Pride is a great cause of destruction.
Pride goeth before a fall (Proverbs 16:18)
Pride puts one’s personal self as the center piece of everything.
Pride denies God.
v.3 For the wicked boasts of his heart’s desire, and the greedy man curses and spurns the LORD.
Many people brag about their vices.
The greedy man is a covetous person.
God teaches us to share in the afflictions of others and to share what we have.
This does not go with greed.
v.4 The wicked, in the haughtiness of his countenance, does not seek Him, All his thoughts are, ‘there is no God’.
The wicked does not seek God.
Many will find ways to remove God from our existence.
Look at all the lawsuits against prayer, bibles, pledge of allegiance, etc.
But before we go further, just who is the wicked person?
The wicked person
We usually consider the wicked person as the rapists, murderer, thief, sexual predators, drunkards, and such like.
Yet God considers anyone who is in sin to be a wicked person.
It does not matter what kind of sin either.
All have sinned, and all become wicked (Romans 3:23).
Yet, through forgiveness we can become righteous before God.
Continuing in Psalm 10, God gives us a description of the wicked.
v.5 His ways prosper at all times; Thy judgments are on high, out of his sight; As for all his adversaries, he snorts at them.
V.6 He says to himself, “I shall not be moved; throughout all generations I shall not be in adversity”.
V.7 His mouth is full of curses and deceit and oppression; Under his tongue is mischief and wickedness,
V.8 He sits in the lurking places of the villages; In the hiding places he kills the innocent; His eyes stealthily watch for the unfortunate,
V.9 He lurks in a hiding place as a lion in his lair; He lurks to catch the afflicted; He catches the afflicted when he draws him into his net.
V.10 He crouches, he bows down, and the unfortunate fall by his mighty ones.
V.11 He says to himself, “God has forgotten: He has hidden His face; He will never see it”.
Petition for God to act
V.12 Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up Thy hand. Do not forget the afflicted.
V.13 Why has the wicked spurned God? He has said to himself “Thou wilt not require it.”
V.14 Thou has seen it, for Thou has beheld mischief and vexation to take it into Thy hand, The unfortunate commits himself to Thee; Thou has been the helper of the orphan.
V.15 Break the arm of the wicked and the evildoer, Seek out his wickedness until Thou dost find none.
V.16 The LORD is King forever and ever; Nations have perished from His land.
V.17 O LORD, Thou has heard the desire of the humble; Thou wilt strengthen their heart, Thou wilt incline Thine ear
V.18 To vindicate the orphan and the oppressed, That man who is of the earth may cause terror no more.
Conclusion
The wicked will always be around.
The wicked will get worse and worse.
Must be careful that we are not of the wicked.
Consider your ways…

By Carey Scott

Return to the Sermon Outlines page

Home / Bible studies / Bible Survey / Special Studies / General Articles / Non-Bible Articles / Sermons / Sermon Outlines / Links / Questions and Answers / What Saith The Scriptures /Daily Devotional / Correspondence Courses / What is the Church of Christ / Book: Christian Growth / Website Policy / E-mail / About Me /