Psalm 10 - A Prayer For Justice Against The Wicked Series

A PRAYER FOR JUSTICE AGAINST THE WICKED

TEXT: Psalm 10:1-18

Psalms 10:1-18 KJV Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble? [2] The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined. [3] For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth. [4] The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts. [5] His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them. [6] He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity. [7] His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity. [8] He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor. [9] He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net. [10] He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones. [11] He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it. [12] Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble. [13] Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it. [14] Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless. [15] Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none. [16] The LORD is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land. [17] LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear: [18] To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.

I. INTRODUCTION—THE MATTER OF INJUSTICE

-When Paul made mention of something that we may have overlooked in our rapid, hurried, and sometimes desperate look at the Scriptures. But if Paul had the stature of one of the greatest saints and preachers who has ever lived, I think that what he may have spoken should warrant our attention.

Romans 8:22-23 KJV For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. [23] And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

2 Corinthians 5:1-4 KJV For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. [2] For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: [3] If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. [4] For we that are in this tabernacle do groan, being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that mortality might be swallowed up of life.

-There are things that good saints of God come in contact with on this earth that creates a sense of groaning and the pressure that comes from life. Obviously there are some matters that are more difficult to bear than others but one of those matters we often groan about is that of justice.

-We desire justice, we seek justice, and we want justice, and I believe that this is one of the matters of the Christian life. Once we receive the Spirit, there is an innate sense of justice that comes to us. Because we are partakers of the divine nature (Heb. 3:1; 2 Peter 1:4) we gain a very small portion of the feeling that comes with one of God’s attributes.

-One of God’s attributes is justice. Therefore when we are Spirit-filled there are moments where we feel this sense of God’s presence about us that deals with God’s sense of justice. When we see it not being fulfilled there is a longing that prevails in the heart of a saint.

-To stir your heart toward justice, all that we have to do is simply to open our eyes to those around us:

• The man who is laid off with about two years left until retirement and now is left with nothing.

• The person who has to endure the criticism of those who don’t know all the details of the story.