Psalm Ten
by Dr. Henry M. Morris
(taken from the Defender's Study Bible)
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Psalm 10:1 Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?
afar off. This is a “psalm of lament,” questioning in this first verse why God does not intervene to deliver His people from their troubles and from oppression by the ungodly.
Psalm 10:2 The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.
wicked in his pride. Psalm 10:2-11 describes the wicked (or ungodly) man and his deeds. He is proud (Psalm 10:2), fawning (Psalm 10:3), atheistic in behavior (Psalm 10:4, 11), devious (Psalm 10:5, 10-11), stubborn (Psalm 10:6), profane (Psalm 10:7), hurtful (Psalm 10:8) and deceptive (Psalm 10:9).
Psalm 10:3 For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.
Psalm 10:4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.
Psalm 10:5 His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.
Psalm 10:6 He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.
Psalm 10:7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.
full of cursing. This verse was used by the Apostle Paul as he described the ungodly pagans of the ancient world (Romans 3:14).
Psalm 10:8 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.
Psalm 10:9 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.
Psalm 10:10 He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.
Psalm 10:11 He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.
Psalm 10:12 Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble.
lift up thine hand. Psalm 10:12-15 comprises the psalmist's prayer that God would judge and punish the wicked.
Psalm 10:13 Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it.
Psalm 10:14 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.
Psalm 10:15 Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none.
Psalm 10:16 The LORD is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land.
The Lord is King. The last three verses of the psalm make a statement of faith that God will, indeed, make all things right in His own proper time.
Psalm 10:17 LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:
Psalm 10:18 To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.
