Where Are You?
A blunt complaint that our Father seems to stand far off while arrogant men hunt the poor from ambush, telling themselves nobody is watching. The psalmist insists he does see it, and asks him to act as the helper of the fatherless.
10 1Why, our Father, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
2In his arrogance the wicked man fiercely hunts down the poor; let the wicked be caught in the schemes they have devised. 3For the wicked boasts about what his heart craves; the greedy man curses and renounces our Father. 4In his arrogance the wicked man will not seek him; all his thoughts are, "There is no God." a a v4 The wicked man's settled thought — "There is no God" — is the ancient lie that our Father is distant or absent. The psalm answers it: our Father does see, and he defends the helpless. 5His ways prosper at all times; your judgments are on high, far above him; he sneers at all his foes. 6He says in his heart, "I will never be shaken; from generation to generation I will meet no trouble."
7His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and oppression; under his tongue are trouble and wickedness. 8He sits in ambush near the villages; from hiding places he murders the innocent, his eyes stealthily watching for the helpless. 9He lies in wait in secret like a lion in its thicket; he lies in wait to seize the poor, dragging off the poor in his net. 10His victims are crushed, they collapse; the helpless fall by his might. 11He says in his heart, "God has forgotten; he has hidden his face; he will never see it."
12Arise, our Father! Lift up your hand; do not forget the afflicted. 13Why does the wicked man renounce our Father and say in his heart, "You will not call me to account"? 14But you do see, for you take note of trouble and grief, to take it into your own hand. The helpless one entrusts himself to you; you are the helper of the fatherless. b b v14 Our Father is named here as the helper of the fatherless — the orphan's defender. His heart shelters the very ones no one else will protect. 15Break the arm of the wicked and evil man; call his wickedness to account until you find no more.
16Our Father is king forever and ever; the nations perish from his land. 17You hear the longing of the afflicted, our Father; you will strengthen their heart; you will listen closely, 18to do justice for the fatherless and the oppressed, so that mere mortals may strike terror no more.
