PSALMS 10


     We will now give this Psalm in metre to show how easy it would be
to sing the Psalms.

                   THE PSALMS OF DAVID IN METRE

                           Chapter 10

verse 1  "O wherefore dost thou stand From us, O Lord, so far?
          And why dost thou conceal thyself, When times so troublous
          are?"
verse 2  "The wicked in his pride Doth persecute the poor;
          The evil things which they devised, The same let them
          endure."
verse 3  "He of his soul's desire Doth talk with boasting great;
          He blesses him that's covetous, Whom yet the Lord doth
          hate."
verse 4  "The wicked seeks not God, Restrained through pride of face;
          In all his thoughts the thought of God Hath in his heart no
          place."
verse 5  "His ways still grievous are, And far above his sight
          Thy judgements are; at all his foes He puffs with scornful
          spite."
verse 6  "He in his heart hath said, I never moved shall be,
          And I from all adversity Forever shall be free."
verse 7  "With cursing, fraud, deceit, His mouth is ever filled;
          Whilst vanity and mischief lie Beneath his tongue
          concealed."
verse 8  "In villages he lurks, And slays the innocent;
          His eyes are set against the poor, on secret mischief bent."
verse 9  "Concealed he lies in wait, Like lion in his lair;
          He takes the poor and needy one Entangled in his snare."
verse 10 "Himself he humbleth low, He croucheth down withal,
          That so a multitude of poor May by his strong ones fall."
verse 11 "He says within his heart, The Lord hath quite forgot;
          He turns away his countenance, His eye beholds it not."
verse 12 "Do thou, O Lord, arise, O God, lift up thy hand,
          Do not forget the suffering poor, The humble in the land."
verse 13 "Why doth the wicked man The mighty God despise?
          Because that thou wilt it require, He in his heart denies."
verse 14 "But thou hast seen, thou wilt Their wrongs and spite repay;
          The poor commits himself to thee, Thou art the orphans
          stay."
verse 15 "Break thou the wicked's arm, Subdue the evil one;
          And search out all his wickedness Until thou findest none."
verse 16 "Jehovah ever reigns, And firm his throne shall stand.
          The heathen nations are destroyed Forever from his land."
verse 17 "Of those that humble are, Thou, Lord, hast heard the prayer;
          Thou also wilt prepare their heart, And still incline thine
          ear."
verse 18 "To judge the fatherless, And those by men distressed,
          That they by man that is of earth May be no more oppressed."
     We will now begin the verse by verse study of this Psalm from the
King James version of the Bible. Psalms 10:1 "Why standest thou afar
off, O LORD? [why] hidest thou [thyself] in times of trouble?"

     I can see myself in David's cry to the Lord here, and probably
you can see yourself, as well. Sometimes we feel that God is so far
away from us and that He is hiding from us. This is just how it
appears. God is always near to His children, and He knows the pain we
are going through. We might find the answer to the question in the
following verses. Romans 5:3 "And not only [so], but we glory in
tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;" Romans
5:4 "And patience, experience; and experience, hope:" Romans 5:5 " And
hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our
hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."  Many times, what we
call a problem, is really the Lord teaching us.  Trials must come to
make us strong. Thank God that He cares enough to let us learn in our
trials.

     Psalms 10:2 "The wicked in [his] pride doth persecute the poor:
let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined."

     The wicked, in the verse above, is scheming against the poor. The
word pride shows us that the wicked thinks himself better than the
poor. David is saying in this, Let this wicked person be caught in his
own trap. Luke 6:20  "And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and
said, Blessed [be ye] poor: for yours is the kingdom of God."  Jesus
was a friend to the poor. We find, in the following Scriptures in
Jesus' own words, the punishment those will receive who persecute the
poor.  Matthew 25:41 "Then shall he say also unto them on the left
hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for
the devil and his angels:"  Matthew 25:42 "For I was an hungred, and
ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:" Matthew
25:43 "I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed
me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not."  Matthew 25:44
"Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an
hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison,
and did not minister unto thee?"  Matthew 25:45 "Then shall he answer
them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did [it] not to
one of the least of these, ye did [it] not to me."

     Psalms 10:3 For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and
blesseth the covetous, [whom] the LORD abhorreth.

     The word abhorreth goes further than to just dislike. In this
particular Scripture above, it means to scorn or detest. To detest
something is so strong that it is showing a sickening dislike for
something. The wicked, above, are boasting about what they can do in
their own power. The only thing the wicked, or anyone else, can do is
the things God allows them to do.  Coveting is a sin.  Thou shalt not
covet is one of the 10 commandments. To want something, or someone,
that belongs to someone else is coveting. We Christians must be
careful not to want things that are out of God's will for us to have.

     Psalms 10:4 "The wicked, through the pride of his countenance,
will not seek [after God]: God [is] not in all his thoughts."

     This is describing a person who is so caught up in himself that
he does not realize a need for God. This person thinks he has
everything under control himself.  He does not realize that the most
important thing in his life is preparing, for an eternity with Jesus.
Pride goeth before a fall. This persons pride will keep him from
humbling himself to receive the Lord.

     Psalms 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."

     This person is living in the hear and now with no preparation for
life after death. He walks all over people he is dealing with. This
puffing at his enemies, just means that he fusses and fights with all
who get in his way. He insists on having his way in everything. He
thinks he is the boss. He never once considers that there is a day of
judgement coming, when he will stand before the judge of all the
earth.

     Psalms 10:6 "He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for
[I shall] never [be] in adversity."

     The wicked person, who has been successful in this world, thinks
his success will continue. He is like the man who says, You make your
own breaks. He believes hard times will never come his way, because he
thinks he is so great. His life is totally centered on self.

     Psalms 10:7 "His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud:
under his tongue [is] mischief and vanity."

     This is a man who is evil to the core of his being. The following
2 verse pretty well cover what Jesus taught about evil men speaking
evil.  Matthew 15:18 "But those things which proceed out of the mouth
come forth from the heart; and they defile the man."  Matthew 15:19
"For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries,
fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:"

     Psalms 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."

     Most of the dealings of this kind of man can not take place out
in the open. He must hide his evil deeds. This person has no dealings
with strong upright people. He preys on the weak of society. He
intends to take whatever belongs to them, even if he has to kill them
in the process. He does this in the secret places, so he will not be
found out.

     Psalms 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."  Psalms 10:10 "He croucheth, [and] humbleth
himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones."
     Just as a lion gives no warning when he attacks his prey, this
evil one attacks them unawares to them. He does not play fair. He
pretends to be one of them, and when they believe him, he destroys
them.

     Psalms 10:11 "He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he
hideth his face; he will never see [it]."

     When Cain killed Abel, he thought no one would know. Well, that
was almost true, no one but God knew. God said, Your brother's blood
cries out to me from the earth.  We may hide our sin from the
authorities here on the earth, but there is no hiding from God.

     Psalms 10:12 "Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget
not the humble."

     He has been describing the ways of the evil person in his
dealings with the weak and poor of the earth. Now, he is saying; Lord
help those who cannot help themselves. The humble, here, are speaking
of people who have no earthly influence. Their only help is the Lord.

     Psalms 10:13 "Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said
in his heart, Thou wilt not require [it]."

     The wicked can not condemn God. This seems to be happening in our
society today. All things pertaining to God and His holy ways are
trying to be struck down by worldly courts. This atheistic society of
today does not recognize God at all. They do not feel that godly
teachings are in order, because they do not believe in God. Since they
do not believe in God, they do not believe that there is a day of
judgement coming. My what a wide awakening they are in for!

     Psalms 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."

     God fights the battles of the fatherless and the helpless. This
verse is saying to God, You are their only hope, God. In the study on
the book of Revelation, we found that God has an all-seeing eye. He
sees everything, good or bad. God will take vengeance on those who
oppress those who cannot help themselves. Romans 12:19 "Dearly
beloved, avenge not yourselves, but [rather] give place unto wrath:
for it is written, Vengeance [is] mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."

     Psalms 10:15 "Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil
[man]: seek out his wickedness [till] thou find none."

     We see a cry from the Psalmist for God to hurry up and bring
judgement on these evil ones. God judges, however, when He is ready,
not when we want Him to.

     Psalms 10:16 "The LORD [is] King for ever and ever: the heathen
are perished out of his land."

     The King mentioned, here, is the King of kings and LORD of lords
who will reign forever. Those who receive Him as their Saviour and
Lord, will live with Him. This, of course, is speaking of the Alpha
and Omega, the Beginning and the End, who Christians call Jesus
Christ.

     Psalms 10:17 "LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble:
thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:"

     To receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour, we must humble our
self and repent of sins. The thing that prepares our heart is to have
our heart washed in the blood of the Lamb. We must be willing to let
self die, and Christ live in us. Galatians 2:20 "I am crucified with
Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and
the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son
of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." We must have our ears
open to hear the things of God. This does not mean just the outward
ear, but the ear that receives within us, to truly understand this
study about the priest having blood applied to his right ear at
dedication. Some have ears that do not hear. God wants us not only to
hear, but understand as well.

     Psalms 10:18 "To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the
man of the earth may no more oppress."

     Christians are in this world, but not of this world. This, then,
is speaking of the unsaved who are living for this earth and the here
and now. There will come a time, when Jesus reigns, that there will be
no more oppression of anyone.

























                             Questions 10

1.  How can all believers relate to David's cry in verse 1?
2.  What is possibly the reason that God does not always immediately
    answer our prayer?
3.  What does tribulation bring that is beneficial to us?
4.  In verse 2, what does the word pride show us about this wicked
    person?
5.  Jesus was a friend to the _____.
6.  The everlasting fire was prepared for whom?
7.  What does the 25th chapter of Matthew teach us about doing for the
    poor?
8.  What does the word, abhorreth mean?
9.  What are the wicked boasting about in verse 3?
10. Coveting is a ___.
11. Where do we find the instructions not to covet?
12. ______ goes before a fall.
13. In verse 4, what keeps this person from humbling himself to
    receive the Lord?
14. What does puffing at them mean in verse 5?
15. What untruth does the evil person who has been successful believe?
16. The man in verse 6 is totally centered on whom?
17. Verse 7 tells us that the evil man's mouth is filled with what?
18. Words that come out of the mouth, originate where?
19. Where does the evil man stay to catch others unaware?
20. What is the evil man compared to in verse 9?
21. We may hide our sin from the earthly authorities, but who knows?
22. Who is David asking God to help in verse 12?
23. What kind of society are we living in today?
24. Who is God the helper of in verse 14?
25. What does Romans chapter 12 verse 19 tell us about vengeance?
26. Can we hurry God's judgement on anyone?
27. Who is verse 16 speaking of?
28. To receive Jesus as our Saviour, we must ________ our self.
29. Quote Galations chapter 2 verse 20.
30. When will there be no oppression?