PSALMS 10

"Why, O Lord, do you stand far off?

Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

 

Who hasn't thought that at times? These are real longings from a real person struggling with real life issues, just like us! What follows is a description of evil revealed in community and in individuals. Evil is arrogant, relentless, self-centered, self-promoting, greedy, dishonest, threatening, scheming, murderous and without regard for God or God's laws. In fact evil mocks God, while saying "God has forgotten me and will do nothing to me!" ...in other words, "I can get away with anything, be happy for ever ...and God, who is God?! God will never call me to account for what I do!"

But carefully read all of this song... for embedded in the lyrics is the strong declaration of the justice of God. Verse 14 "But you O God do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand....The Lord is King for ever and ever..."

As Presbyterians we believe, God doesn't just overcome evil but in fact uses it for his own purposes. Why does it feel like God has disappeared in times of trouble? Perhaps because we do not have the vantage point to see God's purposes at work... Does God bring evil to our lives? I think not, but our Lord does have the creative healing power to take lives damaged by evil and transform them into strength and wholeness.

"You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted;

you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,

defending the fatherless and the oppressed.."