DAWN

     Explanation: In Psalm 10 the Psalmist calls on God to arise and overcome the wicked. Some commentators said that Psalm 9 and Psalm 10 were joined originally. But this is improbable since the Psalms are significantly different. Psalm 9, like Psalm 10, asked for God's help; but in Psalm 9 much was made of past deliverances. In this Psalm past deliverances are not mentioned; but the Psalmist is confident, nonetheless, in God's justice and his power against his enemies. The Psalm deals much with the stealth and pride of the wicked, comparing them, at one point in the Psalm, to a lion, as in the painting above.

          [ THEMATICALLY AND CHRONOLOGICALLY RELATED SCRIPTURES: Psalm 9. ]

          [ CHRONOLOGY: General. Patriarchs (Traditional). Judges # 1. Judges # 2. Kings # 1. Kings # 2. Prophets # 1. Prophets # 2. NT # 1. NT # 2. NT # 3. ]

          [ MAPS: Maps # 1. Maps # 2. Maps # 3. Maps # 4. Maps # 5. ]

          [ COMMENTARIES, ETC: GENERAL: Bible Study Tools; Bible Hub: Study Light; Blue Letter Bible // PSALMS: Monergism: Precept Austin: The Treasury of David; John Gill; John Calvin - Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

          [ MUSIC: GENERAL: The Cyber Hymnal // PSALMS: Genevan Psalter (Instrumental). Psalm 10 - #1. Psalm 10 - #2. ]

     The Psalmist, who in this Psalm is unnamed, begins by asking why the LORD was standing so far off and why he was hiding himself in times of trouble. By contrast, proud and wicked oppressors were near. He asks that they might be taken in their own devices. He lists the reasons that they are worthy of such a judgment: They boast of their heart's desire; and they bless the covetous, whom the LORD abhors. They do not seek God; God is not in their thoughts. They walk in grievous ways, unmindful of God's judgments. They believe that they will never be in adversity. Their mouths are full of cursing, deceit, fraud, mischief, and vanity. They lurk in secret against the poor, lying in wait like a lion, thinking that God will never see it (1-11). So, again, the Psalmist calls on God to arise, to lift up his hand, and to forget not the humble. The wicked hold God in contempt, saying that God will not require it. Nevertheless, God has seen it; and he will judge it and help the poor. The Psalmist therefore asks God to break the arm of the wicked and to discover and judge every last bit of the wickedness of the wicked. The LORD is king forever; he has heard the desire of the humble; and he will cause the oppressor to cease (12-18).

¹ 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.

* NOTE: On Opening and Closing Comments in the Psalms.
[Some commentators take the Psalm in Habakkuk 3 to be a standard model for the Psalms.
Habakkuk's Psalm begins with the name of the composer (Habakkuk) and a musical notation ("upon Shigionoth").
It closes with a dedication or a "send to" notice ("To the chief singer on my stringed instruments").
I have arranged similar material, where it is found in the Psalter, in accord with the model in Habakkuk.]