The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Psalm 10:1,
"Why, Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?"
The psalmist begins this psalm with a question - asked in two different ways. Why is it that God does not step in when sinful mankind treats the innocent and helpless horribly?
Two other questions are asked in the psalm, "Why does the wicked man revile God?" and "Why does he say to himself, 'He won't call me to account'?" Verse 13.
Both sets of questions reveal the same reality about God: he cloaks himself such that an environment exists where faith (or the lack thereof) can manifest itself.
Paul made an insightful observation as he was carrying the gospel throughout the Gentile world: "You suffered from your own people [the Gentiles] the same things those churches suffered from the Jews who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to everyone in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last." 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16.
Paul observed the acts of sinful man in its hostility toward the things of God and the people of God. In both Psalm 10 and 1 Thessalonians 2, we find similar circumstances. Sinful man opposes God by treating innocent people badly. God sits back and allows it for a time... but then he steps in and makes right what is awaiting his justice.
In both instances, Psalm 10 and 1 Thessalonians 2, the innocent find their deliverance from God ("But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand. The victims commit themselves to you; you are the helper of the fatherless." Psalm 10:14) while the fruit of the wicked ripens for God's horrific judgment. The results of both are not immediate, but entirely certain!
Don't be fooled into thinking God does not care about the activities of the sinful and the plight of their victims. He is watching and his judgment is at the door for the one and his deliverance for the other.
A blog with my ruminations over the years can be found here: http://worshipfortoday.blogspot.com/
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know..
"Why, Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?"
The psalmist begins this psalm with a question - asked in two different ways. Why is it that God does not step in when sinful mankind treats the innocent and helpless horribly?
Two other questions are asked in the psalm, "Why does the wicked man revile God?" and "Why does he say to himself, 'He won't call me to account'?" Verse 13.
Both sets of questions reveal the same reality about God: he cloaks himself such that an environment exists where faith (or the lack thereof) can manifest itself.
Paul made an insightful observation as he was carrying the gospel throughout the Gentile world: "You suffered from your own people [the Gentiles] the same things those churches suffered from the Jews who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to everyone in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last." 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16.
Paul observed the acts of sinful man in its hostility toward the things of God and the people of God. In both Psalm 10 and 1 Thessalonians 2, we find similar circumstances. Sinful man opposes God by treating innocent people badly. God sits back and allows it for a time... but then he steps in and makes right what is awaiting his justice.
In both instances, Psalm 10 and 1 Thessalonians 2, the innocent find their deliverance from God ("But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand. The victims commit themselves to you; you are the helper of the fatherless." Psalm 10:14) while the fruit of the wicked ripens for God's horrific judgment. The results of both are not immediate, but entirely certain!
Don't be fooled into thinking God does not care about the activities of the sinful and the plight of their victims. He is watching and his judgment is at the door for the one and his deliverance for the other.
A blog with my ruminations over the years can be found here: http://worshipfortoday.blogspot.com/
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know..
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