“The wicked in his pride persecutes the poor; let them be caught in the
plots which they have devised."
The writer of this psalm begins by expressing frustration
over what appears to be a lack of action on God’s part to protect the innocent
and the poor. The psalmist identifies
pride as the source of the injustice. “Two
things are laid to their charge, pride and persecution, the former the cause of
the latter. Proud men will have all about them to be of their mind, of their
religion, to say as they say, to submit to their dominion, and acquiesce in
their dictates; and those that either eclipse them or will not yield to them
they malign and hate with an inveterate hatred. Tyranny, both in state and
church, owes its origin to pride.” (Matthew Henry)
None of us experienced the persecution of the early church,
or the Inquisition, or as the Protestants in their early struggles. It is only by understanding the times of such
difficult persecutions that we can understand this psalm. Brothers and sisters, we may be near to seeing
this heightened persecution again. Pride
is swelling up in so many aspects of life.
There is pride in skin color, pride in political parties, pride in
employment position, pride in religion - including the religion of evolution, pride
in elected politicians and non-elected politicians, gay pride, and pride in law
enforcement, just to name a few. Take a
moment to consider each of these areas mentioned and then consider the truth in
Matthew Henry’s observation of how pride causes persecution. Pride elevates an individual or a group over
others. Once elevated, this puffed up
group has great disdain for anyone who does not concur with or even with
concede to their decrees or theories.
That disdain turns to hatred, which drives persecution – in many forms. “By
pride comes nothing but strife, but with the well-advised is wisdom.” (Proverbs
13:10)
Is it any wonder that God hates pride? Pride is the first item on the list of things
God hates: “These six things the LORD hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him:
A proud look, a lying tongue, hands
that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are
swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows
discord among brethren.” (Proverbs
6:16-19)
As we read Psalm 10, “let every phrase in this indictment be weighed; it presents
as fearful a picture of human wickedness as any contained in the Word of God.
It sets before us pride, persecution, device, boasting, ridicule, denial of
Providence, hardness, scorn, evil-speaking, defying and denying of God,
oppression and crushing of the poor, a glorying in deeds of shame, and expected
impunity therein. And what is more trying still is, that God seems to let all
this go on, and keeps silence, and stands afar off, and hides himself in times
of trouble.” (C. Clemance)
Jesus said He would never leave us or forsake us. He has not hidden and is not standing far
off. It only seems that way sometimes. Scripture shows us that God cares
for His people and will execute judgment against those who oppose them. “The
pride of your heart has deceived you, you who dwell in the clefts of the rock,
whose habitation is high; you who say in your heart, ‘who will bring me down to
the ground?’” (Obediah 1:3) At the
end, this psalmist gives us reassuring words that not a single sin has been
missed by God. Almighty God may delay
His actions against the wicked, but it is in His wisdom and for His
purposes. We know our Creator hears our
prayers because He says He hears the prayers of the humble and those with a contrite
heart. In these days of rampant pride, times
may seem dark and growing darker: remember
that God will ultimately deal with the prideful wicked. “The LORD is King forever and
ever; the nations have perished out of His land. LORD, You have heard the
desire of the humble; you will prepare their heart; you will cause Your ear to
hear, to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may oppress no more.” (Psalm 10:16-18)
“In singing this psalm and praying it over, we should have
our hearts much affected with a holy indignation at the wickedness of the
oppressors, a tender compassion of the miseries of the oppressed, and a pious
zeal for the glory and honour of God, with a firm belief that he will, in due
time, give redress to the injured and reckon with the injurious.” (Matthew
Henry)
May you grow in the grace and knowledge and delight of
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
No comments:
Post a Comment