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LOST RIVER CHURCH OF CHRIST | |||||||
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Break Their Arms Psalm 10by Lawrence Kelley Sin and righteousness have eternal implications, but they also make a temporal impact. The psalmist clearly recognized this and does not try to play the eternal off against the temporal, but sees both as an occasion to cry out to God. The focus of this psalm is the oppression of the poor and helpless by those who think that God doesn't see what is going on. The psalmist has expressed elsewhere his faith that God will judge the wicked after death, but here he is pleading with Him to act in this world to stop the violent from oppression. He expresses this in a most shocking manner. He wants God to "Break the arm of the wicked and the evil man" (v. 15). The psalm can be considered in three parts: a problem observed, an analysis of the problem's cause and a solution to the problem that comes in the form of a prayer: First, the problem. The wicked are having a field day at the expense of the poor and defenseless (vv.2,8,9,10). They steal, murder and ravage the weak as lion does its prey. Second, the cause of the problem. The wicked are convinced that God does not see what they are doing: "He has said in his heart, 'God has forgotten; He hides His face; He will never see.'"(v. 11, 13). Because he thinks God is blind to his crimes, he takes no thought of God, or of God's law (vv.4, 5, 6). Third, the solution is for God to show Himself. The writer pleads with God to make an appearance in some kind of devastating judgement on the wicked (vv. 1, 12, 14, 15,). Most graphically he calls upon God to break the wicked man's arms. The psalm concludes with an expression of confidence that God will answer his prayer (vv. 16-18). This psalm provides a fine example of righteous anger. First, the writer is indignant, not because he has been personally insulted, but because the wicked are committing horrid crimes against the weak and because God's law and reputation are being trampled underfoot. These are the kinds of things that ought to get us worked up. Next, instead of taking matters into his own hands, he cries out to the righteous judge to bring justice to the situation. There are two things we need to understand about vengeance; it is not evil and it is not ours - Vengeance is Mine, says the Lord. Finally, in a world where evil still exists, the saints of God need to know how to pray against it. Our desire, like God's, should be that the wicked repent and believe the gospel. However, those who have hardened themselves against the Lord and are steadfast in their works of violent destruction need to be brought down. If we refuse to ever call upon the judge of the earth to do something it is either because we are in denial about the existence of entrenched evil or worse, we have in some sense joined ourselves to it. |
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