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Psalm 10 | King James Audio Bible
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Psalm 10 speaks of challenges and questions that arise when bad people mistreat the vulnerable.
The psalm starts with a question, asking why God seems far away when trouble happens. The psalm is of how the wicked people, full of pride, make life hard for those who are poor. The psalmist hopes they face the consequences they planned for others.
The wicked brag about their selfish desires and even bless those who love money, a false love which rejects God. These people, blinded by pride, ignore God and don’t think about what’s right.
The actions of the evil cause pain, but they think they’re safe from harm. They curse, lie and deceive, causing trouble wherever they go. They even secretly plan to hurt the innocent, like a lion hiding to catch its prey.
They pretend to be weak to cause others to fall, thinking God doesn’t see.
The psalmist asks God to rise up and help, not forgetting the humble or those who need assistance. The psalmist wonders why the wicked ignore God and assume they won’t be held accountable.
But the psalmist believes God sees everything, ready to repay the wicked for their wrongdoings. The poor trust in God’s help.
The psalm asks God to stop the wicked’s actions, removing their power to harm.
The psalm affirms that the Lord is the eternal ruler and that those who oppress will eventually lose their power. The psalm concludes with a reminder that God listens to the humble and will ensure fairness, that God will provide an end to the oppression of the poor by the mighty.
Psalm 10 | King James Audio Bible KJV
Why standest thou afar off, O Lord? Why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?
The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.
For the wicked boasteth of his heart’s desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the Lord abhorreth.
The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.
His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.
He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.
His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.
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.
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.
He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.
He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.
Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble.
Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? He hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it.
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.
Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none.
The Lord is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land.
Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:
To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.
Key Themes Of The Psalm For Reflection | Love Revealed By Jesus Christ
- Questioning God’s Presence: The psalm opens by asking why God seems distant during times of trouble and challenges.
- Oppression of the Vulnerable: The psalm describes how the wicked, driven by pride, mistreat and persecute the poor and vulnerable.
- Consequences for Wrongdoers: The psalm expresses hope that the wicked will face the consequences of their own harmful plans.
- Selfish Desires and Materialism: The psalm highlights the wicked’s bragging about their selfish desires and blessings for those who love money, contrasting with God’s values.
- Ignorance of God: The psalm laments how the wicked, due to their pride, ignore God and righteousness.
- Actions Causing Pain: The psalm emphasizes how the wicked’s actions cause suffering and harm, despite their false sense of security.
- Cursing, Lying, and Deceit: The psalm points out the wicked’s negative traits, including cursing, lying, and deceit.
- Secret Plans to Harm: The psalm reveals the wicked’s secretive plans to harm the innocent, drawing a comparison to a hidden predator.
- Divine Intervention: The psalm calls upon God to rise up and help, not forgetting the humble and those in need.
- Divine Awareness: The psalm acknowledges that God sees everything, even when the wicked think they’re safe from consequences.
- Trust in God’s Help: The psalm expresses the poor’s trust in God’s assistance and justice.
- Request to Stop Oppression: The psalm petitions God to halt the wicked’s actions, removing their ability to harm.
- Eternal Sovereignty: The psalm affirms the eternal kingship of the Lord and the eventual downfall of oppressors.
- Listening to the Humble: The psalm concludes by reminding that God listens to the humble, ensuring fairness and stopping oppression.
- Yearning for Justice: Psalm 10 centers on the yearning for justice amidst oppression and highlights the themes of divine intervention, consequences for wrongdoing, and the contrast between wickedness and humility.
It is not for us to adapt Jesus to our lives; it is for us to conform our lives to Jesus. This is a lesson of these Gospel verses. Once we have heard the call of God through Jesus, there must be no umming and ahhing, no by now secondary considerations interfering in our new relationship with Jesus. Our life should now be his. As and when it is proper, all else will follow. If it isn’t appropriate, then it won’t [ … ]
Gospel Reading: Matthew 11:28-30 ‘Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’ In this passage, Jesus extends an invitation to all who are weary and burdened. Jesus promises rest and relief, urging us to take his yoke and learn from him. Jesus’ gentle and humble heart offers rest for our souls, emphasizing that his yoke is easy and his burden light. This passage is a reminder of the hope we have in Christ, who offers us rest and peace amid our struggles. Prayer Dear Jesus, In times of uncertainty and despair, I turn to you, the source of all hope. Fill my heart with your hope that transcends understanding. Help me to trust in your promises and to find joy and peace in your presence. May your hope renew my spirit and give me the strength to face each day with confidence and faith. Let your hope shine through me, bringing light to others who are in need. Amen. Personal Reflection What are the situations in your life that seem hopeless? How can you invite Jesus’ hope into these areas? Reflect on a time when you experienced renewed hope through your faith in Christ. Meditation On The Prayer And Gospel Matthew 11:28-30 is a passage that speaks directly to our need for hope and rest. Jesus’ invitation to come to him is extended to all who are weary and burdened, offering a refuge from the struggles of life. This invitation is not just a call to physical rest but a deeper spiritual rest that brings peace to our souls. Jesus understands the burdens we carry and offers a yoke that is easy and a burden that is light. The imagery of a yoke suggests partnership and guidance; by taking on his yoke, we align ourselves with him, allowing him to share our burdens and guide our steps. This partnership is marked by learning from Jesus, whose gentle and humble heart sets an example for us. The promise of rest for our souls is comforting. In a world where we often feel overwhelmed and stressed, Jesus assures us that he is our source of true rest and peace. His rest is not temporary or superficial but a peace that sustains us through life’s challenges. This promise gives us hope, knowing that no matter what we face, we can find solace in Jesus. Reflecting on this passage, we are reminded of the importance of surrendering our burdens to Jesus. It requires trust and faith to let go of our anxieties and allow him to take control. This surrender is an act of faith, acknowledging that Jesus is capable and willing to carry our burdens. As we learn to trust him more, we experience the peace and rest he promises. The hope we find in Jesus is transformative. It renews our spirits and gives us the strength to persevere. This hope is not dependent on our circumstances but on the nature of Jesus and his promises. It is a hope that empowers us to face each day with confidence, knowing that we are not alone. As we embrace this hope, we are called to share it with others. The hope we receive from Jesus is not meant to be kept to ourselves but to be a light for others who are struggling. Through words of encouragement, acts of kindness, and simply being present, we can extend Jesus’ invitation of hope and rest to those around us. By living out this hope, we reflect Christ’s love and bring his light into the world. In practical terms, fostering hope involves daily practices that keep us connected to Jesus. Spending time in prayer, reading Scripture, and being part of a faith community help us to stay grounded in our faith and renew our hope. These practices remind us of Jesus’ promises and keep our focus on him rather than on our circumstances. Prayer Lord Jesus, You are the anchor of my hope. In moments of doubt and despair, remind me of your promises. Fill my heart with your joy and peace, and let your hope overflow in my life. Help me to trust in your plans and to find strength in your presence. May your hope shine in me, guiding me through every trial and illuminating the path ahead. Use me as a beacon of your hope, bringing comfort and encouragement to those in need. Thank you for the gift of your eternal hope. Amen. Jeremiah 29:11 ‘For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.’ Blessing May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him. May you overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit, and may His hope guide and sustain you in all things. Amen.
Today’s Gospel verses again speak of the conflict between Jesus and the scribes and Pharisees, and again we sense the verses reflecting the breaking away of Christianity from Judaism, and the tensions in the aftermath of the fall of Jerusalem. Jesus’ rebuke of the scribes and Pharisees, the lawyers, is stinging. Jesus associates them with the history of murder of the righteous through Scripture, from the first murder of Abel to the murder of Zechariah, a prophet who died by stoning in Jerusalem around the year 800 BC because he accused the Jewish people of being unfaithful to God’s law (cf. 2 Chronicles 24: 20-22) [ … ]
