Bible Commentaries
Psalms 10

Verses 1-18

Psalms 10

THE WAY OF THE WICKED

Verses 1-18:

David’s Complaint Against Ungodly Oppressors

Verses 1,2 inquire why, and complain against, the Lord for standing afar off or aloof from executing judgment against the proud and wicked who persecute the poor. He appeals to the Lord to let the wicked by suddenly taken away who caused the poor to be inflamed with indignation against their oppressors. David continued his expressed desire that the proud, wicked, ensnarers of the poor be snatched away by and in their own entrapment devices; He is disturbed at the delayed judgment of the Lord against the wicked.

Verse 3 discloses that the wicked continually, repeatedly boasts, congratulates himself on his success that he has made by oppressing the godly. Of this it is elsewhere said that "their glory is in their shame," in fulfilling their own lusts, not in the Lord, Psalms 44:8; Philippians 3:19; Habakkuk 1:11. It is added that these proud, boastful, wicked bless and commend the covetous in their lawless, immoral, and unethical ways, a thing that the Lord continually abhors. See Zechariah 11:5.

Verse 4 adds that the wicked through pride of countenance, uplifted nose, will (does not will to) seek after God, and God is not at all in his thoughts, will or desires, Psalms 9; Psalms 12; Psalms 34:4; Psalms 77:2.

Verse 5 further adds that his ways are always grievous, oppressive, fraudulent, or offensive. While David laments that the Lord’s judgment is delayed, afar off, out of the sight, not now experienced by the wicked, Proverbs 24:7. Tho delayed they shall come, Isaiah 5:12. Tho they deny coming judgment He disposes of them in His own time with a mere puff of His breath, Isaiah 40:24.

Verse 6 recounts the boast of the wicked of heart that he would never be moved from the security of his imagined prosperity and plenty. He boasted that he would never, never see adversity or hard times and oppression, like the oppressed whom he had subdued, cowed on his road to wealth. So did the rich barn builder reason, Luke 12:15-21.

Verses 7, 8 describe the arrogant attitude of the proud, covetous, and boastful wicked. His mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and fraud, with mischief and vanity beneath his tongue, like the venom of a serpent, Psalms 140:3. Tho the venom or poison of the serpent is located under the tongue, from where it is spewed forth as the serpent coils and strikes, the poison of sin comes forth from the fountain of the heart, Matthew 12:34; Mark 7:23; Romans 3:13-14. He also habitually sits in the lurking places, where he hides with squinted eyes, looking out, surveying the area for movement of the poor, on whom he may pounce to pillage, plunder, and kill to increase his own wealth, Proverbs 1:11; Proverbs 1:18.

Verses 9, 10 add that he lieth in premeditated wait, as a lion in his den waits to lunge out of his hiding place on his passing prey, to kill it in a moment. He catches the poor by setting a net or digging a pit in the path of the poor to capture him for his own covetous use, as a helpless slave. This wicked, proud, covetous one is described as "cunning" as he both hides himself and conceals the strong nets or traps that he sets, into which he plans suddenly to see the poor fall as his prey, Psalms 35:7.

Verses 12, 13 call on the Jehovah God to rise up, lift up His hand of judgment, forgetting not the humble, afflicted, or ill treated to defend the poor, Micah 5:9; Exodus 7:5; Isaiah 5:25. David then inquired just why the wicked continually denied that the Lord required an accounting for their wickedness, as indicated v.4.

Verse 14 affirms David’s belief that the Lord had been beholding, with definitive scrutiny, the spite and dastard deeds of the wicked against the poor, who trusted in Him, and that He was the helper of the fatherless, who would surely come to their rescue, bring judgment upon their oppressors, and deliver them, as asserted Psalms 68:5; Hosea 14:3.

Verses 15, 16 call for imprecatory judgment on the wicked, to break their arm of fierce wickedness, till it was fully punished. Then David asserted that the Jehovah exists as King forever, causing the heathen to perish, Psalms 145:13; Psalms 146:10; Isaiah 33:22; Jeremiah 10:10; La 5:19; Daniel 4:34; Daniel 6:23; 1 Timothy 1:17.

Verse 17 declares that the Lord had given ear to the desire of the humble, his cry from his oppression. And he does, Exodus 3:7. It is certified that the Lord would prepare, establish or sustain the hearts of the humble and oppressed who looked to Him. To their cries He gives heed, Psalms 102:7; Isaiah 65:24; 1 Peter 3:12.

Verse 18 concludes that Jehovah God would judge both the fatherless (orphans) and all who had been oppressed, rendering certain just punishment to their wicked destroyers in His own time, Ecclesiastes 12:13-14. The hour of the former terror will be ended and known no more, Isaiah 47:14; Matthew 12:36; Acts 17:30-31; Romans 2:16; Romans 14:10; Romans 14:12.