Our Daily Scripture – 12/7/23 (Thursday)

SCRIPTURE:  PSALMS 10

MEMORY VERSE:

“You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more.” (Psalms 10:17-18)

CHARACTERISTICS OF A WICKED MAN:

  1.  He hunts down the weak in his arrogance. (v. 2)
  2.  He boasts of the cravings of his heart. (v. 3a)
  3.  He blesses the greedy and reviles the Lord. (v. 3b)
  4.  He is proud and does not seek God. (v. 4)
  5.  He is haughty and despises the laws of God. (v. 5a)
  6.  He sneers at all his enemies. (v. 5b)
  7.  He is confident that nothing will shake him. (v. 6a)
  8.  He considers himself always happy and never have trouble. (v. 6b)
  9.  His mouth is full of curses and lies and threats. (v. 7a)
  10.  He causes trouble and evil are under his tongue. (v. 7b)
  11.  He ambushes the villages and murders the innocent. (v. 8)
  12.  He catches the helpless and drags them off in his net. (v. 9)
  13.  He crushes his victims collapse them under his strength. (v. 10)
  14.  He denies the existence of God saying: “God has forgotten; he covers his face and never sees.” (v. 11)

THE URGENT CRY OF DAVID:

  1.  Arise Lord!  Lift up your hand, O God.  Do not forget the helpless. (v. 12)
  2.  Help the fatherless with their trouble and grief. (vs. 14-15)
  3.  Break the arm of the wicked and evil man. (v. 15a)
  4.  Call the wicked to account for his wickedness. (v. 15b)

CONSOLATION OF DAVID:

  1.  The Lord is King for ever and ever; the nations will perish from his land. (v. 16)
  2.  The Lord hears the desire of the afflicted. (v. 17a)
  3.  The Lord encourage and listen to the cry of the afflicted. (v. 17b)
  4. The Lord defend the father less and the oppressed. (v. 18)

THOUGHTS:

David was confused “Why do the wicked prosper”?  He thought that God was hiding and had forsaken His people.  But David knew that God hears what the ungodly said and saw their arrogance and pride.  David affirmed God’s care and protection and had faith that although the ungodly are winning now, but the Lord will help the godly in the right way at the right time.  Ultimately, the Lord will triumph in the end.

When we see wicked people succeed in everything they do, we may wonder why God allow those people to amass great wealth while they despise Him.  But remember that wealth is not necessary a sign of God’s approval or disapproval on a person’ life.  Wealth is only temporary.  But the evil deeds of the wicked will surely be punished.