Psalm 10 Story behind the Psalm
Overview
Background Ideas
- “The fatherless [cf. v.14] and the oppressed” is a reference to the class of people who were most easily wronged (cf. 82:3) but were protected by God’s law (Ex 22:22-24; Dt 10:18; 16:11, 14; cf. Isa 1:17; Jer 7:6; Jas 1:27; VanGemeren, W. (2017) Psalms. Available at Perlego (Accessed: 24 September 2022).
- Oppressing the poor and vulnerable for unjust gain was a persistent problem in Israel (Zeph 3; Job 24:14; Hab 3:14; see Hengstenberg 1863, 163).
- YHWH is a king, and one of the King's responsibilities was to care for the poor (Psa 72; Miller 2004, 192). As king, YHWH is sovereign over, and orders, all worldly affairs (Miller 2000, 407–408).
- God is patient (Exod. 34:6–7; Neh 9:29; Jonah 4:2) and may allow sin to continue to 'completion' (Gen 15:16) before purging His land (Lev 18:24ff; 20:22ff; Num 35:33ff).
Background Situation
Expanded Paraphrase
(For more information, click "Expanded Paraphrase Legend" below.)
| Expanded paraphrase legend | |
|---|---|
| Close but Clear (CBC) translation | The CBC, our close but clear translation of the Hebrew, is represented in bold text. |
| Assumptions | Assumptions which provide background information, presuppositions, entailments, and inferences are represented in italics. |
v. 1
O YHWH, why do You stand at a distance? Why do You hide (Your eyes) during (your people's) troubling times? (You are a covenant God) (and should not be hiding Yourself when Your covenant people are in trouble!)
v. 2
The wicked pursue the afflicted (who are in need of Your intervention) in pride. (You repay those who 'practice arrogance' [Psa 31:24) (and divine repayment often involves the wickeds' plots coming back 'on their own heads' [e.g., Ps. 7:16–17]) May they be caught in the plans that they have devised!
v. 3
For, the wicked has boasted about his soul’s cravings (for unjust gain); (the wicked bless those who work for unjust gain, and) whoever has blessed the one who works for unjust gain has treated YHWH with contempt. (These wicked people therefore treat you, O Lord, with contempt [v. 13a])
v. 4
In a way that suits his pride, the wicked does not seek (God,) (as all Israelites should do [Deut 4:29]). All his plans are, “There is no God”. (instead, these wicked Israelites ignore) (your laws about the poor) (as if you did not exist)
v. 5
His ways persist every time (because nothing stands in his way.) Your rulings are far away from him—on high (and therefore do not affect him.) All his foes—he jeers at them (because he does not fear them) (and overcomes them).
v. 6
(Since nothing stands in his way,) He has said to himself, ‘throughout all generations, in which there is no trouble, I will not be shaken.’('Nothing will harm me physically or stop me from getting what I want.') (You, O YHWH, are the source of stability for the righteous) (yet this type of wicked Israelite now relies on his prosperity for stability).
v. 7
His mouth is full of curses, deceit and oppression. Hardship and destruction are underneath his tongue. (He speaks all of these things to anyone who would try to stand in his way).
v. 8
(Israelite children are taught to not ambush others for unjust gain,) (yet this sort of wicked Israelite) (oppresses the poor for profit.) (One way he oppresses the poor is as follows:) He sits in villages’ ambush places (lying in wait for the innocent person). (Then,) He murders the innocent in the hiding places. (As he lies in wait,) His eyes spy for the wretch.
v. 9
(Corrupt Israelites may be described as dangerous animals.) (As for this particular kind) He lurks in the hiding place like a lion in its den. He lurks in order to seize the afflicted. He seizes the afflicted by drawing his net (across)(like a hunter capturing a helpless animal).
v. 10
(Like a lion) He stoops, crouches, and the wretches fall by his mighty (claws). (The poor are completely helpless.) (These wicked people are as strong as lions and as smart as hunters) (and so the afflicted can neither outsmart them nor overpower them.)
v. 11
(In the midst of all this, You appear to be absent, YHWH [cf.v. 1].) (But it appears this way because) (you are patient with your people) (and, as King, you sovereignly rule as you see fit.) (But the wicked mistakes Your patience for apathy.) He has said to himself, ‘God has been ignoring (the afflicted); He has been hiding his face; He has never noticed (the afflicted).’
v. 12
Rise up (and take action), YHWH! Lift up Your hand (and act with hostility against [2 Sam 18:28; 20:21]) (the wicked), O God! Do not ignore the afflicted! (Because You are a King,) (and it is the duty of a King to defend the poor).
v. 13
Why has the wicked treated God with contempt (by craving and pursuing unjust gain)? He has said to himself, ‘You will not require a reckoning,’ (because all of his ways persist [v. 5a]).
v. 14
You have noticed (the afflicted)! For (You promised to be a help to the fatherless) (and the oppressed are protected by Your law.) You see hardship and grief in order to place (them) into Your care. The wretch leaves (them) with You(, in Your care) (because they know that You have promised to help them.) You have been one who helps the fatherless.
v. 15
(The arm represents power and ability.) Break the arm of one who is wicked and evil! May it seek its wickedness, (but) not find (it). (May his ability) (to oppress) (be completely incapacitated).
v. 16
YHWH is King forever. (And as King, YHWH sovereignly orders what takes place in his land) (and he will perform his obligations to protect the poor.) Nations perished from His land (when YHWH allowed Israel to conquer it.) (The nations that inhabited the land were an abomination to it.) (But they were allowed to stay until YHWH decided it was enough.) (Likewise, these wicked Israelites are starting to resemble those godless nations) (and it is only a matter of time before Your patience runs out and You rise up in judgement).
(for this reason, the afflicted can be confident that...)
v. 17
You have heard the desires of the afflicted, YHWH (that the wicked stop oppressing them). You make their hearts confident (that their desire will be fulfilled). You make Your ear attentive (to their cries for help),
v. 18
in order to execute justice for the fatherless and the oppressed, so that an earthly mortal will never terrify (the fatherless and oppressed) again (in defiance against God—who is in heaven.) (Only He is to be feared [Isa 8:13].)
Story Triangles
vv. 1-3, 13a
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vv. 5–7; 9–11; 13
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vv. 12; 14; 16; 18
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