Psalm 10:16-18
16 The LORD is king forever and ever; the nations perish from his land. 17 O LORD, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear 18 to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more. (ESV)
David also struggled with this question.
- David’s Perplexity (vv 1-11)
The wicked ones’ opposition to God is rooted in proud hearts and demonstrated in perverse mouths, plundering hands and profane minds. - David’s Plea (vv 12-15)
David remembers the weak and rebukes the wicked. - David’s Praise (vv 16-18)
David praises three things about God:
a. The Lord’s reign.
His acknowledgement that God is God and will be God forever.
He is not God because people believe in Him.
He is in control, He rules and His will is always victorious.
The comforting aspect is that God will never leave His throne and does things in the lives of His people which they don’t necessarily like, but which is best for them.
The nations perish in His hands, e.g. Adolf Hitler, Josef Stalin, Genghis Khan.
b. The Lord’s regard.
God hears the desires of the afflicted – a promise to strengthen the weakened heart, inclining His ear to their cry, seeing the pain and affliction.
c. The Lord’s reprisal.
He inclines His ear to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed and will see to it that man strikes terror on the earth no more.