Disturbing questions are not necessarily faithlessness.

Why does the wicked renounce God and say in his heart, "You will not call to account"? 

Psalm 10:13

Life is filled with perplexing questions. We are often troubled by our experiences. The facts we face trying to live a God-honoring life, worshiping Him in the world of men, are often challenged and even contradicted by our experiences. Our expectations for God may not always match our experiences of Him.

There are two sets of questions that mark transitions in this song. And they are blunt and difficult questions. But they ring with authentic experience. The Psalm begins with an explosion: "Why, O LORD, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?" (Psalm 10:1) These two questions ask God to deal with the distance felt when evil men prosper and abuse the righteous. At times our perspective is that God is not moving. And it can frustrate our faith. That is what is happening here. The hope is that God would act to judge the wrong in the world and stop injustice. The facts are that injustices seem to keep increasing.

The bulk of the psalm then describes the actions of wicked men that God seems to not care about (10:2-11). But then in faith the prayer is for God to arise in the defense and love of His people (10:12). That lends to the second, more pressing question in verse 13... basically, why do wicked people renounce God anyway?

From there faith's perspective changes things. The answer to the first set of questions emerges: "You do see... you have been the helper..." (10:14). The conclusion is that though God seems unfazed by injustice,  He really is not. There is a clear past of God's work that guides the sufferer to know He will act to help now.

We are only men

Arise, O LORD! Let not man prevail; let the nations be judged before you! Put them in fear, O LORD! Let the nations know that they are but men! Selah 

Psalm 9:19-20

God's sovereign rule puts everything in its place, including the actions of all the people in the world. Not even the smallest legislative fine print, nor the worst atrocity of war escapes His awareness and action. The world of humanity is answerable to God.

David's experience was that at times it seemed like evil men were prevailing. This is a personal knowledge and also his perspective as a ruler of men. His enemies were winning over him... and thus this confident cry for God to move so man did not prevail. The nations are not autonomous. Everyone is judged by God. And all people who do evil must one day answer in fear before God. When God judges us, we are reminded that we are not Him! We are only men.

My experience in nearly a half century of living on this earth is that God is greater than the world of men. But honestly, sometimes it does not seem that He is showing it. There are evil actions all over the planet that seem to go unchecked. There are atrocities and vile abuses of helpless people. And it hurts to know this. Especially since it violates both human conscience as well as God's Law.

But the thing to do is not to question God's wisdom or ways. It is instead to appeal for Him to take action among us... even through us. Sometimes the way that the nations are judged is through God's use of other people to get their attention. Assyria invaded faithless Israel in judgment. Babylon humbled Judah back to repentance. People are used by God to show His sovereign rule. Yet, even then, we are only men.

How Majestic is Your Name

O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! 

Psalm 8:9

I see the beauty

of all Your creation

standing on a mountain high

or riding the waves of the sea

and all of it has to be

exalting you on high

in fantastic celebration

for worship is creation's duty

How Majestic is Your Name!

All creation always sings

of Your greatness and fame

birdsong, flower petal, molecular design

all worship You in celebration

and I echo them in my salvation

as to Your greatness I resign

in awe of Your powerful name

and the new life Your Spirit brings

How Majestic is Your Name!

Groaning creation longs to be free

waiting for Your children's redemption

even marred by sin and curses

the beauty of it points to You

and I pause and worship only You

as new life reminds me of verses

encouraging me to share my salvation

so that others may know and see

How Majestic is Your Name!

ending evil, establishing righteousness

Oh, let the evil of the wicked come to an end, and may you establish the righteous- you who test the minds and hearts, O righteous God! 

Psalm 7:9

This is the prayer of a man who has the heart of God. David desires that God rule over the affairs of mankind so that evil ends and righteousness reigns. This is the hart of a king after God's own heart. It is a motivation that seeks the glory of God to be displayed in the world of humanity.

There were circumstances in David's life that molded him to seek this request. All his adult life he was pursued by men with evil intent bent on his destruction. It started with King Saul and never really stopped, even when David was crowned king over all of Israel. So there is a personal stake in David's request for God to end the influence of evil men. David's life was threatened, but he entrusted it into God's hands.

There is also an insight into God's unique position as Judge over humanity. God can bring justice and reward righteousness because only God can test minds and hearts righteously. That is important. God sees the heart as clearly as we know the person by sight and sound of voice. He knows our every subtle motivation much better than we will even admit to ourselves. But, even if a human COULD test the heart, no one could not do so righteously. We would still have sin taint any of our attempts at justice. But God alone is truly holy, so His evaluations of humanity are never wrong.

O God Who rightly tests our hearts, please bring evil to an end that You may establish the righteous in Your ways!

Amen

confidence in prayer

The LORD has heard my plea; the LORD accepts my prayer. 

Psalm 6:9

Confidence in prayer would be the last thing I'd expect from this Psalm, at least from the very beginning of it. It strangely moves from questioning insecurity to strong confidence with no quickly discernible path between the two extremes. Maybe that is the way faith works sometimes.

David starts out begging God not to punish him, as if in fear that he has sinned and incurred God's justice (6:1). He then is emotionally spent (6:2), and is so troubled in his soul as to be confused by God's seeming inactivity (6:3). He feels like he might die and begs God to spare him (6:4-5). He is so full of grief that he cannot sleep (6:6-7).

And then David turns to confront evil people who are against God, informing them that as emotionally spent as he is, he knows God has heard his prayers (6:8). And that is where the confidence enters the scene. It is somehow found in camparison to those without God. David would rather struggle with difficult circumstances that throw him upon God, then to miss God altogether in unbelief. And that seems to be the source of his confidence. He believes God answers prayer because he believes God.

no worship-less requests

But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you. For you bless the righteous, O LORD; you cover him with favor as with a shield. 

Psalm 5:11-12

Worship is about relationship. We may take refuge in God but in return we have the freedom to trust God and ask for His protection and favor. We do not make worship-less requests of Him. Such presumption is NOT the example that this psalm sets. In worship we trust in God. And He protects us and gives us strength. And in that protection we find a love for us that we can return to God. God protects and covers us with His love and favor.

Lord,

Help me to never offer you worshipless prayer. Forgive me for too often making requests without trusting and loving You in worship. I want to rejoice by taking refuge in You. And I am not really living by faith if I am not rejoicing in You. I may not be happy with my circumstances, but I can rejoice and trust in You. I may be disappointed or hurt by people, but You will cover me with favor as I exult in You.

Amen

God is the reward.

But know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the LORD hears when I call to him. 

Psalm 4:3

There is a unique relationship and position that God desires to give those who seek Him. They are set apart. They are uniquely for His purposes. They enjoy a relationship of access to God. He sets them apart to Himself. They are heard by Him.

Being godly isn't so much about the things we do (although living holy lives involves a change), but it is more about the relationship we enjoy. If it is solely about the "right actions" than it will probably degenerate into stale, self-centered, judgmental legalism. If it turns out to be that, then relationship is lost. But a relationship with God sustains us to live godly lives. It is the reward of righteousness. When we hunger and thirst after righteousness we are filled with relationship with God.

God hears the cries of His people. There is no clear statement here of when He acts on what He hears, but rest assured, to those who pursue God, prayer is really known by God. He hears those whom He has set apart to Himself. The godly have God's attention and love.

Lord,

You are my reward. Knowing You and following Your ways is my heart's desire. You want to have me for Yourself. You want to set me apart. You hear when I call to You. And being Your child is its own great joy and reward.

Amen