One Verse at a Time

This episode looks at Psalm 10:17, “O LORD, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear.” We want God to hear us, so we stay humble and go to him in our need. The knowledge of him hearing our prayer establishes our hearts to face a harsh world.

This episode looks at Psalm 10:16, “The LORD is king forever and ever; the nations perish from his land.” God is the king over all and above all. This standing is why we can trust him, for he will defeat all of his enemies.

This episode looks at Psalm 10:15, “Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer; call his wickedness to account till you find none.” Even as we trust in the Lord’s judgment, we also call upon him to remove the evildoers’ ability to perpetrate wickedness against the helpless. We look forward to the day when their wickedness will surely be snuffed out.

This episode looks at Psalm 10:14, “But you do see, for you note mischief and vexation, that you may take it into your hands; to you the helpless commits himself; you have been the helper of the fatherless.” God does see the evil in the world. So as we call out to him, we also trust him to judge rightly in his wise timing.

This episode looks at Psalm 10:13, “Why does the wicked renounce God and say in his heart, “You will not call to account”?” We call upon God to act not just for our good, but also ultimately for his glory.

This episode looks at Psalm 10:12, “Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up your hand; forget not the afflicted.” In the face of great wickedness we call on our caring, ever-present God to act. May he do so for persecuted Christians, the poor who are taken advantage of, abuse victims, and more.

This episode looks at Psalm 10:11, “He says in his heart, “God has forgotten, he has hidden his face, he will never see it.” The wicked person sees the wicked flourishing and thinks, “God is not there. He doesn’t care.” The righteous person sees the wicked flourishing and prays, “God, you are there, and you do care, so do something, please!” And when he doesn’t, the righteous person enjoys life truly and fully by God’s help.

This episode looks at Psalm 10:10, “The helpless are crushed, sink down, and fall by his might.” The wicked person wants others to submit out of fear, but may we instead fear God alone and be freed from fearing the wicked person. God needs to do that work in us. Amen.

This episode looks at Psalm 10:9, “he lurks in ambush like a lion in his thicket; he lurks that he may seize the poor; he seizes the poor when he draws him into his net.” May we take part in God stopping this wickedness whenever we see it.

This episode looks at Psalm 10:8, “He sits in ambush in the villages; in hiding places he murders the innocent. His eyes stealthily watch for the helpless.” The wicked person takes advantage of the weak and vulnerable. May God show us where we have done this as well and call us to repentance.