Psalm 10

vs 10

The NIV tradition takes a fairly different tac in translating this verse, saying that it is the innocent who are crushed and collapse and fall victim to the strength of the wicked. The NASB/KJV talk about "him" bowing down rather confusingly. I'm going with the NIV because I actually understand it.

Last verse we saw how the wicked lie in wait to ambush the innocent - here we see that the innocent, being innocent, are weak and helpless, are totally overpowered by the strength of the wicked.

vs 11

And you know what? How often would that be easy to believe. God doesn't instantly strike people down for sin. If he did, we'd all be dead. Or in pain, or whatever it is he did as punishment. So it can look like he's not even there. But that just shows a misunderstanding about God and his activities.

vs 12

David knows that God is slow to act in anger. But he also knows that God will lift up his hand for the sake of the helpless. Because God is a god of the weak.

vs 13

Rather than asking the question that most people ask, "Why doesn't God do anything to wicked people?", David instead asks his own rhetorical question, "Why do the wicked ignore a God who is so obviously out there and that they have put themselves against?" Interesting flip on the question, isn't it?

vs 14

Again David focuses on the relationship that God has with the victims of the world. He also points out that victims commit themselves to God. Perhaps because they don't have anywhere else to turn - but perhaps because they know that God is the God of the fatherless and the afflicted. That wasn't just Jesus - God's always been that way.

vs 15

Eep! Break their arms? That seems pretty harsh. But David is calling for judgement on them for their evil ways. And I guess also breaking their arms will stop them from continuing.

vs 16

David spent a long time extending the land of Israel out to the borders it was originally meant to have. "Extending the land" meant going to war against the non-Jews who were living there. So you can see what the basis of the line of this prayer is - that the anti-God peoples living on God's land will not be there forever, but God is King forever. This isn't a prayer of request - it is a prayer of adoration - David recognises and accepts this as fact.

vs 17

That is very comforting to know. Often when we feel afflicted, we also feel voiceless, like no one is listening to us. But God listens. His ear is set firmly on the cries of the mistreated.

vs 18

'Terrorism' is not just war. Terror attacks do not have at their heart claiming land. They are at their heart guerrila tactics inspired to strike fear into people and create disarray. This shouldn't work against Christians. God defends the oppressed so that mere mortals cannot strike terror into their hearts. We can be strong against threats of terror even if we can do nothing - because if you're a Christian, there really is nothing to fear.

I don't know how that sort of eternal hope translates itself into an exegetical understanding of this verse - perhaps they were looking forward to the rest and peace in the land that they had been promised?