Why, LORD, do You stand at a distance? Why do You conceal Yourself in times of distress? Psalm 10:1.
The wicked man persecutes the poor and boasts in his soul’s desires. He blesses those who gain by violence; they treat the LORD with contempt (Psalm 10:2–3). The wicked man in his proud face does not seek God. Nor is God in any of his discretions (Psalm 10:4). However, the ways of the wicked man are prospering. God’s judgments appear far above and out of sight as His enemies sneer at them. (Psalm 10:5). The wicked says in his heart, he will not shake, nor will he be in adversity (Psalm 10:6). In the wicked man’s mouth are cursing and deceit. Under his tongue is trouble and perversity (Psalm 10:7). In the hidden places he murders the innocent, and as a lion, he waits to catch the poor and weak (Psalm 10:8–10). In his heart, he says God has forgotten; He hides His face and will never see (Psalm 10:11).
Why do the wicked prosper? Why does God not see their way? In Romans 1:18, Paul explains to us how the wrath of God is manifested today. He references what happened at the Tower of Babel, only 100 years after the worldwide flood that destroyed all the wicked men on the earth. At that time, they all knew God but chose to reject a proper opinion of Him (Romans 1:22–23). In the same manner, men today follow this path. Their rejection of God is without excuse, for His invisible attributes are clearly seen in creation by the things made to understand (Romans 1:20). Because these men do not think that the proper knowledge of God is worthy to retain, God gave them over to the strong desires of their hearts to fill up to the full their judgment (Romans 1:24–31).
God has fixed a day for judgment (Acts 17:31). He knows how to save the righteous and preserve the unrighteous for punishment in the day of judgment (2 Peter 2:9). The LORD laughs at the wicked, for He knows his day is coming (Psalm 37:13).
One of the aspects of God’s care for His children is that He will not allow them to be condemned with the world (1 Corinthians 11:32). Therefore, He child-trains and scourges His children to correct their path (Hebrews 12:6). This child-training produces the peaceable fruits of righteousness in His children (Hebrews 12:11). He does not do this for the unrighteous. Instead, He turns them over to the uncleanness and strong desires of their hearts to dishonor their bodies among themselves (Romans 1:24). Judgment is set for those who follow the path of the wicked and reject God. This includes those who approve of their unrighteous actions (Romans 1:32).
The psalmist’s cry for justice is not unheard. He calls for God to lift His hand and not to forget the afflicted (Psalm 10:12). The wicked spurn God in their hearts, claiming they will not be required to give account for their actions (Psalm 10:13). However, the LORD will find the wicked and destroy them. He will seek them out, and none will remain (Psalm 10:14–18). In the Millennial Kingdom, God will bring all things under subjection to Christ, and righteousness will rule (Ephesians 1:7-15). The psalmist did not know how God would bring about this righteousness; however, he knew it would come (Psalm 10:16–18). God is not slack in His promises as some count slackness, but is long-suffering towards us not determining that certain ones would perish, but that all should come to a change of mind (2 Peter 3:9). Only the fool says in his heart there is no God (Psalm 14:1). The day of judgment is set, for the ruler of this world has been judged (John 16:11).
