Pastor Stef's prayer based on Psalm 10

Where are you God?
Why does it seem like you’re not around?
Do you really listen to my prayers or am I just talking to the air?
How come it seems like you hide from me whenever I am in trouble?
 
There are a lot of prideful people around.
They live as if there will be no consequences for their actions and they take advantage of the innocent.
Many people are exploited by the sins of our society. 
The abusers follow the cravings of their hearts and use other people for sex and cheap labour. 
They throw around their money to get what they want – all the while spitting in the face of God.
They are so sure of themselves that they don’t spend a minute thinking about their need for God.
 
But here is what I don’t understand.
How is it that these people who ignore you get along so well?
Why don’t you do something about it?
Here they are bragging to the world and looking down their noses at anyone who stands in their way.
And nothing happens to them.
No wonder they think, “I’ll never be knocked over. Life’s great. I’ve got everything I want. Nothing ever goes wrong.”
 
Why do you let people live like this?
Spewing lies and curses in their blogs and hiding behind their computers to exploit people’s images for their own gratification.
Does this not kill the “image of God” in all of us?
Does this not make us the victims of lust, greed, and power?
How long will you let this go on?
 
People are devouring one another and then accusing the victims.
And yet, so many of the victims were dragged into this mess against their wills, only to be torn apart and left for dead by immoral lions.
They then try to survive with a shot of drugs and alcohol – where else can they go for comfort?
All they get from people is abuse and you seem to have forgotten them.
All they can do is cover their faces in shame and hope they never see daylight again.
 
Rise up, God!
I thought you were the God of resurrection!
If you can rise from the dead, surely you can raise a helping hand.
You can’t possibly forget the weak and helpless.
 
Why do you let these people get away with their exploits?
Why are there no consequences for their actions?
 
I know that you see people’s trouble and grief – at least that’s what my theology tells me.
You are in control.
You are on the side of the victim.
You have a special place in your heart for those without a father-figure in their life.
You are a Saviour and a helper.
Isn’t it time you broke some bones and got into some fist fights?
Take some of these people out!
Show the world who’s the boss.
Then even the secret acts of the wicked will be severely dealt with. 
 
You are the king.
Not just in the days of old, but today and forevermore.
Every nation will pass away, but your kingdom will remain forever.
 
I have to trust that you listen to the pleas of the wounded.
I have to believe that you encourage and love them and even suffer alongside them.
In fact, this is where I see the image of the cross.
 
You will defend those without good parents.
You will defend those who have been crushed by others.
You will bring about justice so that we will not be able to dehumanize each other anymore.  

Devotion by Cora Goodyear
​Psalm 10
 
The psalmist refers here to the wicked – how there is no room for God in all their thoughts and how the wicked think God does not see what they have done. The psalmist questions God as to why he does not respond in times of trouble (v1). He pleads with God to do so and not to forget the helpless (v12). He reminds God in v14, that he does see trouble and grief and that he considers it to take it in hand. The psalmist ends the psalm by saying in v16-18 that the Lord is King for ever and ever, he hears the afflicted, encourages them and listens to them and that he defends the fatherless and the oppressed.
 
Psalm 10:2 “In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak…”
 
In v2, arrogance is mentioned. Pride can be a positive attribute if it is simply having an assurance or confidence in one’s gifts and talents. But here in this verse – pride has developed in an insidious way and become a negative attribute. Pride becomes arrogance or conceit, when people think they are better than others. This can easily happen when personal pride is with no acknowledgement of God in the picture. For it is God who gives us our gifts and talents. We also know from experience that we can meet people who have the same gifts as us but have utilized them more. When we do, it offers us opportunities to learn from them and experience growth within ourselves.
 
V2 deals with two problems – arrogance and persecution, the former being the cause of the latter. In this psalm, the wicked think they are better than the weak and hunt them down to kill or crush them.
 
Prov. 16:18 says “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” Pride can also be about people who want others to agree with them, think as they do, and submit to them and their desires. If others do not – they will very quickly become hated by these prideful people and often persecuted. Tyranny in the world – owes its origin to pride. It is when those in power rule in a cruel and unfair way.
 
But we know God is loving, just and will defend the helpless. Even if that defense does not seem immediate at the time of unfairness and persecution – he will defend. And the wicked who are arrogant will eventually fall.
 
Point: To be beware of false pride.
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