WEBVTT 00:00:00.460 --> 00:00:06.520 One question that I haven't asked any of you today, to my shame actually, is how many Psalms you've read. 00:00:06.780 --> 00:00:11.560 So out of the 150 Psalms, I wonder how many of them you've read, and how often you've read them. 00:00:12.700 --> 00:00:17.980 Arguably the Psalms are the most read part of the Bible, and they definitely are the most read part of the Old Testament. 00:00:18.820 --> 00:00:23.580 And the reason for this is that the Psalms wrestle with every form of human emotion. 00:00:24.480 --> 00:00:27.560 They wrestle with the same questions that we often wrestle with. 00:00:27.559 --> 00:00:32.879 So you have times where the writer is soaring, and he is content as he praises his God. 00:00:34.280 --> 00:00:41.039 You have times where he is speaking about the greatness of creation, and the greatness of God, and for creating such beauty. 00:00:42.219 --> 00:00:47.659 We can resonate with those, can't we? Those times, we love to call them mountaintop times. 00:00:49.259 --> 00:00:52.099 But the Psalms also talk of valley experiences. 00:00:52.100 --> 00:00:59.020 So you have some Psalms where the writer is crying out to God in anger. 00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:05.359 He's crying out in pain, and he's troubled by the things that he sees around him. 00:01:05.540 --> 00:01:12.599 And like this evening in Psalm 10, the writer is crying out to God, lamenting and questioning why God appears absent. 00:01:12.599 --> 00:01:21.299 So the big question of this Psalm, the big theme that the writer of the Psalm is doing in this Psalm, is he's crying out to God. 00:01:21.359 --> 00:01:24.079 And he's saying, God, why are you allowing injustice? 00:01:25.899 --> 00:01:28.019 He's saying, God, I am being oppressed. 00:01:28.840 --> 00:01:30.319 I'm being persecuted. 00:01:31.319 --> 00:01:32.340 My enemy is winning. 00:01:32.519 --> 00:01:34.840 God, why are you letting this happen to me? 00:01:34.840 --> 00:01:41.439 Now, history is filled with stories of people who've cried out to God in the same way. 00:01:42.579 --> 00:01:46.320 And if we're honest, we've probably cried out to God with the same question, haven't we? 00:01:50.060 --> 00:01:56.640 I recently read The Hiding Place, which is the testimony book of Corrie ten Boom, Mars on Holiday. 00:01:57.280 --> 00:02:00.980 If you don't know the story, I will summarize it very, very briefly for you. 00:02:00.980 --> 00:02:04.660 Corrie ten Boom lived during World War II in Holland. 00:02:05.460 --> 00:02:06.420 She was a Christian woman. 00:02:07.060 --> 00:02:11.340 And to cut a long story short, she was running an underground network, 00:02:11.580 --> 00:02:16.640 which was responsible for hiding and keeping Jews safe during World War II. 00:02:17.599 --> 00:02:20.199 But it wasn't long before they were discovered by the SS. 00:02:21.180 --> 00:02:23.960 Corrie's house was raided and her and her whole family were arrested. 00:02:24.740 --> 00:02:25.879 They were taken to prison. 00:02:26.180 --> 00:02:30.860 And then eventually, Corrie and her sister were moved to a concentration camp for women in Germany. 00:02:30.979 --> 00:02:39.799 The book is filled with a horrible story of how Corrie lost her father and her sister 00:02:39.799 --> 00:02:42.620 because they tried to save the lives of innocent people. 00:02:43.739 --> 00:02:48.919 It describes horrible but true stories of people starving in concentration camps, 00:02:49.019 --> 00:02:52.179 being executed, being beaten to death and being worked to death. 00:02:52.919 --> 00:02:56.459 It's not an enjoyable read, really. 00:02:57.280 --> 00:03:00.699 Let me just read one section of the book for you. 00:03:00.979 --> 00:03:02.019 This is Corrie. 00:03:02.139 --> 00:03:04.719 She's writing as she's in the concentration camp in Germany. 00:03:06.519 --> 00:03:10.899 The loud speaker in the men's camp was sounding the signal for roll call. 00:03:11.679 --> 00:03:13.319 But no order was given here. 00:03:13.379 --> 00:03:15.099 And so we drifted around aimlessly. 00:03:15.319 --> 00:03:17.459 Listening, we scarcely knew for what. 00:03:18.759 --> 00:03:22.659 Names were being read on the men's speaker, though it was too far away to make them out. 00:03:22.659 --> 00:03:28.020 And suddenly an insane fear gripped the waiting women. 00:03:29.020 --> 00:03:33.460 A death-like silence now hung over both sides of this vast camp. 00:03:33.979 --> 00:03:35.800 The loud speaker had fallen silent. 00:03:38.400 --> 00:03:41.219 We feared to even breathe. 00:03:41.379 --> 00:03:43.460 We exchanged wordless looks. 00:03:43.460 --> 00:03:47.580 Then rifle fire split the air. 00:03:49.420 --> 00:03:51.360 Around us women began to weep. 00:03:51.560 --> 00:03:53.040 A second volley, a third. 00:03:53.360 --> 00:03:57.580 For two hours the executions went on and on. 00:03:59.020 --> 00:04:00.120 Somebody counted. 00:04:02.120 --> 00:04:06.840 More than 700 male prisoners died that day. 00:04:06.840 --> 00:04:13.400 So reading that book on holiday absolutely broke my heart. 00:04:14.039 --> 00:04:17.579 It made me ask God the question, God, why would you let that happen? 00:04:19.560 --> 00:04:21.459 Why would you let those people die? 00:04:21.540 --> 00:04:23.420 They didn't do anything to deserve that death. 00:04:25.439 --> 00:04:27.480 God, why did you hide yourself? 00:04:29.540 --> 00:04:33.319 You can almost guarantee that people in those camps asked the very same question. 00:04:33.439 --> 00:04:35.860 In their desperation, they cried out to God, why? 00:04:36.839 --> 00:04:38.699 We are being oppressed, God. 00:04:38.739 --> 00:04:40.039 Why aren't you helping us? 00:04:41.079 --> 00:04:42.959 What have we done to deserve this? 00:04:43.019 --> 00:04:43.679 We are innocent. 00:04:43.839 --> 00:04:45.219 God, where is our justice? 00:04:46.799 --> 00:04:47.959 Injustice is horrible. 00:04:49.739 --> 00:04:53.019 When justice isn't served, we get angry and frustrated. 00:04:53.959 --> 00:04:55.379 It's a raw emotion. 00:04:55.579 --> 00:04:56.719 God, why? 00:04:58.339 --> 00:05:02.199 That's the question that people asked on 9-11 as the planes hit the Twin Towers. 00:05:02.199 --> 00:05:04.319 God, why? 00:05:04.319 --> 00:05:04.399 Why? 00:05:04.759 --> 00:05:11.379 Is the question that has been asked all over the UK this week in light of the Manchester Arena attack. 00:05:12.939 --> 00:05:16.079 God, why would you let an 8-year-old girl die? 00:05:18.879 --> 00:05:22.919 God, why would you let a man be born who would do such a horrible thing? 00:05:22.920 --> 00:05:33.240 Why was a bus carrying Syrian evacuees allowed to explode, killing 126 people? 00:05:33.980 --> 00:05:36.020 68 of whom were innocent children. 00:05:37.480 --> 00:05:38.960 It is all overwhelming. 00:05:39.220 --> 00:05:41.480 And we ask the question, God, why? 00:05:41.480 --> 00:05:41.560 Why? 00:05:44.060 --> 00:05:46.939 But we also know injustice in our own lives too, don't we? 00:05:47.180 --> 00:05:48.439 Maybe on a smaller scale. 00:05:49.500 --> 00:05:53.439 Think about that work colleague who bullies everybody but gets away with it. 00:05:54.280 --> 00:06:01.040 Or that boss who treats everybody else like a lesser person and kind of looks down on the people that he should be leading and training. 00:06:02.400 --> 00:06:05.660 Or what about that group project at university that we all love, 00:06:06.120 --> 00:06:10.379 where we do all the work and everybody else is relaxing, but they get all the credit in the end. 00:06:10.379 --> 00:06:19.100 And the stories go on and on of how injustice rules, where people are being oppressed because sadly this is not uncommon in our world. 00:06:21.180 --> 00:06:23.199 But let's look at Psalm 10 together. 00:06:23.959 --> 00:06:28.319 And we will see a believer lamenting and questioning God over injustice. 00:06:29.180 --> 00:06:34.819 And how after considering who God is, he comes to a complete confidence in God. 00:06:36.139 --> 00:06:38.659 Let's read Psalm chapter 10 together. 00:06:38.660 --> 00:06:41.700 So Psalm chapter 10. 00:06:44.240 --> 00:06:46.540 Why, Lord, do you stand far off? 00:06:47.500 --> 00:06:50.220 Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? 00:06:50.460 --> 00:06:53.180 In his arrogance, the wicked man hunts down the weak, 00:06:53.920 --> 00:06:56.080 who are caught in the schemes he devises. 00:06:56.820 --> 00:06:59.080 He boasts about the cravings of his heart. 00:06:59.160 --> 00:07:01.720 He blesses the greedy and he reviles the Lord. 00:07:02.040 --> 00:07:04.540 In his pride, the wicked man does not seek him. 00:07:04.540 --> 00:07:08.500 In all his thoughts, there is no room for God. 00:07:09.920 --> 00:07:11.700 His ways are always prosperous. 00:07:11.840 --> 00:07:13.600 Your laws are rejected by him. 00:07:14.100 --> 00:07:18.120 He sneers at all his enemies and he says to himself, nothing will shake me. 00:07:18.860 --> 00:07:21.300 He swears no one will ever do me harm. 00:07:21.300 --> 00:07:25.340 His mouth is full of lies and threats. 00:07:25.699 --> 00:07:27.439 Trouble and evil are under his tongue. 00:07:27.780 --> 00:07:29.520 He lies in wait near the villages. 00:07:30.139 --> 00:07:31.920 From ambush, he murders the innocent. 00:07:32.680 --> 00:07:35.040 His eyes watch in secret for his victims. 00:07:35.139 --> 00:07:37.759 Like a lion in cover, he lies in wait. 00:07:38.160 --> 00:07:40.199 He lies in wait to catch the helpless. 00:07:41.139 --> 00:07:43.600 He catches the helpless and drags them off in his net. 00:07:43.600 --> 00:07:45.200 His victims are crushed. 00:07:46.000 --> 00:07:47.000 They collapse. 00:07:47.100 --> 00:07:48.460 They fall under his strength. 00:07:49.120 --> 00:07:52.800 He says to himself, God will never notice. 00:07:53.680 --> 00:07:55.820 He covers his face and never sees. 00:07:56.520 --> 00:07:59.320 Arise, Lord, lift up your hand, O God. 00:08:00.300 --> 00:08:01.720 Do not forget the helpless. 00:08:04.300 --> 00:08:05.860 Why, God, does the wicked man, 00:08:06.439 --> 00:08:08.520 why does the wicked man revile God? 00:08:08.519 --> 00:08:12.779 Why does he say to himself, he won't call me to account? 00:08:14.180 --> 00:08:17.180 But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted. 00:08:17.479 --> 00:08:21.180 You consider their grief and take it in hand. 00:08:21.259 --> 00:08:23.099 The victims commit themselves to you. 00:08:23.379 --> 00:08:25.699 You are the helper to the fatherless. 00:08:27.180 --> 00:08:29.240 Break the arm of the wicked man. 00:08:30.039 --> 00:08:32.460 Call the evildoer to account for his wickedness 00:08:32.460 --> 00:08:34.419 that would not otherwise be found out. 00:08:35.579 --> 00:08:38.259 The Lord is king forever and ever. 00:08:38.259 --> 00:08:40.659 The nations will perish from his land. 00:08:41.100 --> 00:08:43.840 You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted. 00:08:43.919 --> 00:08:46.460 You encourage them and you listen to their cry. 00:08:47.480 --> 00:08:51.080 Defending the fatherless and the oppressed 00:08:51.080 --> 00:08:54.919 so that mere earthly mortals will never again strike terror. 00:08:56.539 --> 00:08:59.039 Let's pray as we look at this psalm together. 00:09:01.220 --> 00:09:03.580 Heavenly Father, we thank you for your word. 00:09:03.759 --> 00:09:06.039 We thank you for the encouragement that it is to us, 00:09:06.039 --> 00:09:08.620 but also for the challenge that it often brings. 00:09:10.059 --> 00:09:12.799 Help us learn from this psalm that we can come to you 00:09:12.799 --> 00:09:15.159 in our pain asking the question why. 00:09:16.240 --> 00:09:18.379 But how ultimately we need to be asking 00:09:18.379 --> 00:09:20.579 the more important question of who. 00:09:21.480 --> 00:09:25.159 Help us to focus on you and learn from your word this evening. 00:09:25.159 --> 00:09:29.959 And we ask this in the strong and precious name of your son, Jesus Christ. 00:09:30.819 --> 00:09:31.259 Amen. 00:09:32.379 --> 00:09:35.419 It will be really helpful as we look through this psalm 00:09:35.419 --> 00:09:37.179 for you to have the Bible open in front of you. 00:09:37.519 --> 00:09:39.299 We'll be diving in at little bits throughout. 00:09:40.139 --> 00:09:42.779 But I think that there are three things that we can see from this psalm. 00:09:42.779 --> 00:09:46.100 So we see a believer who is perplexed by injustice. 00:09:47.539 --> 00:09:50.419 And we see a hopeful plea to God for justice. 00:09:50.620 --> 00:09:53.079 And then we see a confidence in the king. 00:09:54.539 --> 00:09:57.959 So we see a believer perplexed by injustice. 00:09:58.360 --> 00:09:59.779 In verse 1 to 11. 00:09:59.779 --> 00:10:03.500 The writer of this psalm knows that God is there. 00:10:04.279 --> 00:10:07.459 And he knows the promises of God written down in the Old Testament. 00:10:07.899 --> 00:10:10.959 But all he sees surrounding him at the moment is injustice. 00:10:12.159 --> 00:10:15.959 All he sees at the moment is a wicked man running around wreaking havoc. 00:10:18.000 --> 00:10:20.939 Now the writer of this psalm is probably David, King David. 00:10:21.959 --> 00:10:23.919 Psalm 9 and 10 are closely connected. 00:10:24.159 --> 00:10:26.399 So Psalm 10 is also attributed to David. 00:10:26.399 --> 00:10:29.439 But from the first reading of this psalm, 00:10:29.500 --> 00:10:33.340 we can see that David isn't standing outside of a troubled situation looking in. 00:10:34.299 --> 00:10:37.720 He's not being untouched by this injustice. 00:10:38.100 --> 00:10:41.399 But he is writing the psalm as someone who is personally wrestling 00:10:42.120 --> 00:10:45.240 and struggling with the question of why God isn't doing anything. 00:10:47.059 --> 00:10:49.519 And just from a brief reading of that psalm, 00:10:49.679 --> 00:10:53.579 we can understand why he's crying out to God, asking why, can't we? 00:10:53.580 --> 00:10:58.400 David is asking why, because the poor are being oppressed. 00:10:59.500 --> 00:11:01.040 People are being exploited. 00:11:01.340 --> 00:11:02.580 People are being persecuted. 00:11:02.759 --> 00:11:04.460 And people are being killed. 00:11:07.240 --> 00:11:08.820 Isn't this relevant for us today? 00:11:11.780 --> 00:11:14.240 Aren't these the same problems that we face in our world? 00:11:14.960 --> 00:11:16.879 All you have to do is turn on the news, 00:11:17.040 --> 00:11:18.500 open a newspaper in the morning, 00:11:18.840 --> 00:11:21.640 sometimes just look out the window and we see the same problems. 00:11:21.639 --> 00:11:28.179 And David sees all of this injustice and it leads him to cry out to God in verse 1. 00:11:29.179 --> 00:11:32.699 God, why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? 00:11:34.379 --> 00:11:38.360 David cries to God because he knows that God is the only one who can solve this problem. 00:11:38.360 --> 00:11:46.039 But it is important to notice that David isn't crying to God as someone who has lost his faith. 00:11:46.840 --> 00:11:52.100 But he is crying out to God because there's just so much injustice going on around him and he doesn't get it. 00:11:54.720 --> 00:11:57.960 It's almost as if he can't understand why God isn't stepping in. 00:11:57.960 --> 00:12:05.840 And so David is crying from a broken heart as the God whom he loves and serves seems to be absent. 00:12:07.040 --> 00:12:12.639 The God who has previously helped him and protected him now allows evil to prevail. 00:12:13.340 --> 00:12:14.700 It doesn't make sense. 00:12:16.320 --> 00:12:17.940 We get that feeling, don't we? 00:12:17.940 --> 00:12:20.160 Maybe when we lose a loved one. 00:12:21.920 --> 00:12:24.040 When we or a loved one gets sick. 00:12:25.240 --> 00:12:26.900 Maybe when we're facing loneliness. 00:12:28.700 --> 00:12:30.800 We cry out to God in pain and we say, 00:12:31.120 --> 00:12:33.320 God, why would you let this happen? 00:12:34.760 --> 00:12:36.480 We cry out like Job did. 00:12:36.860 --> 00:12:38.640 A man who knew suffering. 00:12:38.760 --> 00:12:40.120 A man who lost everything. 00:12:40.340 --> 00:12:41.360 We cry out saying, 00:12:41.700 --> 00:12:44.380 I cry to you God, but you do not answer. 00:12:45.220 --> 00:12:46.280 God, where are you? 00:12:46.279 --> 00:12:52.039 But David's trouble all seems to come from a particular individual. 00:12:53.199 --> 00:12:56.779 And he uses a number of characteristics to describe this man to us. 00:12:58.259 --> 00:13:02.220 Firstly, as verse 2 very obviously states, he is a wicked man. 00:13:03.079 --> 00:13:04.699 Someone who hunts down the weak. 00:13:04.799 --> 00:13:08.000 Or a better translation might be someone who pursues the poor. 00:13:08.860 --> 00:13:11.139 So this person is described as an oppressor. 00:13:11.139 --> 00:13:16.939 Is this concept of an oppressor something difficult for us to grasp in today's world? 00:13:17.120 --> 00:13:19.340 Well, I don't think it is. 00:13:20.259 --> 00:13:21.720 Look at some of the things happening. 00:13:21.939 --> 00:13:24.299 We have people being forced to leave their homes. 00:13:25.179 --> 00:13:29.480 People being subject to torture or death unless they conform to a certain faith. 00:13:29.939 --> 00:13:30.899 Or a certain lifestyle. 00:13:30.899 --> 00:13:34.519 And the wicked man is proud. 00:13:35.559 --> 00:13:37.539 He boasts about the cravings of his heart. 00:13:37.620 --> 00:13:39.419 He praises those who are greedy. 00:13:39.620 --> 00:13:42.899 And he blesses those who gather resources to themselves in a bad way. 00:13:44.199 --> 00:13:47.419 And in his prize, this wicked man reviles God. 00:13:47.419 --> 00:13:51.860 So this is not just a mild rejection of God. 00:13:51.939 --> 00:13:55.699 But he is purposefully going against God and mocking him in the process. 00:13:56.439 --> 00:14:01.139 He is openly criticizing God in an abusive and angry way. 00:14:01.339 --> 00:14:04.639 In his mind, there is no room for God. 00:14:06.279 --> 00:14:09.179 As the Austrian philosopher Martin Buber said, 00:14:09.479 --> 00:14:12.519 There is no room for God in him who is full of himself. 00:14:12.519 --> 00:14:19.039 The only thing on this man's mind is himself and how he can be number one. 00:14:20.600 --> 00:14:23.779 And the strange thing is, is that he appears to be prosperous. 00:14:26.159 --> 00:14:27.600 He isn't being persecuted. 00:14:27.799 --> 00:14:28.819 He isn't being oppressed. 00:14:28.980 --> 00:14:30.159 God isn't judging him. 00:14:31.059 --> 00:14:34.679 And to his proud mind, all of this makes him think that he is above God. 00:14:35.879 --> 00:14:37.879 And you see that in verse 6 where he says, 00:14:37.980 --> 00:14:39.019 Nothing can shake me. 00:14:39.699 --> 00:14:41.980 He says, No one will ever do me harm. 00:14:42.519 --> 00:14:44.159 He thinks he is untouchable. 00:14:47.319 --> 00:14:51.500 Nicolai Ceaușescu was the Romanian dictator for 24 years. 00:14:52.199 --> 00:14:54.259 And he also thought he was untouchable. 00:14:55.039 --> 00:14:56.079 Now if you were here this morning, 00:14:56.220 --> 00:14:59.240 you have probably heard that I lived in Romania for a number of years. 00:14:59.779 --> 00:15:04.340 So I first heard firsthand some of the stories of Nicolai Ceaușescu's pride. 00:15:04.679 --> 00:15:06.919 And the things that he did as a result of that pride. 00:15:06.919 --> 00:15:15.039 All of the things that Ceaușescu did were an attempt to make himself to be the biggest and best man that Romania had ever seen. 00:15:15.039 --> 00:15:23.539 And so on December 25th, 1989, as he was arrested and tried in court, 00:15:24.079 --> 00:15:26.459 he screamed and shouted at the people saying, 00:15:26.559 --> 00:15:28.000 You should be ashamed of yourselves. 00:15:28.679 --> 00:15:29.980 I'm a great man. 00:15:30.039 --> 00:15:32.299 I've loved Romania like a father loves a child. 00:15:32.299 --> 00:15:36.279 Even as he sat through the court process, 00:15:36.339 --> 00:15:39.459 he couldn't believe it was happening because he thought he was untouchable, 00:15:39.659 --> 00:15:41.079 like this man in Psalm 10. 00:15:41.080 --> 00:15:50.259 Look at verses 7 to 10 and look at some of the words that David uses to describe how this wicked man treats people. 00:15:51.000 --> 00:15:52.680 He lies and uses threats. 00:15:53.160 --> 00:15:54.780 Trouble and evil are under his tongue. 00:15:54.879 --> 00:15:55.840 He murders the innocent. 00:15:56.000 --> 00:15:58.720 He waits for his victims like a lion hunts its prey. 00:15:59.280 --> 00:16:01.300 He catches the helpless and drags them off. 00:16:01.540 --> 00:16:03.500 His victims collapse under his strength. 00:16:05.120 --> 00:16:06.800 Now when we read those few verses, 00:16:06.940 --> 00:16:10.320 we can understand why David is crying out to God, can't we? 00:16:11.080 --> 00:16:14.340 This is a nasty guy. 00:16:14.420 --> 00:16:15.840 It's an outrage what he's doing. 00:16:16.759 --> 00:16:20.200 We understand why David is crying out to God, saying, 00:16:20.259 --> 00:16:22.080 God, why are you letting this happen? 00:16:22.680 --> 00:16:24.600 We feel David's pain. 00:16:25.500 --> 00:16:27.860 Why hasn't God stopped this man in his tracks? 00:16:30.560 --> 00:16:34.820 But the thing that David points out to be worst of all is that first and foremost, 00:16:35.660 --> 00:16:37.860 this wicked man is a man without God. 00:16:37.860 --> 00:16:42.820 In verse 11, he even mocks God by saying that God will never notice. 00:16:43.840 --> 00:16:45.139 God covers his face. 00:16:45.220 --> 00:16:45.980 He never sees. 00:16:47.860 --> 00:16:50.840 Now the question that's probably running through your mind at the moment 00:16:50.840 --> 00:16:56.200 is that surely I am not saying that all people without God are like this. 00:16:56.200 --> 00:17:00.580 I mean, we probably don't think we're anything like this wicked man, do we? 00:17:02.180 --> 00:17:06.039 I don't think any of us in this room have had desires to oppress the poor. 00:17:07.880 --> 00:17:10.120 But like this wicked man in verse 4, 00:17:10.980 --> 00:17:15.720 every person in the world has had a desire to reject God at one point or another. 00:17:15.720 --> 00:17:21.220 So no, I am not saying that everyone in the world is like this wicked man, 00:17:21.519 --> 00:17:29.160 but I am saying that this wicked man at the core is similar to everybody in this world 00:17:29.160 --> 00:17:32.620 because we all want to reject God. 00:17:33.279 --> 00:17:33.940 It's natural. 00:17:33.940 --> 00:17:39.440 So often we remove God from the rightful place that he has in our hearts 00:17:39.440 --> 00:17:43.340 and we put ourselves as ultimate authority over our lives. 00:17:44.400 --> 00:17:48.380 Our sin and pride are not conscious, well thought through decisions. 00:17:49.200 --> 00:17:53.580 Often we sin before we even realize we're doing it because it's natural to us. 00:17:53.579 --> 00:17:59.679 Although we are able to see the sins of others with clarity, 00:18:00.480 --> 00:18:03.179 we tend to be blind to our own. 00:18:04.919 --> 00:18:08.399 Our desire is for money or to have the acceptance of others 00:18:08.399 --> 00:18:10.039 and the list can go on and on. 00:18:10.740 --> 00:18:13.859 And before we know it, we have replaced God's place in our heart 00:18:13.859 --> 00:18:15.259 with the desires of the flesh. 00:18:18.240 --> 00:18:22.579 In light of injustice, it's really easy for us to relate to David here, isn't it? 00:18:23.579 --> 00:18:29.059 We see injustice all around us and we want to know the answer to the question, why? 00:18:31.019 --> 00:18:35.759 We want to know why God allows horrible things to happen, often to innocent people. 00:18:37.159 --> 00:18:38.379 Because that's what we want. 00:18:38.460 --> 00:18:39.259 We want justice. 00:18:40.019 --> 00:18:41.699 We want God to punish evil. 00:18:43.599 --> 00:18:47.480 And so as Christians, when we face injustice, we cry out to God 00:18:47.480 --> 00:18:49.619 because he is the only one who can resolve it. 00:18:49.879 --> 00:18:52.299 And he is the only one who can bring real justice. 00:18:53.579 --> 00:18:55.859 And so that is what David does. 00:18:56.279 --> 00:19:00.779 He turns to God with a hopeful plea for justice in verses 12 to 15. 00:19:00.779 --> 00:19:05.119 David now shifts as he is writing this psalm. 00:19:05.119 --> 00:19:07.339 And he is no longer asking the question, why? 00:19:08.399 --> 00:19:10.299 But he is focusing instead on the who. 00:19:11.940 --> 00:19:13.559 He is focusing on God. 00:19:14.279 --> 00:19:17.259 So he sees the injustice that is around him. 00:19:17.920 --> 00:19:21.200 And because his confidence is in God, he turns to God for help. 00:19:21.200 --> 00:19:24.340 Look at how he pleads with God in verse 12. 00:19:25.539 --> 00:19:27.900 Arise, Lord, lift up your hand, O God. 00:19:27.980 --> 00:19:29.380 Do not forget the helpless. 00:19:30.940 --> 00:19:32.240 David is begging God. 00:19:34.559 --> 00:19:36.580 Arise, Lord, lift up your hand. 00:19:37.279 --> 00:19:40.000 Can you feel the emotions with which he pens these words? 00:19:41.200 --> 00:19:43.900 Please, God, I am begging you, do something. 00:19:43.900 --> 00:19:49.820 Don't stand idle as the wicked man hurts and oppresses people all over the place. 00:19:50.280 --> 00:19:50.900 It's painful. 00:19:51.800 --> 00:19:53.360 God, lift up your hand. 00:19:55.400 --> 00:19:58.560 The language or phrase of a lifting up a hand in the Old Testament 00:19:58.560 --> 00:20:02.759 is usually referenced to someone's power or strength. 00:20:02.880 --> 00:20:05.960 So David is asking God to step in and help. 00:20:06.280 --> 00:20:09.420 He's asking God to help the oppressed and the poor and the helpless. 00:20:09.420 --> 00:20:13.279 But he is not crying out to God without hope. 00:20:13.920 --> 00:20:15.860 And you see that from verse 13. 00:20:17.400 --> 00:20:19.300 Why does the wicked man revile God? 00:20:20.500 --> 00:20:23.300 Why does he say to himself, he won't call me to account? 00:20:25.180 --> 00:20:28.980 Do you see how David is holding on to the truth that he knows about God? 00:20:30.220 --> 00:20:33.480 It's like David is saying, regardless of the injustice that I see around me, 00:20:33.539 --> 00:20:35.380 I know that God has not left me. 00:20:35.800 --> 00:20:38.340 I know that God has not abandoned me. 00:20:40.080 --> 00:20:44.560 David is thinking, why on earth does this person think that he can get away 00:20:44.560 --> 00:20:47.960 with wreaking all the havoc that he's causing without punishment? 00:20:50.060 --> 00:20:52.779 Because David knows that God will not let that happen. 00:20:53.840 --> 00:20:57.800 He knows that God sees everything and that God knows everything. 00:20:58.380 --> 00:21:01.620 And he knows that God does not take the mistreatment of the poor lightly. 00:21:02.900 --> 00:21:06.539 David has confidence in God, the father to the helpless. 00:21:06.539 --> 00:21:09.299 The helper to the fatherless. 00:21:10.799 --> 00:21:12.420 We want justice, don't we? 00:21:13.839 --> 00:21:16.759 We want people to face the consequences for their actions. 00:21:18.200 --> 00:21:23.960 We find hope in the fact that God sees the horrific acts that the Islamic State is doing 00:21:23.960 --> 00:21:29.000 and that one day, on that final day, as God comes back, justice will be given. 00:21:29.000 --> 00:21:35.980 We find hope in the fact that the man who took a bomb into a pop concert of children and young people 00:21:35.980 --> 00:21:39.900 this week will be brought to justice as he stands before God. 00:21:39.900 --> 00:21:43.700 We find hope in the fact that God is just. 00:21:47.600 --> 00:21:49.920 It means that I don't have to seek out revenge. 00:21:49.920 --> 00:21:56.200 It means that I don't have to worry about whether that person is going to get called to justice 00:21:56.200 --> 00:21:57.660 here on earth or not. 00:21:59.259 --> 00:22:02.700 Because I know that God will not let the wicked go unpunished. 00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:08.960 The psalm is saying that God's justice, God is just. 00:22:09.240 --> 00:22:12.920 And the fact that he sees all things is really good news. 00:22:13.620 --> 00:22:15.140 Do you see how that's a good thing? 00:22:15.140 --> 00:22:19.660 Do you understand how David now has confidence in God? 00:22:21.820 --> 00:22:27.259 He is pleading with God, but as he does so, he realizes that God has seen all the injustice. 00:22:28.220 --> 00:22:29.759 And God will bring justice. 00:22:30.420 --> 00:22:35.759 And because David's confidence is in God, he pleads with God and he finds comfort and he finds hope. 00:22:37.700 --> 00:22:43.040 And we can find that same comfort and hope today because we trust in the same God. 00:22:45.140 --> 00:22:50.980 If you're here tonight and you're not a Christian, I want to ask you, what do you put your confidence in? 00:22:52.820 --> 00:22:58.180 When you ask the why question in light of injustice, who is it that you cry to? 00:23:00.280 --> 00:23:03.540 Who do you trust and have confidence in to bring justice? 00:23:03.700 --> 00:23:04.940 Is it the judicial system? 00:23:06.780 --> 00:23:11.740 They can and are used by God to bring punishment on the wicked. 00:23:11.880 --> 00:23:13.840 Romans 13 makes that very clear. 00:23:13.839 --> 00:23:18.119 But what about the times that the courts can't bring justice? 00:23:20.079 --> 00:23:27.819 I want you to know that the only person who can bring real justice, the only person you can have real confidence in is God. 00:23:28.279 --> 00:23:34.299 The creator and sustainer of this world who sees all things and who will judge all things. 00:23:34.299 --> 00:23:38.379 But there's a sobering thought here as well. 00:23:39.839 --> 00:23:44.720 Because when God comes to bring justice, he has to deal with our corrupt hearts. 00:23:46.480 --> 00:23:53.960 In Romans 3, Paul uses verse 7 of Psalm 10 as part of his argument that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. 00:23:53.960 --> 00:24:06.480 So if you stand in this psalm with David in light of injustice, if you stand with the rest of humanity in light of injustice and you cry out to God because evil needs to be punished. 00:24:06.480 --> 00:24:12.319 The question that I want you to think about is what should God do with you? 00:24:13.599 --> 00:24:15.099 What should God do with your heart? 00:24:15.680 --> 00:24:21.180 Because at the very basic level, we are just like this wicked man and we naturally reject God. 00:24:21.700 --> 00:24:23.860 So when God comes, he must deal with our hearts. 00:24:23.859 --> 00:24:33.779 Are you comfortable and confident that on that day as you stand before God, which you will, that you'll be saved by faith through Jesus Christ? 00:24:34.759 --> 00:24:38.099 Or have you had a false sense of security that God won't judge? 00:24:40.699 --> 00:24:47.379 On that final day when God comes to judge the world, you must stand with Jesus because God will call all people to account. 00:24:48.279 --> 00:24:51.199 And there is no hope for those who don't have faith in Jesus. 00:24:53.859 --> 00:24:57.259 But how exactly does God have this sorted? 00:24:58.199 --> 00:25:00.240 How exactly will God bring justice? 00:25:01.619 --> 00:25:03.839 David now has confidence in the king. 00:25:04.379 --> 00:25:07.259 Verses 16 to 18, let's read those together. 00:25:08.359 --> 00:25:10.119 David writes in verse 16, 00:25:10.479 --> 00:25:12.959 The Lord is king forever and ever. 00:25:13.439 --> 00:25:15.359 The nations will perish from his land. 00:25:15.639 --> 00:25:17.719 You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted. 00:25:18.199 --> 00:25:20.719 You encourage them and you listen to their cry. 00:25:20.720 --> 00:25:27.279 Defending the fatherless and the oppressed so that mere earthly mortals will never again strike terror. 00:25:30.279 --> 00:25:33.059 David ends this psalm of lament in confidence. 00:25:33.640 --> 00:25:36.600 And his confidence is grounded in the kingship of God. 00:25:37.799 --> 00:25:40.860 Just look at some of the things the psalm says that this king does. 00:25:41.860 --> 00:25:43.900 He hears the trouble of the afflicted. 00:25:44.240 --> 00:25:45.900 He's a helper to the fatherless. 00:25:45.900 --> 00:25:49.519 He hears the desire of the afflicted and encourages them. 00:25:49.600 --> 00:25:51.660 He listens to their cry and he defends them. 00:25:52.800 --> 00:25:57.700 Knowing all of that, doesn't it make sense that David has confidence in the kingship of God? 00:26:00.980 --> 00:26:02.880 Now the image of a king is helpful. 00:26:03.540 --> 00:26:06.100 In the Old Testament, the king would sit on his throne. 00:26:06.420 --> 00:26:08.860 People would bring their problems to him and he would judge. 00:26:09.720 --> 00:26:12.420 People would come to seek wisdom and advice from their king. 00:26:12.420 --> 00:26:16.759 He had to know what was going on in the lives of his people, in the life of the nation. 00:26:17.279 --> 00:26:20.500 He had to protect them, care for them and often provide for them. 00:26:21.940 --> 00:26:26.779 So if that is the responsibility of an earthly king, how much more does God do? 00:26:27.460 --> 00:26:30.920 The man who creates the people who are going to be kings. 00:26:33.820 --> 00:26:35.779 God is sitting on his throne. 00:26:35.779 --> 00:26:40.799 He is ruling this world and he sees all things. 00:26:41.660 --> 00:26:43.220 He is sovereignly in control. 00:26:43.379 --> 00:26:47.539 Nothing surprises him and he listens to the pleas of his people. 00:26:48.819 --> 00:26:51.240 There is nothing that is not seen by God. 00:26:52.599 --> 00:26:54.940 There is nothing that is not heard by God. 00:26:56.059 --> 00:27:00.079 But he listens, he cares and he loves. 00:27:00.079 --> 00:27:06.220 This is the king that David is speaking about and this is the king that he has confidence in. 00:27:07.539 --> 00:27:09.879 But David isn't only speaking about God. 00:27:11.059 --> 00:27:14.619 David is pointing forward to the great promised king of God. 00:27:16.059 --> 00:27:19.839 And because of the time of history that we live in, because of the New Testament, 00:27:20.339 --> 00:27:24.480 we know that David is pointing forward to King Jesus. 00:27:24.480 --> 00:27:31.900 The king who has authority over all of the things that plague our short lives here on earth. 00:27:33.640 --> 00:27:38.360 King Jesus has power over sickness, over evil and over death. 00:27:38.559 --> 00:27:42.940 But the most important thing is that Jesus Christ has power over sin. 00:27:43.940 --> 00:27:45.620 Man's biggest problem. 00:27:47.559 --> 00:27:49.759 Jesus defeated sin on the cross. 00:27:49.759 --> 00:27:54.740 On the cross, Jesus made it possible for us to be forgiven by God. 00:27:55.859 --> 00:28:01.720 Because he who himself is God took the punishment that we deserve and died so that we might live. 00:28:04.000 --> 00:28:10.200 We can have confidence in King Jesus because he's made it possible for us to say with the Apostle Paul, 00:28:10.960 --> 00:28:12.680 Where, O death, is your victory? 00:28:14.079 --> 00:28:16.220 Where, O death, is your sting? 00:28:16.220 --> 00:28:16.299 King. 00:28:18.140 --> 00:28:22.579 This is the amazing king that Christians have confidence in. 00:28:24.559 --> 00:28:27.279 But why do I say David is pointing forward to Jesus? 00:28:27.980 --> 00:28:30.500 Well, look at the second half of verse 16. 00:28:31.360 --> 00:28:36.160 It says that the nations will perish from his land, meaning that God's enemies will be destroyed. 00:28:39.920 --> 00:28:41.720 We know that that hasn't happened yet. 00:28:42.380 --> 00:28:45.400 So we know that David is talking about a future event. 00:28:45.400 --> 00:28:50.180 David is pointing forward to a time where there will be no more evil and no more wickedness. 00:28:52.540 --> 00:28:55.320 David knew that injustice wasn't just going to disappear. 00:28:55.980 --> 00:29:00.740 And we know that often people aren't going to get justice on this side of eternity. 00:29:00.740 --> 00:29:08.019 But I hope that when we as Christians suffer injustice and when we see injustice happening all over the world, 00:29:08.440 --> 00:29:12.220 That we can do exactly what David did and cry out to our God. 00:29:13.420 --> 00:29:15.880 And we can do it with a hope that he will act. 00:29:15.880 --> 00:29:21.800 And I hope that this will lead us to have confidence in our King Jesus. 00:29:22.680 --> 00:29:27.200 Our confidence in Jesus comes from the fact that he has already defeated our worst enemy. 00:29:27.340 --> 00:29:28.540 He has defeated sin. 00:29:30.300 --> 00:29:33.340 So our confidence is much greater than David's. 00:29:34.260 --> 00:29:38.380 Because we understand more about God because of Jesus and the cross. 00:29:38.380 --> 00:29:44.360 We can have confidence in Jesus because he will come and with him will come justice and a kingdom of peace. 00:29:44.359 --> 00:29:50.419 But in our hearts we are sitting with David and asking the same question. 00:29:51.639 --> 00:29:53.240 God why is this happening? 00:29:54.459 --> 00:29:55.639 Where is the justice? 00:29:56.839 --> 00:29:59.719 And we ask this because Jesus hasn't returned yet. 00:30:00.019 --> 00:30:02.899 We live in the tension of the now and not yet. 00:30:03.139 --> 00:30:07.219 Now we can have confidence in our King Jesus that he will bring justice. 00:30:07.220 --> 00:30:09.759 But we know that justice has not yet come. 00:30:10.220 --> 00:30:11.519 Jesus hasn't yet returned. 00:30:13.559 --> 00:30:16.079 But we are waiting eagerly for that day, aren't we? 00:30:17.339 --> 00:30:20.140 Because suffering injustice is so hard. 00:30:21.779 --> 00:30:26.339 But we need to remember that God is not powerless in the face of wickedness and evil. 00:30:27.319 --> 00:30:30.019 The day will come where he will dwell with his people. 00:30:31.519 --> 00:30:33.860 And all that is against him will be taken away. 00:30:33.859 --> 00:30:40.959 God is patiently waiting and that is a good thing because when God comes to judge the world, 00:30:41.479 --> 00:30:43.399 he must judge our corrupt hearts. 00:30:43.479 --> 00:30:45.519 So God is giving us time to come back to him. 00:30:47.419 --> 00:30:52.039 If you're here and you're not a Christian, I want you to really think hard about who you put your confidence in. 00:30:54.639 --> 00:30:57.619 Who is it that you cry to when you face and see injustice? 00:30:57.819 --> 00:31:00.619 Is it not better to cry to the God Almighty? 00:31:00.619 --> 00:31:04.959 Who sees all things, who knows all things and who will judge all things fairly? 00:31:06.000 --> 00:31:10.119 Is it not better to put your trust and confidence in him than it is in somebody else? 00:31:12.299 --> 00:31:18.639 If you're a Christian, then this psalm wants you to know that we can and should have confidence in our King. 00:31:20.479 --> 00:31:24.439 Remember the promise of Revelation 21 verses 3 to 4. 00:31:24.440 --> 00:31:30.500 Look, God's dwelling place is now among the people and he will dwell with them. 00:31:31.900 --> 00:31:35.480 They will be his people and God himself will be with them and be their God. 00:31:35.539 --> 00:31:38.200 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. 00:31:38.799 --> 00:31:42.660 There will be no more pain, no more death, mourning, crying. 00:31:42.940 --> 00:31:46.519 That is the promise that is giving David hope in the King. 00:31:47.180 --> 00:31:50.279 And that is the promise that is giving us hope in Jesus Christ. 00:31:50.279 --> 00:31:57.500 This psalm shows us that it is okay to ask the question, why? 00:31:58.799 --> 00:32:02.180 It is okay to cry out to God as we are perplexed by injustice. 00:32:03.940 --> 00:32:05.559 But we shouldn't expect an answer. 00:32:06.920 --> 00:32:08.059 David's never got an answer. 00:32:08.220 --> 00:32:09.339 Job didn't get an answer. 00:32:09.480 --> 00:32:12.019 This psalm doesn't give us the answer to the question, why? 00:32:12.660 --> 00:32:16.180 Instead, it points us to the more important question of who. 00:32:16.180 --> 00:32:19.000 It points us to the King. 00:32:19.259 --> 00:32:20.799 It points us to God. 00:32:21.840 --> 00:32:24.880 And it points us to Jesus who will bring justice. 00:32:26.500 --> 00:32:28.660 Let's turn to our King in prayer. 00:32:30.940 --> 00:32:35.340 Heavenly Father, we thank you that we can have confidence in your kingship. 00:32:37.060 --> 00:32:42.580 But we thank you that your word knows the reality of life. 00:32:42.579 --> 00:32:46.359 We thank you that we can come before you and ask the question, why? 00:32:46.919 --> 00:32:49.099 But Lord, I pray that as we are suffering injustice, 00:32:49.279 --> 00:32:52.539 that you would help us focus on the more important question of who. 00:32:54.759 --> 00:32:56.779 Help us fall in love with you. 00:32:57.980 --> 00:33:01.419 Help us see you in the greatness that you are. 00:33:03.159 --> 00:33:07.720 And help us have confidence in your Son and our Savior, Jesus Christ, 00:33:08.259 --> 00:33:09.359 in whose name we pray. 00:33:10.179 --> 00:33:10.539 Amen.