Daily Prayer for January 14, 2025: Psalm 10
Why, O Lord, do you stand far away?
Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the poor;
let them be caught in the schemes that they have devised.
For the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul,
and the one greedy for gain curses and renounces the Lord.
In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him;
all his thoughts are, “There is no God.”
His ways prosper at all times;
your judgments are on high, out of his sight;
as for all his foes, he puffs at them.
He says in his heart, “I shall not be moved;
throughout all generations I shall not meet adversity.”
His mouth is filled with cursing and deceit and oppression;
under his tongue are mischief and iniquity.
He sits in ambush in the villages;
in hiding places he murders the innocent.
His eyes stealthily watch for the helpless;
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.
The helpless are crushed, sink down,
and fall by his might.
He says in his heart, “God has forgotten,
he has hidden his face, he will never see it.”
Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up your hand;
forget not the afflicted.
Why does the wicked renounce God
and say in his heart, “You will not call to account”?
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.
Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer;
call his wickedness to account till you find none.
The Lord is king forever and ever;
the nations perish from his land.
O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted;
you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear
to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed,
so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.
(Psalm 10:1-18, ESV)
Prayer: Grant Almighty God that you who are good and gracious, the one and only God, pity upon us, your redeemed and adopted children. Please help us in our weakness and not stand far from us because we cannot bear that awful load. Sometimes, O Lord, we think you have hidden yourself from us. We know you can't do that because you have promised to always be with us and help us when the wicked raise their ugly heads and slander, afflict, and trouble us. We confess, our God, that there are times when we wonder what you are doing and when you will act against the evil doers of this world. They are vile. They blaspheme your Name. They boast in their accomplishments and never give you glory. They are prideful and arrogant and deny your existence. They appear to prosper and seem to be getting away with those things you call sinful. Worse, they afflict the poor and needy of this world and oppose you, your Son, and your people.
We cry out to you, Lord, for justice! We cry out to you for help in times of great opposition. Yet, we are reminded that all those who desire to live a godly life in this world will be persecuted. We are further reminded of what your beloved Son endured for our sake. We remember that he was scorned and rejected by men and crucified by them, though he was good and kind, healing the sick, giving sight to the blind, and laying down his life as a ransom for many. Yet, Father, we are feeble creatures of dust. The wicked of our world sometimes make us tremble. We need you, the great and mighty King, to defend your people against your enemies. We know that the actions of the wicked are in your hands. We know that you order these things according to your perfect will. Therefore, Father, please grant us more grace to trust you and say, with complete confidence, "Your will be done." Please sustain us through this life full of hardship and bring us safely to our heavenly rest. We pray these things through Christ our Lord, the risen King. Amen.
Scripture Meditation: Psalm 10