Ps. 10 "The Presumptuous Path of the Wicked"

Intro:

Review from last week:

Pickle Ball with some ladies in our church before their bible study. We joked about becoming an illustration on Sunday, espeically when it comes to the cussing part about Sports

the acrostic continues with the second half of the Hebrew alphabet

Last weeks Psalm was one of triumph and hope, this week’s Psalm ponders the path of the wicked.

Outline:

Pride’s Rehearsal: “There is No God” (vs. 1-5)

Pride’s Actions: “God has Forgotten” (vs. 6-11)

Pride’s Humiliation: “God will not Call to Account” (vs. 12-18)

Summary: “We do what we do because we want what we want!”

Illustration: When was the last time you were suprised by what came out of your mouth? Where did that come from?

Prayer:

Pride’s Rehearsal: “There is No God” (vs. 1-5)

Why? (vs. 1)

Why, O LORD- YHWH

do you stand far away?- Position, location. This is not the only time this is asked in the Psalms

Why do you

hide yourself- to prevent something, including oneself, from being seen or discovered. Now, can God hide? Well, we cannot see Him because He is Spirit. But does He hide Himself?

in times of trouble- same phrase as before, “drought”. This connects Ps. 10 with Ps. 9.

honest cry of the human experience. We all ask why from time to time.

The Psalmist is going to ponder the presumptuous path of the wicked.

Pride in pursuing the poor (vs. 2-3)

In arrogance- “roaring” pride, thinking too highly of one’s self

the wicked- Arrogance is the first step in moving towards being wicked. the oppressor. Arrogance and wickedness go hand in hand.

hotly pursue the poor- imperfect, set on fire those without property, that are needy and poor.

This is the guy that constantly puts himself in groups that he knows he can win. Among those that will not challenge him. It is not a fair fight

Let them be caught- imperfect, as they continue to hotly pursue, allow them to continually be caught

in the schemes that they have devised- “weave, to plot secretly”

For the wicked boasts (admires) of the desires of his soul- what they want is the most important. “We do what we do, because we want what we want”!

and the one greedy for gain curses- when they don’t get what they want you hear it.

and renounces the LORD- you can tell by his or her speech where his or her heart is!

Proverbs 19:3 “When a man’s folly brings his way to ruin, his heart rages against the Lord.”

Pride in not seeking God (vs. 4-5)

In the pride of his face- his countenance, or “anger”

the wicked does not seek him- God

all his thoughts are

“There is no God”

His ways prosper at all times- wait, who’s “ways” God’s or the wicked?

your judgments are on high

out of his sight

as for all his foes

He puffs at them- “snorts”

Application/Implications:

Renew the Mind (the Scriptures):

What caught your attention in this section?

Which verses or words would you like to study a little more this week?

Engage the Heart (humility vs. pride):

Is my opionion the one that matters the most? Do I verbally or physically go after people that differ from me? Do I get angry at God when what I want doesn’t happen?

Notice, the wicked person is not given an age. It is possible to be wicked as a toddler, adolescent, young person, middle age, and senior. Pretty much anyone that is capable of snorting at others is at danger of walking the path of the wicked

Notice, “The wicked boasts of the desires of his soul”. It starts with the thoughts and desires of the mind and soul.

Enlist the Body (Words, actions, emotions):

I praise You, Lord, that when I questioned…you listened and responded

I praise You that You were my helper when...

Transitional phrase: David observes Pride’s Rehearsal: There is no God. When this the thought of the mind the desires of the heart are admired and pride puffs the heart. It causes a person to hotly pursue what they want and trample over anyone that would get in their way. So what does this prideful pursuit of the heart’s desires look like...

Pride’s Actions: “God Has Forgotten” (vs. 6-11)

Words (vs. 6-7)

He says in his heart- this is not a verbalization necessarily

“I shall not be moved”- like concrete

Thoughtout all generations- lifetime, cycle

I shall not meet adversity- misery, a state of ill-being due to affliction or misfortune.

The wicked on has an overinflated view of himself. Puffed up with pride!

His mouth is filled

with cursing- “a-la-h” an appeal to some supernatural power to inflict injury or destruction on someone or some group, oath.

and deceit- “mirmot” deception, trick, fraud, causing someone to believe and untruth.

and oppression- “tok” the act of subjugating by cruelty

Under his tongue are

mischief and iniquity

Actions (vs. 8-9)

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

Wrong conclusion (vs. 10-11)

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”

Just because there is not an immediate rescue or response does not mean that God has forgotten nor that he has hidden his face and didn’t see what happened.

Application/Implications:

Renew the Mind (the Scriptures):

What caught your attention in this section?

Which verses or words would you like to study a little more this week?

Engage the Heart (humility vs. pride):

Are you familiar with the story, “If you give a mouse a cookie”? Pride is like that, if you give it an inch, it will take a mile, it keeps pushing the boundaries or authorities to see what it can get away with. We see this all the time with our kids, employees, coworkers, and relatives.

thoughts become words, words become actions, actions become habits. Jesus teachings this process in the Luke 6:43-45 “out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks”. His half-brother James writes about it in James 1:14–15 “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.”

Enlist the Body (Words, actions, emotions):

I am in turmoil over…I submit my heart to You and will trust You to do justice”

Transitional phrase: Pride’s rehearsal (there is no God) turns into pride’s actions if not checked. When we think we can get away with something, as if God cannot see, or does not act in return, we are emboldened to continue. David is now going to call on the LORD to act...

Pride’s Humiliation: “God Will Not Call to Account” (vs. 12-18)

A call to action (vs. 12-13)

Arise, O LORD

O God

lift up your hand

forget not the afflicted- Say that with me...”Forget not the afflicted”- take vengeance

Why does the wicked

renounce God- “to treat irreverently or with disrespect” (NIVAC, 234).

and say in his heart

“You will not call to account?”- there is no accountability.

A confirmation of action (vs. 14-15)

But you do see- Say that with me...”But you do see”!

for you note-

mischief

and vexation

that you may take it into your hands- God sees and takes note! He is going to deal with it.

To you

the helpless commits himself

you have been the helper of the fatherless

Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer- what does a “broken” limb do to someone, it slows them down, it limits their capability.

call his wickedness to account

till you find none

A commitment to authority (vs. 16-18)

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 oppressed

so that man who is on the earth may strike terror no more

Pray: “LORD, I ask You to arise on behalf of (name) and assure them of Your care”

Application/Implications:

Renew the Mind (the Scriptures):

What caught your attention in this section?

Which verses or words would you like to study a little more this week?

Engage the Heart (humility vs. pride):

What desires in your heart are leading you away from God and you feel like you are getting away with it, or that it must not be that bad because nothing has happened yet? This is why sin is so deceptive because sometimes “nothing” happens. We think that if we do something horrible we will be struck with disease or die from a lightning strike. Not all consequences to sin have an immediate reprocussion. Yet, in the same way, not all blessings of obedience have an immediate reprocussion. Think about it.

Enlist the Body (Words, actions, emotions):

Summary: “We do what we do because we want what we want!”

Discussion Starters:

In what ways does pride affect my thinking?

Do I agree with the pattern of pride: rehearsal of the mind, desire of the heart, and action of the body? Why or why not?

Which part of the pattern do I find the most difficult (thinking, desiring, or behaving)?

Song: Behold our God

Benediction/Looking ahead: INVITE PEOPLE TO THE CAFE