The root of evil

Psalm 10
A Song of Confidence in God’s Triumph over Evil
1 Why do You stand afar off, O LORD?
Why do You hide in times of trouble?
2 The wicked in his pride persecutes the poor;
Let them be caught in the plots which they have devised.
3 For the wicked boasts of his heart’s desire;
He blesses the greedy and renounces the LORD.
4 The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God;
God is in none of his thoughts.
5 His ways are always prospering;
Your judgments are far above, out of his sight;
As for all his enemies, he sneers at them.
6 He has said in his heart, “I shall not be moved;
I shall never be in adversity.”
7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and oppression;
Under his tongue is trouble and iniquity.
8 He sits in the lurking places of the villages;
In the secret places he murders the innocent;
His eyes are secretly fixed on the helpless.
9 He lies in wait secretly, as a lion in his den;
He lies in wait to catch the poor;
He catches the poor when he draws him into his net.
10 So he crouches, he lies low,
That the helpless may fall by his strength.
11 He has said in his heart,
“God has forgotten;
He hides His face;
He will never see.”
12 Arise, O LORD!
O God, lift up Your hand!
Do not forget the humble.
13 Why do the wicked renounce God?
He has said in his heart,
“You will not require an account.”
14 But You have seen, for You observe trouble and grief,
To repay it by Your hand.
The helpless commits himself to You;
You are the helper of the fatherless.
15 Break the arm of the wicked and the evil man;
Seek out his wickedness until You find none.
16 The LORD is King forever and ever;
The nations have perished out of His land.
17 LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble;
You will prepare their heart;
You will cause Your ear to hear,
18 To do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed,
That the man of the earth may

This psalm speaks about the enemy. The enemy named evil. While it describes the oppression of evil over God's people, I see great similarity in the evilness or wickedness of everyone. That includes myself or Christians.

They key I say is in verse 17. LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear,

When our heart is prepared by the LORD, the LORD will hear our prayers.

All of the whole Psalm, it speaks of evil oppressing hard on the people of God. But the psalmist says in verse 14"But You have seen, for You observe trouble and grief,To repay it by Your hand.The helpless commits himself to You;You are the helper of the fatherless."

The enemies are definitely doing much evil. They disregard God, they are nochanlant towards the people of God. Scoffing and mocking God. They indeed will be judged.

But there lie a resident evil within the people of God. A bent of self reliance. A bent of questioning God and not trusting God. A bent revealed only by the oppression. A confidence in God often arised when we are made helpless by circumstances. In verse 1, we see it says by the people of God, "Why do You stand afar off, O LORD? Why do You hide in times of trouble?" The oppressed question God. It is natural. A natural response. However, we see a change in verse 14. A child of God needs to know his own wickedness. Verse 14 speaks of a change of heart. But what a great disparity from verse 1 to verse 14 in the declaration of the psalmist. From saying that God is afar to declaring that God observe trouble and grief, and the helpless now commits himself to You. Commitment to God comes often during trouble and grief. The helpless state is often the window to the santified emotion of reliance in God.

We often question why God gave trouble and affliction? Have we often question, how evil we are? Our motives are so wicked that it often conjures schemes and impure intents that are bent on not waiting on God.

Recently I spoke to someone. I realise great similarity in certain events of my life and the course of decisions the person is taking. It is strikingly similar. I gave advice. I guess not much was taken in. In fact maybe none. When one is bent on doing something, even God become your "friend".

True thanksgiving to God is not for the gifts itself. We may pray for blessing. We may pray for things to come the way we want. We have an intention of doing something where clearly asking God to search your heart to know whether your motives are right before doing anything is the right things to do. When waiting for God seems the more right, we often do what we think is more right. Waiting on God has a purging process of trying your thoughts and heart before God. I believe that if a Christian wants to do right, the Christian must have a heart and atitiude of honoring Christ.

Emotions can bent right thinking. We may thank God when we succeed in achieving what we set out to do. And even think that God is blessing what you desire. Just because the door is open doesn't mean it is a blessing. A true trust in God is not getting what you want. A true blessing is taking every step knowing you are walking right with God.

I learnt this before. Never make decisions in time of emotional turmoil. The innate wickedness of your heart can make the worst of decisions seem right. I learn to pray for God to let time ascertain my heart towards him and the decision I have to make. I never think I would want to sear my conscience before God by making sudden and impromptu decisons when my emotions are riding the highest. Fortitude in the Christian Character is vital. Proverbs 25:28 says,"Whoever has no rule over his own spirit Is like a city broken down, without walls."

I learn that wickedness during emotional stress can cloud and veil the mind. Learn to wait during these time and meanwhile cultivate a conscience sensitive towards God by always praying God to search and sanctify your heart. Read the word and pray for a deeper affections for God. The worst of enemy is the resident presence of sin - the flesh. It is within the city walls. I can understand Proverbs 25:28 well. Check your affections. Only God builds walls of protection. But it starts by us knowing and training to rule over our own spirit.

When the world seems right, you pray that you be right with God. Psalm 10:17 says wonderfully these words of comfort," LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble;You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear,"

There had been much griefs in my life. I know some are a consequence of my decisions I made especially during emotionally trying times. Never once it is a right decsion. I learn that God prepares my heart in all of these events of life and He accomplishes it and reign over our griefs. Humilty in the heart cannot be forced, it is to be trained by the very hand of God and the glad song of the heart is when God says He will cause His very own ear to hear your prayers. (Psalm 10:17) This verse speaks about a deepening relationship of praying heart recieving prayed answers.

But humility come by an honest prayer to God to search your heart that every step of life, you seek to honor Christ. Humility is love. True love for people is the love of God from God.

God is most glorified when you are most satisfied in Him. Seek to live a life that have rising affections for God and every lateral relationship in life will get right because wickedness is not your ruling your heart, God is.

And this wickedness I am speaking is self-reliance and not God-dependence. (c.f. Psalm 10:13)