Psalms

Psalms 10: God sees the helpless

Begin in prayer

Before we hear the cry of the helpless, let us bring hidden wrong into the light of God's presence. Ask Him to show us the care of the King who sees and the mercy found in Jesus.

Assyria can’t save us. We won’t ride on horses; neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, ‘Our gods!’ for in you the fatherless finds mercy.”

Hosea 14:3

Father in heaven, please open our eyes as we read Your Word, and help us to see Christ. Show us that the LORD sees hidden harm and helps those who cannot defend themselves. Make us more like Jesus. And please bless our family as we worship You together. In Jesus' name, Amen.

See where we're going

The prayer begins by asking why the LORD seems far away while wicked people hunt down the weak. The oppressor lives as though God has no place in his thoughts and will never call him to account. Deceit and violence crush the helpless, and the prayer asks God to rise and remember them. Then confidence answers the wicked man's claim, because God does see trouble and grief and helps the fatherless. The everlasting King hears the humble and will do justice so that earthly man may terrify no more.

As you read Psalms 10, look for the answers:

Reflect together

Key truth

The LORD sees trouble, helps the fatherless, and reigns forever to give justice to the oppressed.

The opening question lets the suffering person speak to God about His seeming distance. The wicked man's claim is different, because he says God will never see or require an account. His pride grows into cruelty, using deceit and hidden traps against people who cannot defend themselves. The lion and net picture deliberate hunting, making the helpless person's danger plain. The prayer answers that God sees trouble and grief and takes the matter in hand. Breaking the wicked man's arm asks God to destroy the power by which he harms others. The fatherless have a Helper before the throne even when human defenders are missing. This King hears the humble and judges for them, so the oppressor's terror will have an end.

How does Psalm 10 show us that the LORD sees trouble, helps the fatherless, and reigns forever to give justice to the oppressed?

The LORD sees the evil that proud people hide.

The oppressor speaks as though God will never call him to account. He murders the innocent from ambushes, yet no hidden cruelty escapes the LORD. The prayer tells the truth about the harm and brings it before God's eyes.

God helps the fatherless and hears the humble.

The fatherless lack a father's protection, and the LORD is named as their Helper. He hears the desire of the humble and prepares their heart. Their need reaches the everlasting King, who gives judgment for those who are oppressed.

Memorise

Yahweh is King forever and ever! The nations will perish out of his land.

Psalm 10:16

Looking to Jesus in my life

Ask yourself in your heart, what harm have I hidden from the Lord Jesus?

The wicked man says that God will never see, yet the prayer answers, “But you do see trouble and grief.” No secret cruelty has escaped Him. The helpless have a Helper, and the proud have a Judge.

We must answer to that Judge for the wrong we have done. Jesus took the death His people owed, suffering at the cross to bring them forgiveness. Raised from the grave, He lives with the saving task accomplished once for all. His sacrifice is enough for the guilty to draw near to God.

Turn from your sin and put your trust in Jesus. Pardon is promised to all who seek Him in faith. Bring Him the wrong you have hidden and the fear you carry. The King who sees is never on the side of hidden cruelty.

Parent's note

Tell your children that the LORD sees hidden harm and helps those who cannot defend themselves. If a child tells you someone is harming them, please listen and get help. Please do not tell them they are saved just because they grew up in a Christian home. Call each child to turn from sin and trust Jesus, and pray that God would give them a new heart.

Pray together

Now please close your time together in prayer. Thank God that He sees trouble and helps the fatherless. Bring the heart question to Him. Every child can pray, so let each one say a short prayer if they want to.

Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment, that those who don’t see may see; and that those who see may become blind.”

John 9:39

Lord God, You see trouble and grief when others turn away. Thank You for helping the fatherless and hearing the humble. Please expose hidden harm and bring sinners to repent and trust Jesus. Defend those who are frightened this week, and make our family ready to seek and give help. Amen.