Why Do You Stand Far Off?

Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Psalm 10:1-11 

1 Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? [why] hidest thou [thyself] in times of trouble? 2 The wicked in [his] pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined. 3 For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, [whom] the LORD abhorreth. 4 The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek [after God]: God [is] not in all his thoughts. 5 His ways are always grievous; thy judgments [are] far above out of his sight: [as for] all his enemies, he puffeth at them. 6 He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for [I shall] never [be] in adversity. 7 His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue [is] mischief and vanity. 8 He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor. 9 He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net. 10 He croucheth, [and] humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones. 11 He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see [it].

OBSERVATION QUESTIONS
1) What did the psalmish ask the Lord? (v.1)
2) What were the psalmist's complaints against the wicked? (v.2-10)
3) What did the wicked believe about God? (v.11)

APPLICATION QUESTIONS
4) Have you ever encountered a wicked person?
5) If so, how applicable was the psalmist's description to the individual(s) you know?
6) If not, have you ever behaved as a wicked person? Please explain how?

PRINCIPLES
7) Wicked people are self-centered, not God-centered.
8) Wicked people do not fear God.
9) Wicked people do not know the Lord.
10) The Lord often sends His people among the wicked to be a light to them.