Bulletins - Bethlehem Baptist Church -p

He Lives
The Power Of The Cross
Jesus Keep Me Near The Cross
Introduction:
Where’s Waldo puzzles
Sometimes it can feel like that with God. We might ask,
“Where was God when that storm hit and took the lives of all those people.”
“Where was God when that army came through and tortured those villagers.”
“Where was God when my child was hit by that drunk driver.”
The list can go on because there are a number of troubles in this fallen world that we live in.
But we need to rest assured that God is there.
Psalm 10 ESV
1 Why, O Lord, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? 2 In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the poor; let them be caught in the schemes that they have devised. 3 For the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul, and the one greedy for gain curses and renounces the Lord. 4 In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, “There is no God.” 5 His ways prosper at all times; your judgments are on high, out of his sight; as for all his foes, he puffs at them. 6 He says in his heart, “I shall not be moved; throughout all generations I shall not meet adversity.” 7 His mouth is filled with cursing and deceit and oppression; under his tongue are mischief and iniquity. 8 He sits in ambush in the villages; in hiding places he murders the innocent. His eyes stealthily watch for the helpless; 9 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. 10 The helpless are crushed, sink down, and fall by his might. 11 He says in his heart, “God has forgotten, he has hidden his face, he will never see it.” 12 Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up your hand; forget not the afflicted. 13 Why does the wicked renounce God and say in his heart, “You will not call to account”? 14 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. 15 Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer; call his wickedness to account till you find none. 16 The Lord is king forever and ever; the nations perish from his land. 17 O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear 18 to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.
Pray
1. The Question: Where is God? (v.1)
Psalm 10:1 ESV
1 Why, O Lord, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
2. The Comfortable Arrogance of the Wicked (vv.2-11)
They pursue and oppress the poor
They scheme against people
They are greedy for gain
They are prideful and arrogant
They seem to prosper and get away with everything
They curse and renounce the Lord
Notice that they cannot truly deny God and know that He exists. They simply don’t believe He will act
3. The Cry of the Oppressed to the Lord (vv. 12-15)
Psalm 10:12–15 ESV
12 Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up your hand; forget not the afflicted. 13 Why does the wicked renounce God and say in his heart, “You will not call to account”? 14 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. 15 Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer; call his wickedness to account till you find none.
Arise, O Lord - the battle cry from Numbers
The reality of God’s wisdom and knowledge of the deeds of the wicked
God sees them in their beds and as they plot against him in their thoughts
Sometimes we need to pray for the judgment of God to act as well as for the salvation of the wicked
4. The Confident Praise of the Righteous (vv.16-18)
Psalm 10:16–18 ESV
16 The Lord is king forever and ever; the nations perish from his land. 17 O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear 18 to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.
Nations have a time limit and leaders have a time to rule, but the Lord rules from age to age and over all the nations
God will act in due time and in accordance with His will
Conclusion
The question we have to ask ourselves is whether or not we believe God is there and will act on behalf of His people.
Jesus is the ultimate answer to that question. God has already acted and He will do so once again.
But Psalm 10 reminds us of something essential:
God is not absent.
God is not unaware.
God is not inactive.

1. The Question: Where is God? (v.1)

2. The Comfortable Arrogance of the Wicked (vv.2-11)

3. The Cry of the Oppressed to the Lord (vv. 12-15)

4. The Confident Praise of the Righteous (vv.16-18)