Martin Luther
Verse 1. "Why standest thou afar off, O Lord? WHY HIDEST THOU THYSELF IN TIMES OF TROUBLE?" The answer to this is not far to seek, for if the Lord did not hide Himself it would not be a time of trouble at all. As well ask why the sun does not shine at night, when for certain there could be no night if it did. It is essential to our thorough chastisement that the Father should withdraw His smile: there is a need not only for manifold temptations but that we be in heaviness through them. The design of the rod is only answered by making us smart. If there be no pain, there will be no profit. If there be no hiding of God, there will be no bitterness, and consequently no purging efficacy in His chastisements.C. H. Spurgeon
Verse 2. "The wicked IN HIS PRIDE doth persecute the poor …" PRIDE is a vice that cleaveth so fast unto the hearts of men that if we were to strip ourselves of all faults one by one, we should undoubtedly find it the very last and hardest to put off.Richard Hooker
Verse 3. " … the covetous, whom the Lord abhorreth". Christ knew what He spake when He said: "No man can serve two masters", meaning God and the world, because each would have all. As the angel and the devil strove for the body of Moses (Jude 9), not who should have a part, but who should have the whole, so they strive still for our souls, who shall have all. Therefore, the apostle saith: "The love of this world is enmity against God", signifying such emulation between these two, that God cannot abide the world should have a part, and the world cannot abide that God should have a part. Therefore, the love of the world must needs be enmity to God, and, therefore, the lovers of the world must needs be enemies to God, and so no covetous man is God's servant, but God's enemy. For this cause covetousness is called idolatry (Ephesians 5 verse 5), which is the most contrary sin to God, because as treason sets up another king in the king's place, so idolatry sets up another god in God's place.Henry Smith
Verse 4. "The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God; God is not in all this thoughts". The words are diversely read … Some read it: "No God in all his (the wicked person's) crafty presumptuous purposes:" others: "All his thoughts are, there is no God". The meaning whereof is not only among the swarm and crowd of thoughts that fill his mind, the thought of God is seldom to be found, and comes not in among the rest, which yet is enough for the purpose in hand; but further, that in all his projects and plots, and consultations of his heart, whereby he contrives and lays the plot, form, and draught of all his actions, he never takes God or His will into consideration or consultation … As you used to say, when a combination of men leave out someone they should advise with, that such a one is not of their counsel, is not in the plot; so, nor is God in their purposes and advisings, they do all without Him.Thomas Goodwin
Verse 10. "He croucheth and humbleth himself". There is nothing too mean or servile for them, in the attempt to achieve their sinister ends. You shall see his holiness the Pope washing the pilgrims' feet, if such a stratagem be necessary to act on the minds of the deluded multitude; or you shall see him sitting on a throne of purple, if he wishes to awe and control the kings of the earth.John Morrison
Verse 11. "He hath said in his heart: 'God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it'". The heart hath a tongue in it as well as the head, and these two tongues seldom speak the same language. While the head-tongue saith "We cannot hide ourselves from the sight of God", the heart-tongue of the wicked men saith "God will hide Himself from us, He will not see".Joseph Caryl
Verse 11. "God hath forgotten, etc." This was the ground of the oppression of the poor by the wicked, which he mentions 9/10. There is no sin but receives both its birth and nourishment from this bitter root. Let the notion of Providence be once thrown out, or the belief of it faint, how will ambition, covetousness, neglect of God, distrust, impatience, and all other bitter gourds grow in a night.Stephen Charnock
(To be concluded in the next edition)
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This Page Title – Gleanings in the Psalms (Psalm 10) The Wicket Gate Magazine "A Continuing Witness". Internet Edition number 45 – placed on line November 2003 Wicket Gate contact address – Mr Cliff Westcombe cw@wicketgate.co.uk If you wish to be notified when each new edition goes on line please send an e-mail to the above address Magazine web address – www.wicketgate.co.uk Labelled with ICRA |