Psalms 9 and 10 of the Hebrew text may have been initially a single acrostic poem. The stanzas start with successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. In the Greek or Latin Bible, they form one psalm. Psalm 9 condemns Israel’s enemies. In Psalm 10, the psalmist is fully aware of the wickedness and evil around him. He also sees that these people seem secure, powerful, and happy. He condemns the wicked within the community. Those who exploit the widow, the orphan, the foreigner, and the traveler are enemies of God. It is surprisingly easy to develop a rich spirit in a consumer-driven world. As Christians, we must ask ourselves how much responsibility we have for the injustice and discrimination we see.
The psalmist is fully aware of all the wickedness and evil surrounding him. He also recognizes that these people appear secure, robust, and happy. However, he does not succumb to their wicked ways. Instead, he is confident that God will not abandon him and will handle them accordingly.
This psalm can bring comfort to many of us who find ourselves among such people and wonder how they can carry on the way they do. Perhaps we can find solace in the words of Adolph Dias, who wrote this verse: “If you think that your neighbor has more happiness than you, think again. You may only know about their happiness, not their suffering and pain.”
When we observe that human pride prevails at the expense of the innocent and God remains silent, it is a fitting time to pray with this psalm.