Psalm 10

Psalm 10 is not ascribed to anyone in particular and ruminates upon the evil devices of the wicked, imploring God to act upon the behalf of the humble and poor. The wicked are pictured as immovable, prideful of their own power and position. The wicked man is active in evil, cursing, boasting, lying, crouching, and most of all, underestimating and marginalizing God.

The psalmist questions why God "standeth far off" under such corruption.  It's a perennial question, as contemporary as it is ancient.  We still struggle with the perceived closeness of the Lord, particularly when we observe evil people go their business, often flourishing, sometimes without any qualms or immediate consequence.  The psalmist longs for consequence:

"...let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined" (v2)

"Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none" (v15)

"that the man of the earth may no more oppress" (v18)

Our instinct is for immediate justice, and I can see how the Jews of Jesus' time were looking for an immediate Messiah, one who would right wrongs then and there.  Why the seeming distance, God....is the question.  Why does God allow evil to run rampant today?

I appreciate the authenticity of the psalmist here--asking the hard questions, allowing them to linger.