Psalm 10: The Plight of the Poor

In Psalm 10, King David bemoans a number of things before the Lord. He begins with an apparent complaint about what David believes is God’s absence and says:

1 Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?

After this he begins to complain about the wicked and says in the very first line:

2 The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.

The word used in the King James is persecute leads to some idea of what the wicked are doing to the poor, but the Hebrew term relates best to “a hot pursuit” instead of just a persecution. “The wicked IN HIS PRIDE doth hotly pursuit the poor.”

Characteristics of the Wicked

What is this hot pursuit of the wicked upon the poor focused upon? David tells us in verse 3, saying:

3 For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.

Whatever that focus is in the hot pursuit of the poor it’s not only “his hearts desire” but it is a desire that he is not ashamed to boast about. And we also know that in the process of all these things, these wicked “blesseth (praise) the covetous” a characteristic in people that God abhors!

Later, we will read that David generally refers to these wicked types as “the man of the earth.” Who is the “man of the earth?” Thus far, we know that he is one who:

• In his PRIDE hotly pursues the poor.
• That in this pursuit is “his hearts desire”
• That he “boasts” of this desire
• And that he “praises the covetous” (the tenth command we are told to avoid)

After describing the wicked in more depth in verses 4-6, David says:

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.

God’s Displeasure with the Persecution of the Poor

In this imagery, this man of the earth is described as a predator, a conniver, lurking in places waiting for opportunity to pounce upon the innocent and especially the poor. From this, we can see contextually that David’s initial cries (at verse 1)

“Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?”

are on behalf of not only himself but also the poor and innocent who seem to be victims of “these men of the earth.”

At verse 12 David returns to his first pleading query and says:

12 Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble.

Then at verse 14 David adds:

14 . . .“the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless.

15 Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none.”

And then,

17 LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:

18 To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.

So David has laid the principle out –

There are innocent, humble, poor who are hotly pursued by the proud, Godless, coveting wicked of his world. Because David mentions that these “men of the earth” “praise covetousness” we might conclude that the major driver behind these wicked men is gaining material wealth from the poor – something by which David, a man after God’s own heart, is greatly disturbed.

The Principle Point

God does NOT like the poor and humble to be taken advantage of. One hundred and sixty-three times the English word “poor” is used in the Old Testament alone. These come from several different Hebrew terms all pointing to “the dangling, the destitute, and the depressed.” Scripture is replete with directions to help and treat the poor kindly and generously but never to hotly pursue them to try and capitalize, capture or to put them in bonds.

Now to the application.

Any political movement, religious institution, criminal organization or individual that “hotly pursues the poor” and I will show you the antithesis to the heart of God.

SOCIAL or POLITICAL MOVEMENTS

Any group that

The Burden on the Poor

Societies that place the onus and burden for their survival on the backs of the poor should be scrutinized with suspicion. Systems, whether top-heavy communism, uber-capitalism or fascism, that weigh down the poor with insurmountable taxes and duties contradict the will of God. The extreme of hyper-capitalization on the poor can be seen in the horrific history of the Third Reich. They targeted outcasts with relentlessness, confiscating rights, restricting mobility, seizing homes, and ultimately removing personal freedoms. Their material acquisitions extended to clothing, hair, labor, and, even in deathSeparation from God—now overcome. Physical death remains, but it no longer separates us from life with God., all remaining physical remnants. This highlights the covetous nature of "men of the earth" who relentlessly pursue the poor for material gain.

Exploitation by Criminal Organizations

Taking advantage of vulnerable people under duress from debt or addictions exemplifies how "men of the earth" prey upon the poor. Offering superficial solutions like expensive rehabilitation or advertising harmful substances to low-income communities reflects exploitation. Such practices run counter to the ways of God.

Religious Institutions and the Poor

Throughout scripture, it's evident that widows, orphans, and the poor should be cared for, not exploited. Religious institutions must resist taking advantage of the poor’s contributions and focus on alleviating their needs. Any compulsion for service or donations from the poor is another form of "men of the earth" pursuing them. Churches should support and bless the community, not serve their own ends. God is a God of freedom who sent His Son to "set the captives free," not bind them with requirements. Theology or practices that imprison individuals align more with earthly desires than divine intent.