Key verse: v. 4, “The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.”
Introduction:
This psalm doesn’t seem to have a title and is considered by some to be a part of the ninth psalm. “The prevailing theme seems to be the oppression and persecution of the wicked, we will, therefore, for our own guidance, entitle it, THE CRY OF THE OPPRESSED.” —Spurgeon.
At times the Lord appears to be far off instead of “a very present help in trouble.” The presence of God is the joy of his people, but any suspicion of his absence is distracting beyond measure. However, the Lord is never far off from the furnace when his children are being refined. Consider the following thoughts:
A. He oppresses in his pride, v. 2; Psalms 73:6, “Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.”
1. The charge of pride, Psalms 31:18, “Let the lying lips be put to silence; which speak grievous things proudly and contemptuously against the righteous.”
2. The charge of tyranny, Psalms 140:5, “The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins for me.”
B. He is a covetous individual, v. 3; Ephesians 5:5, “For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.”
1. They trust in their wealth, Psalms 49:6, “They that trust in their wealth, and boast themselves in the multitude of their riches;”
2. They speak loftily or arrogantly, Psalms 73:8,9 “They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily. 9- They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.”
3. They are boastful, Psalms 94:4, “How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves?”
A. He will not seek God, v. 4; Isaiah 55:6, “Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:”
1. The Lord has not spoken in secret, Isaiah 45:19, “I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right.”
2. The Lord’s righteousness is not far off, Isaiah 46:13, “I bring near my righteousness; it shall not be far off, and my salvation shall not tarry: and I will place salvation in Zion for Israel my glory.”
B. His ways are grievous and painful, v. 5; Hosea 9:9, “They have deeply corrupted themselves, as in the days of Gibeah: therefore he will remember their iniquity, he will visit their sins.”
1. God gives the sinner travail or work, Ecclesiastes 2:26, “For God giveth to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This also is vanity and vexation of spirit.”
2. He walks in the ways of darkness, Proverbs 2:13, 15, “Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness; 15- Whose ways are crooked, and they froward in their paths:”
C. God’s judgments or laws are far above his sight, and finds no place in his life, v. 5; Psalm 92:5-6, “O LORD, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep. 6- A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this.”
1. They regard not the work of the Lord, Isaiah 5:12, “And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of his hands.”
2. They have made a covenant with death and hell, Isaiah 28:15, “Because ye have said, We have made a covenant with death, and with hell are we at agreement; when the overflowing scourge shall pass through, it shall not come unto us: for we have made lies our refuge, and under falsehood have we hid ourselves:”
D. Man has refused to consider what God has done to bring him to salvation, vv. 6-11; Isaiah 42:25, “Therefore he hath poured upon him the fury of his anger, and the strength of battle: and it hath set him on fire round about, yet he knew not; and it burned him, yet he laid it not to heart.”
1. Man continues to be perverse, Psalms 5:9, “For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is very wickedness; their throat is an open sepulchre; they flatter with their tongue.”
2. He deceives with his mouth, Psalms 36:3, “The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.”
3. Wickedness is sweet in his mouth, Job 20:12, “Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue;”
4. Even the religious were evil in the Lord’s day as in our day, Matthew 12:34, “O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.”
E. Man deceives himself regarding God’s judgment, v. 11; Ecclesiastes 8:11, “Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.”
1. They say, “the Lord has forsaken the earth,” Ezekiel 8:12, “Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery? for they say, The LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth.”
2. Our land is full of blood and the city is full of perverseness, Ezekiel 9:9, “Then said he unto me, The iniquity of the house of Israel and Judah is exceeding great, and the land is full of blood, and the city full of perverseness: for they say, The LORD hath forsaken the earth, and the LORD seeth not.”
CONCLUSION:
God is well aware of what is happening around His people and will bring judgment in His own time. He is aware of the persecution and difficulties of His people. Yet He continues to offer salvation to those who will trust Him as Savior.