Our world doesn’t just tolerate wickedness—it often celebrates it. The arrogant prosper. The greedy grow powerful. The violent rise to fame. In the middle of this, the righteous cry out: “Where is God?” That’s the very tension Psalms 9 and 10 explore.
Though divided in our modern Bibles, the rare ‘Selah’ at the end of Psalm 9, and the lack of a superscription in Psalm 10 suggest they were originally one continuous composition—an unbroken cry from praise to petition. In addition, together, they form a poetic acrostic in Hebrew—Psalm 9 walks from Aleph to Kaph, and Psalm 10 continues the alphabet from Lamedh to Tav. Like A to Z, these psalms present a full and honest journey of faith: from confidence in God’s justice to deep wrestling over His silence.
Psalm 9 focuses on God and the nations—declaring His justice and rule.
Psalm 10 shifts to a question many of us have asked: Why doesn’t God seem to punish the wicked?
This is a psalm for the discouraged, the confused, the overwhelmed—those who still believe in God’s justice, but who long to see it again.
Praising God with All Your Heart (Psalm 9:1–2)
David opens Psalm 9 not with a complaint or a question, but with a deliberate act of praise:
“I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of Your wonderful deeds.”
This is not casual gratitude—it is a resolved commitment. David chooses to praise God regardless of his circumstances. In a world full of injustice, David anchors his soul in what is certain: God is still worthy.
Before David confronts his enemies or wrestles with the prosperity of the wicked, he centers himself in worship. He praises not because everything is perfect, but because God is.
How to Praise Like David:
- Give thanks – Choose gratitude even when life is hard.
- With your whole heart – Let praise come from a place of sincerity, not routine.
- Tell of His wonders – Speak of what God has done; don’t keep His goodness to yourself.
- Be glad and rejoice – Let your joy be rooted in God’s character, not in your circumstances.
- Sing to His name – Honor God as El Elyon, the Most High—exalted over all things.
Praising God doesn’t mean pretending evil doesn’t exist. It means starting with what is unshakable—His character, His past faithfulness, His sovereign rule. When we praise God with our whole heart, we are choosing faith over fear, trust over trouble, and worship over worry.
In a world that often begins with complaint, David teaches us to begin with praise.
The Rule of God vs. the Ruin of the Wicked (Psalm 9:3–10)
David draws a sharp contrast between the fragile power of the wicked and the eternal reign of God:
- The nations fall into ruin, but God abides forever (vv. 5–6).
- The wicked are rebuked and forgotten, but God is a refuge for the oppressed (v. 9).
Empires may dominate for a season. Evil may appear to flourish. But Psalm 9 pulls back the curtain to reveal the deeper reality: God still reigns.
“The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.” (v. 9)
While the wicked grasp for power, God offers protection. While the proud build monuments to themselves, God remains unshaken, a refuge for the hurting and the humble.
We live in a world marked by instability—political upheaval, violence, injustice. But Psalm 9 reminds us that above all the noise and chaos, there is a Throne that does not move. God’s justice is not delayed by human resistance. His authority does not expire with political regimes. The permanence of God is the anchor for every soul that feels unmoored.
Kings come and go. Nations rise and fall. But the Judge of all the earth endures forever.
The Justice of God on Display (Psalm 9:11–20)
David doesn’t keep his praise private—he invites the whole congregation to join him:
“Sing praises to the LORD, who sits enthroned in Zion! Tell among the peoples His deeds!” (v. 11)
This is not just worship—it’s testimony. David declares God’s justice before the world. Even when wickedness seems unchecked, God’s righteous hand is still at work.
David praises God because He:
- Remembers the afflicted – He does not overlook the cries of the vulnerable (v. 12).
- Upholds justice – The Lord is known by His judgments, righteous and true (v. 16).
- Turns the wicked’s schemes back on themselves – They fall into the very traps they set (v. 15).
But this psalm is not triumphalistic—it’s honest. David still pleads for divine intervention:
“Arise, O LORD! Let not man prevail.” (v. 19)
He knows that the justice of God is both present and promised. God is not passive. He sees. He acts. He will hold the arrogant accountable and lift up the afflicted.
Psalm 9 ends with a declaration of faith—not that justice has been fully done, but that justice belongs to God. We are reminded that evil will not have the last word, and injustice will not go unanswered.
The world may ignore suffering. God does not.
The wicked may boast. But their pride will be their fall.
God remembers. God judges. God will rise.
This is the hope of the faithful and the warning to the proud:
“The LORD is known by the justice He brings” (v. 16).
The Silence of God and the Arrogance of the Wicked (Psalm 10:1–11)
If Psalm 9 proclaims that God rules with justice, Psalm 10 asks the painful follow-up:
“Then why do the wicked still seem to win?”
David opens with raw honesty, voicing what many faithful hearts have felt in moments of darkness:
“Why, O LORD, do You stand far away? Why do You hide Yourself in times of trouble?” (v. 1)
This isn’t rebellion. It’s relationship. David doesn’t walk away from God—he calls to Him, even when God seems distant.
He then offers a devastating portrait of the wicked:
- They boast of their desires and curse the Lord (v. 3).
- They ambush the helpless like lions lurking in secret (v. 9).
- They deny all accountability, convinced that “God has forgotten… He will never see” (v. 11).
This is the arrogance of evil unchecked: a life lived as if God will do nothing, as if judgment will never come. And yet, David dares to bring this complaint to the very God whose silence he cannot explain.
Psalm 10 gives us sacred permission to wrestle. Even the faithful sometimes feel abandoned, confused, or overwhelmed by evil. But biblical faith doesn’t suppress these feelings—it brings them to God.
True faith is not the absence of questions; it is the persistence of prayer in the presence of them.
David’s protest becomes prayer. His lament is not the end—it’s the beginning of deeper trust. God may seem silent, but He is never absent. And even when heaven feels far away, the psalmist teaches us to lift our voice toward it anyway.
The Cry for God to Act (Psalm 10:12–18)
David does not end this psalm in despair—he ends with a bold and believing cry:
“Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up Your hand… Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer.” (vv. 12, 15)
This is the voice of faith refusing to accept injustice as the final word. It is not a cry of hopelessness but of holy defiance—a call for God to act in accordance with His character.
David anchors his plea in what he knows about God:
- God sees the injustice and suffering others ignore (v. 14).
- God hears the cries of the afflicted and does not turn away (v. 17).
- God strengthens the hearts of the helpless—He gives courage to those the world overlooks.
- God defends the fatherless and the oppressed—those without earthly protectors find refuge in Him.
- And above all:
“The LORD is King forever and ever.” (v. 16)
This is not resignation to evil—it is confidence in God’s eternal reign. David may not yet see justice fully, but he believes it will come. God’s silence is not His absence. His delay is not His denial.
Psalm 10 ends not with answers, but with assurance. It teaches us that when we are faced with overwhelming injustice, we are not powerless—we can pray. And our prayers are not wishful thinking—they are weapons of faith.
Crying out to God is not weakness—it is warfare against despair.
In a world where the wicked boast and the vulnerable are trampled, Psalm 10 reminds us that God still sees, still hears, still reigns—and He will act.
Conclusion: From Praise to Protest to Prayer
Psalms 9–10 walk us through a full range of emotions:
- Confidence in God’s justice
- Frustration at His silence
- Clarity through worship and prayer
Together, they give us permission to wrestle honestly with injustice while still holding tightly to the God who reigns.
When the wicked prosper and the world seems upside-down, keep praising.
When you don’t understand, keep praying.
When God feels silent, remember—He sees, hears, and acts.
Personal Study Guide
Reflection Questions:
- When have you felt like the wicked were “winning” in life?
- How does Psalm 10 give you permission to bring your questions to God?
- What does it look like to praise God “with your whole heart” even in troubled times?
Personal Action Steps:
- Worship in the Waiting: Read Psalm 9:1–2 aloud each morning this week as a declaration of faith.
- Name the Injustice: Journal one area of life or society where you long for God’s justice. Pray through Psalm 10:12–18 as your petition.
- Encourage Someone: Share one verse from these psalms with a friend who feels discouraged or overlooked.
Prayer Points:
- Praise God for His eternal justice and faithfulness.
- Ask for strength to trust Him when wickedness seems to prevail.
- Pray for the oppressed, the fatherless, and the afflicted to know God as their refuge.
Study Guide for Couples
Reflect Together:
- Talk about how you respond to injustice in the world—does it push you toward prayer or frustration?
- How can you strengthen each other’s faith when it feels like God is “far away”?
Pray Together:
- Thank God for hearing the cries of the oppressed.
- Ask Him to show you how to be part of His justice in your home and community.
Action Step:
- Choose a justice-focused ministry or cause to support together this month with prayer, time, or giving.
Study Guide for Family Devotion
Read Psalm 9 and 10 Together
Discussion Questions:
- Have you ever felt like someone got away with something wrong?
- What does this Psalm say God does for hurting people?
- How can we help others who are being treated unfairly?
Activity:
- Draw a picture of God as a strong defender or safe refuge. Write Psalm 9:9 around it: “The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed.”
Prayer:
- Thank God that He always sees and hears us.
- Pray for anyone your family knows who is struggling or hurting.
Final Thoughts:
When justice feels delayed, don’t give up—lean in.
When evil seems unchecked, don’t despair—cry out.
The God of Psalm 9 is still King in Psalm 10.
He is near to the brokenhearted. He is the defender of the weak. He will not forget.
“O LORD, You hear the desire of the afflicted… You will strengthen their heart.” (Psalm 10:17)
Knights of The Father 