Seder 112: Psalm 10---Temporary Success of the Wicked

Psalm 10 is one of 34 psalms that has no superscription in the MT, one of only 3 in Book 1 (the others in Book 1 are Psalms 1 and 2).  In the LXX, there are 17 psalms with no superscription, and Psalms 9 and 10 are combined as Psalm 9.

Like Psalm 73, Psalm 10 deals with the question of the temporary success enjoyed by the wicked (see verses 2-11).  When the wicked exploit others with seeming impunity, they may be emboldened to ramp up their bad behavior and mistake God's patience for indifference.  They imagine that they will "not be moved" (v 6), something that is really only true for those who trust in God (Ps 15:5; 16:8; 125;1).

The wicked tend to use speech as a weapon.  "His mouth is filled with cursing and deceit and oppression; under his tongue are mischief and iniquity" (v 7).  Paul quotes this verse from the LXX in Rom 3:14 as part of a string of scriptures showing man's universal sinfulness.  We shouldn't think of "the wicked" in this psalm as just someone other than us; we all have sinned.      

The psalmist prays in vv 12-15 for God to intervene on behalf of those exploited by the wicked.  He appeals to God's reputation (v 13) and righteous character (v 14) and prays a "thy kingdom come" prayer for the elimination of all evil (v 15).  In verses 16-18, God's universal rule is affirmed.  The success of the wicked is just a temporary phenomenon.

Seder 87: Psalm 73---Why Do the Wicked Prosper?

 Psalm 73, the first of the psalms of Asaph, is a wisdom psalm.  Wisdom psalms---Psalm 1, for example---often express the general principle that the wise (those who fear the God of Israel) tend to prosper, while the foolish (those who do not fear the God of Israel) do not tend to prosper.

This principle is not a mathematical law, however.  Asaph admits that he was tempted to envy the often comfortable situation of the arrogant (vv 2-3).   They seemed to him to waltz through life cocky and carefree, exploiting others with impunity (vv 4-15).   

His descriptions include some unusual expressions.  "Their eyes swell out through fatness" (v 7) may mean something like "their eyes shine because of their prosperity." Verse 10 ("Therefore his people turn back to them, and find no fault in them") may be saying that people are attracted by the power and influence of the rich and hope to benefit from a connection with them. 

Asaph confesses his jealousy at the apparent prosperity of the wicked.  What good had it done him to follow the way of wisdom (v 13)?  He struggled with these thoughts and worried about the harm he might do to the community by expressing them (vv 13-14).  

He finally found peace when he entered God's sanctuary.  Seeing God's glory, greatness, and majesty put things in perspective.  His faith in the fact that God would carry out justice on his own schedule was renewed.  He resolved to find refuge in God and declare his greatness and mighty works.