Lessons for Life with James Long, Jr.

God Sees You: Hope for the Forgotten and Afflicted (Psalm 10)

• James Long

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Title: God Sees You: Hope for the Forgotten and Afflicted (Psalm 10)

Short Description

What do you do when evil seems to thrive and God feels far away? Psalm 10 gives language to our pain and teaches us how to pray through injustice, hold on to God’s justice, and find hope when life feels unfair and overwhelming.

Episode Highlights

  • Psalm 10 begins with an honest question: “Why, O Lord, do you stand far away?”
  • The psalmist names the pain of injustice and the silence of God without offering simplistic answers.
  • We are reminded that God is not blind to evil or deaf to the cries of the afflicted.
  • Lament is a gift that gives us space to wrestle with pain and still cling to God’s character.
  • The psalm shifts from grief to intercession—moving from confusion to confidence in God’s justice.
  • God's throne is secure, His justice will prevail, and He draws near to the brokenhearted.
  • This Psalm teaches us how to wait well, trust deeply, and pray boldly even when justice is delayed.

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ABOUT JAMES AND LESSONS FOR LIFE

Are you longing to find answers to the deeper issues of life? Join Dr. James Long, Jr., a pastor, counselor, and university professor with over 30 years of experience. Hear James as he tackles some of life’s biggest questions and helps us find God’s solutions to life’s struggles. Learn the power of living by God’s grace and for His glory. Experience the joy of forgiveness and freedom found in Jesus Christ alone. If you are in search of freedom, you will love being part of this conversation. Subscribe, and enjoy the show!

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Speaker 1:

Welcome to Counseling Through the Psalms with James Long Jr, a special series from Lessons for Life. I'm James, and in each episode we will journey into the rich, honest and healing language of the Psalms to find hope, clarity and comfort for life's deepest struggles. Whether you're wrestling with anxiety, grief, anger or spiritual dryness, the Psalms offer us a path towards restoration and peace through God's Word. So, wherever you are right now, take a deep breath and let's enter into the heart of Scripture together. Hey, welcome back. It's James Long and we are in our Counseling Through the Psalms. Grab your Bible from me and a journal, and I look forward to working through this psalm with you. We are at day 10, psalm 10 in our series.

Speaker 1:

Psalm 10 gives voice to the anguish of those who feel abandoned in the face of injustice. It offers hope to those who are wounded and assurance that God is not blind to evil nor deaf to the cries of the oppressed. Okay, so grab your Bible and let's look through Psalm 10. First we're going to see when God feels far away in the face of evil. Watch what it says here in verse 1. Why, o Lord, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in the times of trouble. The opening words here are painfully familiar to anyone who has watched wickedness flourish while God seems silent. Psalm 10 is a heartfelt cry of someone who is not naive about evil nor afraid to bring his confusions to God. The psalm refuses to offer simplistic answers. Instead, it dignifies the raw emotions of the faithful who wrestle with divine silence, giving us words to pray when our pain outpaces our understanding.

Speaker 1:

In our modern world, injustice often wears a polished face powerful people silencing the weak, systems that perpetuate harm, or individuals who exploit without consequences. The psalmist saw it delays For those silently suffering. Psalm 10 is not just an ancient poetry. It is a map for the soul, a way to keep walking in faith through the valleys of fear and injustice. The boastful rise while the broken cry. Now one of the hardest tensions in life is watching the wicked thrive while the righteous struggle.

Speaker 1:

Psalm 10 pulls no punches in describing the arrogant. It says this in verse 4, in the pride of his face, the wicked does not seek him. All his thoughts are there is no God. These are not neutral doubters, but they are calculated oppressors. They prey on the vulnerable with impunity and blaspheme without fear. They dismiss divine accountability. Verse 11 says he says in his heart. God has forgotten. He has hidden his face. He will never see it Now.

Speaker 1:

What makes this even more painful is that their words echo the fears of the oppressed. When evil seems to go unchecked, the soul wonders if God is truly turned away. Doubt festers. Victims feel abandoned, and not just by people but by God. The psalm does not rebuke this doubt. Instead, it gives it voice and brings it before God.

Speaker 1:

Here's the crucial lesson God invites our honest questions. He is not threatened by our pain-fueled prayers. To those feeling crushed beneath the weight of another's pride or deception, our groans matter. The God of Scripture does not ignore the exploited. He draws near to those who cry out in truth, even when their faith feels worn very thin. When the cry becomes a prayer, the pivot in Psalm 10 comes not with the change of circumstances, but with a shift in perspective. Arise, o Lord, o God, lift up your hand. Forget not the afflicted, verse 12.

Speaker 1:

This is the turning point of the biblical lament, when the agony of the unanswered injustice becomes the fuel for intercession. The psalmist moves from analysis to appeal. He does not pretend that evil has disappeared, but he remembers something crucial Yahweh is not indifferent. The wicked may believe that God has hidden his face. But the faithful, remember that you do see, for you note mischief and vexation, that you may take it into your hands Verse 14. The shift is not in God but in the sufferer. The one who felt forgotten now clings to the truth that God is both just and near.

Speaker 1:

The prayer is not passive, it's bold. It pleads for God to break the arms of the wicked evildoers Verse 15. A metaphorical cry for divine intervention to dismantle evil systems and individual harm. True faith does not whitewash injustice. It groans for God to act against it. If you feel powerless or unsure how to pray amid injustice, follow the flow of this psalm Start with your pain, move towards petition and remember the God who sees, hears and will act.

Speaker 1:

The Lord reigns the comfort of the coming reckoning. The psalm ends not with vengeance but with confidence. The Lord is king. Forever and ever. The nations perish from his hands. Forever and ever the nations perish from his hands Verse 16. This closing doxology anchors us in God's reign, a reality often hidden but never absent when the foundations of morality or society seem to erode.

Speaker 1:

Psalm 10 reminds us that God's throne is not threatened. His justice may not operate on our timetable, but it is sure. The psalm closes with a tender assurance oh Lord, you hear the desires of the afflicted. You will strengthen their hearts. You will incline your ear, verse 17. What hope that is for the broken. God does not just crush the wicked. He comforts the wounded. He listens, he strengthens, he answers. In our lives this means that we're never truly helpless. Even when institutions fail or friends disappear, god is both a righteous judge and a tender father. He will defend the fatherless, uphold the wronged and ultimately bring every deed into judgment.

Speaker 1:

Now let's look at the doctrinal insights here in Psalm 10. First, we see God's sovereignty. Even when he feels absent, god remains enthroned and active verse 16. Second, we see divine justice. God sees injustice and will act with perfect judgment verses 14 and 15. Third, we see human depravity Left unchecked sin leads to arrogant denial of God and exploitation of others verses 2 through 11. Four, we see the gift of lament. Biblical faith includes space for honest lament, not just triumphant praise. And number five, we see God's nearness to the afflicted. He hears, strengthens and delivers those who cry out to him verses 17-18. Now let's put all of that doctrine into practice practical theology.

Speaker 1:

If you feel abandoned by God, know that Psalm 10 was written with you in mind. It gives you language to grieve and guidance to endure. If injustice has left you feeling angry or numb, take comfort in knowing that God sees and will respond in righteousness. He is not blind to your pain. If you are weary from long battles legal, relational or emotional remember that God strengthens the hearts of those who seek him. If your prayer feels weak or unheard, be encouraged. God hears even your sighs and will act on your behalf.

Speaker 1:

If you've been harmed by people in power or systems that are broken, god is not like them. He defends the fatherless and the afflicted. If you are tempted to take vengeance into your own hands, entrust justice to the Lord, who judges with truth and mercy. If you struggle with fear about the future, anchor your heart in this truth that the Lord is king forever and ever. Well, let's reflect and respond.

Speaker 1:

1. When have you felt like God was far away in the face of injustice and suffering? 2. What kind of evil in the world will tempt you to question God's nearness or justice? 3. How does Psalm 10 give you permission to pray honestly, even with doubt and frustration? Number four are there people in your life or community who need you to be a voice for justice? Number five what would it look like to trust God's justice instead of trying to control the outcome? Number six how can you rest in the promise that God hears, strengthens and acts for the afflicted? Number seven what does this psalm teach you about waiting well in seasons of unanswered prayer? Well, let's pray, father.

Speaker 1:

Thank you for revealing yourself through the power of your word. Lord Jesus, thank you for being the fulfillment of every promise and the anchor for every storm. Holy Spirit, guide us into deeper truth, lasting peace and transforming hope. Teach us to walk in the truth of this psalm today. In Jesus' name, we pray Amen. Well, if you're looking for more support, we would encourage you to join our free navigators level of Lessons for Life community at jameslongjrorg slash community. Jameslongjrorg slash community for devotionals, meetups and training to help you walk by faith meetups and training to help you walk by faith. Or you can explore one of our full memberships at jameslongorg slash. Sign up now for deeper coaching and content designed to help you grow emotionally, relationally and spiritually. Well, thank you so much for being with us. Hope you're with us next time. Be blessed, take care.

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James Long, Jr.

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