Why, O LORD, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? 2 In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak who are caught in the schemes he devises. 3 He boasts of the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD. 4 In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God. 5 His ways are always prosperous; he is haughty and your laws are far from him; he sneers at all his enemies. 6 He says to himself, "Nothing will shake me; I'll always be happy and never have trouble." 7 His mouth is full of curses and lies and threats; trouble and evil are under his tongue. 8 He lies in wait near the villages; from ambush he murders the innocent, watching in secret for his victims. 9 He lies in wait like a lion in cover; he lies in wait to catch the helpless; he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net. 10 His victims are crushed, they collapse; they fall under his strength. 11 He says to himself, "God has forgotten; he covers his face and never sees."

As I read this Psalm I am reminded of the society in which we live. There are so many who have no regard for God or who even deny his existence. Many claim to believe in a god but have never come to know the only true God. The philosophy of humanism prevails in our schools and in our society, even among many who claim to be Christians. And we as believers wonder why the world is allowed to continue as it is with all the corruption, immorality, ungodliness, selfishness and greed. Does God not see that this causes pain and problems for those who serve him?

While today many say that God has forgotten about mankind or that God does not really see, the truth is that God does see and God has not forgotten. We do not and cannot understand the mind of God. Our first thought is that the righteousness and holiness of God must demand that he punish those who are wicked and stop all of the violence. It may be that we don’t see his patience, or we don’t see his wisdom or we can’t fathom his mercy. We must not presume to take the place of God but rather do all we can to share the gospel and show unbelievers and the unfaithful that living for God is what brings true happiness, now and in eternity.

O God, thank you for your love. I am so thankful that you are the one in charge. Help me to not be judgmental toward others but to do all I can to encourage and teach. Help me to be an example in my life so others can see Jesus living in me. I offer a special prayer for those who are facing surgery and treatments and those who are recovering from their surgeries. Give them strength and health if it is your will. Give them faith to accept your will. Fill me with your Spirit and your love. I pray in Jesus’ name.