{"id":655,"date":"2018-06-11T17:40:49","date_gmt":"2018-06-11T16:40:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pbthomas.com\/blog\/?p=655"},"modified":"2018-06-11T17:46:15","modified_gmt":"2018-06-11T16:46:15","slug":"why-do-bad-things-happen-to-good-people-psalms-9-and-10","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/pbthomas.com\/blog\/?p=655","title":{"rendered":"Why do bad things happen to good people? Psalms 9 and 10"},"content":{"rendered":"

These two psalms make up just one psalm in the Greek version of the Old Testament, the Septuagint. Together they are an acrostic, with verses beginning with successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet. Why do bad things happen to good people? These psalms together offer an answer \u2013 but you aren\u2019t going to like it!<\/p>\n

THE THEORY \u2013 GOD IS SOVEREIGN<\/p>\n

PSALM 9 1-12, 15-17<\/p>\n

PAUSE TO REFLECT<\/p>\n

The psalm begins with a declaration of confident faith \u2013 God is on the throne!
\nWe put our trust in the character of God \u2013 his righteousness and justice.
\nWe also put our trust in certainty of ultimate judgment
\nWe put our trust in God\u2019s everlasting love for the oppressed and for those who seek His face.
\n But that is in the future. Present experience is not always as comfortable!<\/p>\n

THE REALITY \u2013 GOOD PEOPLE STILL SUFFER<\/p>\n

GO TO Psalm 10:1-11 <\/p>\n

PAUSE TO REFLECT<\/p>\n

In the face of opposition God appears to be far away and we find ourselves asking \u201cWhy?\u201d
\nTrouble is near and the wicked seem to be coming out on top.
\nWorse than that \u2013 the wicked make their plans to bring down and destroy the righteous.
\nThe present reality is that innocent and godly people still suffer \u2013 indeed they are often the victims of the wicked. <\/p>\n

THE ONLY ANSWER \u2013 WE CRY OUT TO GOD FOR HELP<\/p>\n

GO TO Psalm 9:13-14
\nGO TO Psalm 9:18-20
\nGO TO Psalm 10:12-18<\/p>\n

PAUSE TO REFLECT<\/p>\n

The psalms give no answer to the question of why God seems so far away. Instead we simply cling to God in the midst of our suffering.
\nWe call out twice for God to \u201cArise\u201d as if he is asleep on the job.
\nWe beg God not to forget the helpless, as if he has forgotten them.
\nWe call on God to keep the promises he has made to be \u201ca refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.\u201d (9:9)
\nand not to forsake those who seek Him (9:10). God is merciful and will lift us up, even \u201cfrom the gates of death\u201d<\/p>\n

We put our trust in the character of God \u2013 his righteousness and justice
\n9 8 He will judge the world in righteousness;
\nhe will govern the peoples with justice.
\nWe also put our trust in certainty of ultimate judgment
\nGod is still king (9:4,7)
\n9 4 For you have upheld my right and my cause;
\nyou have sat on your throne, judging righteously.<\/p>\n

9 7 The LORD reigns for ever;
\nhe has established his throne for judgment.<\/p>\n

5 You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked;
\nyou have blotted out their name for ever and ever.<\/p>\n

The LORD is King for ever and ever; the nations will perish from his land. 10:16<\/p>\n

God is \u201cthe helper of the fatherless.\u201d (10:14)<\/p>\n

So the psalms end by remembering that God always hears the prayers of those who are in trouble. And even though all the present circumstances may suggest the opposite, God will answer our prayers as well.
\n10 17 You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted;
\nyou encourage them, and you listen to their cry,
\n18 defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

These two psalms make up just one psalm in the Greek version of the Old Testament, the Septuagint. Together they are an acrostic, with…<\/span><\/p>\n

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