SERMON BIG IDEA:

When we become a victim of an injustice, this can lead us to take genuine refuge in the God of justice.

APPLICATION:

Take refuge by living out the example of Jesus.

SERMON OVERVIEW:

In the midst of a world where injustice and suffering are all too real, the invitation is to find true refuge in God, especially when we feel victimized or wronged. Life often presents a stark contrast between how things should be and how they actually are. While we may expect justice and goodness to prevail, reality often shows the wicked prospering and the innocent suffering. Psalm 10 gives voice to this tension, offering a raw and honest lament that refuses to pretend everything is fine. Instead, it models how to bring our deepest disappointments and questions before God, even when He seems distant.

The psalmist’s cry, “Why, O Lord, do you stand far away?” is not just ancient poetry—it echoes the experience of countless believers, including Jesus Himself, who on the cross cried out another lament from Psalm 22, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” This honest questioning is not a sign of weak faith, but of authentic relationship with God. Rather than turning inward and allowing disappointment to fester into bitterness, the psalmist chooses the path of lament—voicing pain and confusion directly to God.

Psalm 10 also offers a sobering analysis of the reality of evil: predators and oppressors often seem to escape justice, and human institutions, no matter how well-intentioned, are ultimately broken and unable to fully right the wrongs of this world. The temptation is strong to take justice into our own hands, to retaliate or repay evil with evil. Yet, the psalmist models a different way—surrendering the desire for vengeance to God, and boldly asking Him to act on behalf of the afflicted.

This surrender is not passive resignation, but an active trust in God’s justice and His heart for the vulnerable. The psalmist’s prayer for God to “break the arm of the wicked” is a plea for God to break the power of evil, not a call for personal revenge. Ultimately, the hope is not in immediate vindication, but in the assurance that God hears, strengthens, and will one day set all things right.

Jesus Christ embodies this path perfectly. Though He suffered the greatest injustice, He did not retaliate, but entrusted Himself to the Father, praying even for His enemies. Through the cross, Jesus became both the ultimate victim and the ultimate victor, showing us that no suffering is beyond His understanding. By following His example and relying on the Spirit, we can find the strength to forgive, to pray for those who hurt us, and to take refuge in the God of justice, even as we wait for the day when He will make all things new.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

- Lament is a Pathway to God, Not a Sign of Weakness
Bringing our honest questions and disappointments to God, as the psalmist does, is an act of faith. Lament allows us to voice our pain and confusion rather than suppressing it, creating space for God to meet us in our vulnerability. This practice keeps our hearts soft and open to God’s presence, even when He feels distant. [36:41]

- The Reality of Evil and the Limits of Human Justice
Psalm 10 confronts us with the uncomfortable truth that evil often goes unpunished and human systems fail to deliver true justice. Recognizing this reality prevents us from placing ultimate hope in institutions or our own ability to set things right. Instead, it drives us to seek refuge in God, who alone is perfectly just and attentive to the cries of the oppressed. [50:44]

- The Temptation to Retaliate and the Call to Surrender
When wronged, the natural impulse is to take matters into our own hands, seeking revenge or harboring bitterness. The psalmist shows a better way: surrendering the desire for vengeance to God and trusting Him to act. This surrender is not weakness, but a courageous act of faith that frees us from the cycle of harm and allows God’s justice to prevail in His timing. [52:35]

- Jesus, the Ultimate Victim and Victor
Jesus fully entered into the experience of injustice, suffering betrayal, false accusation, and death, yet He did not retaliate. Instead, He entrusted Himself to the Father and prayed for His enemies, transforming victimhood into victory through the cross. His example assures us that He understands our pain and empowers us to respond with forgiveness and trust. [01:01:47]

- Living Out the Way of Jesus by the Spirit
Following Jesus’ example in the face of injustice is only possible through the power of the Holy Spirit. As we are united to Christ, His Spirit enables us to forgive, to pray for those who hurt us, and to find peace in God’s justice. This is the path to true refuge and healing, even as we await the final restoration of all things. [01:05:42]

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1. Consider the dilemma between theory vs. reality and how we often see "the bad guys winning." Consider our society and culture today, which elevates certain values that counter the ways of God. In what areas does it feel like the ungodly are prospering? How do you reconcile this with what Scripture says about God judging evil?

2. The poet asks, "Why, O Lord, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?" (10:1) Have you ever felt this sense of being abandoned by God? How did you respond? In these times, do you find it easy to open up and share with others how you are feeling?

3. Consider a time when you felt (or still feel) “hotly pursued” by the wicked (10:2)? When we are victimized, we are forced to make a choice: take justice into our own hands or surrender to God's rule. What’s the difference between these options and what are some results that can flow from each choice?

4. The sermon mentioned that even the best human systems of justice are broken, just like the human heart. Read Jeremiah 17:9, Galatians 5:16-16, and Romans 7:15-25. The true danger for a victim is you can easily begin "to adopt the heart of the afflicter." How does this idea challenge you to become more aware of how the flesh wants to respond in the face of hurt, pain, anger, etc.? In these moments, how can relying on the Spirit help us NOT retaliate back?

5. Reflect on how Psalm 10 points to Jesus, the ultimate victim who became the victor. What does it mean that Jesus's life, from his betrayal to his crucifixion, demonstrates his total authority over injustice? Knowing that Christ has gone before you and experienced the full extent of being wrongly accused, betrayal, etc., what is one way you find comfort knowing he empathizes with whatever you experience? Read Hebrews 4:15.

6. The final application mentioned taking refuge by living out the example of Jesus. Meditate on 1 Peter 2:21-23. Jesus left us an example to "entrust" ourselves to him who "judges justly." Over the next week, make this application personal. Consider one area that you desire the Spirit to guide and help you live out Christ’s example when you face a real or perceived wrong or injustice. Invite someone to pray for you in this area.