The Economy of Mercy

By Alessandra Velsor

“Why, Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak, who are caught in the schemes he devises. He boasts about the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the Lord. In his pride the wicked man does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God. His ways are always prosperous; your laws are rejected by him; he sneers at all his enemies. He says to himself, ‘Nothing will ever shake me.’ He swears, ‘No one will ever do me harm.’ His mouth is full of lies and threats; trouble and evil are under his tongue. He lies in wait near the villages; from ambush he murders the innocent. His eyes watch in secret for his victims; like a lion in cover he lies in wait. He lies in wait to catch the helpless; he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net. His victims are crushed, they collapse; they fall under his strength. He says to himself, ‘God will never notice; he covers his face and never sees.’ Arise, Lord! Lift up your hand, O God. Do not forget the helpless. Why does the wicked man revile God? Why does he say to himself, ‘He won’t call me to account’? But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand. The victims commit themselves to you; you are the helper of the fatherless. Break the arm of the wicked man; call the evildoer to account for his wickedness that would not otherwise be found out. The Lord is King for ever and ever; the nations will perish from his land. You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, so that mere earthly mortals will never again strike terror.”—Psalm 10 (NIV)

We’ve all gone through times of trouble when we’ve felt distant from God. It’s part of our human nature to ask where He is when we notice His distance or absence. And if it makes you feel a little better, it’s a universal experience for all of us.

Because this Psalm has no title, it’s been suggested it originally was part of Psalm 9 as they share common themes. Also, the rare expression in Hebrew בַּצָּרָֽה׃ לְעִתּ֥וֹת “times of trouble” is also used in Psalm 9:9 and Psalm 10:1. This particular concept refers to “cutting off hope of deliverance.”

We’ve all seen times when the bad guys win and the good guys stand there defeated. Not only do we wonder where God is but, like today’s passage, it’s easy to question why He allows evil to happen in this messy world.

What if we’re looking at this the wrong way? Our focus has been on winning versus losing, but what if I told you that life isn’t the game you’re making it out to be? Did you know God’s inactivity in our lives doesn’t necessarily mean He’s absent or distant like we may think? Sometimes our timeline of when we want to see justice simply doesn’t match His. In the midst of our despair, it’s natural to desire—and even rebelliously seek—justice against those who severely hurt us and don’t have the fear of the Lord in them.

In times of trouble, we may feel spiritually and emotionally injured. Let’s think of it in terms of a physical injury. If there’s an accident and paramedics show up, the first step is to assess the injury and treat it accordingly. If we’re bleeding, they’ll do everything in their power to stop the bleeding and then give us a pain reliever. At this point, their goal is to provide comfort, not to give a diagnosis of our overall health. Could it be that God wants to provide us with comfort first?

In Psalm 34:18 (NIV), we’re reminded, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” Every time we start doubting God’s Goodness, we must pull back and remind ourselves of His Character and the many Promises He’s given us.

In this untitled Psalm accredited to be written by David, we don’t really know why he was inspired to write this in the first place, but we do know of the persecution David suffered at the hands of King Saul who tried to kill him multiple times in fear of losing his crown. How could this be? Didn’t God anoint David to be the next king of Israel? Why would Saul try to stop the inevitable?

Although we serve a Just and Fair God, we also must remember how the economy of mercy works towards all of Creation—including the Sauls of our lives! This is why it may seem His response or reaction to injustice takes a long time to take place because of His ultimate hope to see Redemption and Restoration in the sinner’s life. God has all the Power to smite within seconds those who loudly and proudly reject Him, but our Patient God desires a relationship, even with the mockers. After all, the currency of mercy was extremely costly and our Salvation required the Death of the Most Perfect Lamb: Jesus, our Savior!

God’s mercy reigns, so His judgment waits.—Paul Tripp

Pause: How has God responded to you in your times of trouble? How has He shown patience and mercy towards you?

Practice: Pray for the person who has maliciously hurt you (or someone you love). Pray for their eyes to be uncovered and for them to encounter Jesus.

Pray: Father God, thank You for Your Everlasting Presence in my life. Even when it doesn’t feel like You’re near, You always remind me of who You are and the Promises You’ve made. You’re never far from me God, but give me patience to wait for Your Justice to be done in my life. I trust Your Timing, but most importantly, I trust YOU. Amen!