The lies we believe

In Psalm 10 the psalmist registers his complaint: Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? Then as he lays out his complaint and petition he provides for us insight into the heart of the wicked. He lays out the common lies men believe as they pursue their own course. The first lie, found in verse 4, is "There is no God." A lack of belief in God is always at the heart of evil behavior. But why do the wicked not believe in God? Is it because they have sought to find Him - sought to find evidence that would support His existence? No, not at all. They don't believe, not for intellectual reasons, but for moral reasons, for to believe in God would make them accountable for their actions. They could no longer oppress the poor and pursue their greedy course. It's not that belief in God is unreasonable, but rather it makes a man accountable for his behavior. The second lie, common to man, is found in verse 6. The wicked man says in his heart, "I shall not be moved; throughout all generations I shall not meet adversity." It is amazing how blinding these lies can be. How many times have we seen a man, seemingly on top of the world with wealth and fame, come crashing down because he thought he was above the law; because he thought from his perch he could never be taken down. It is a fact that when we climb the world's ladder of success, we often find ourselves thinking that we are impervious to life's vicissitudes. That leads us to more foolishness, which in time takes its toil on the dreamland in which we were living. The third lie, found in verse 11, may be seen as a concession, but is still a deluding principle. The lie is "God has forgotten, He has hidden his face, He will never see it." This lie appears to be saying that there is a God, but.....this God does not see. As the wicked man goes about his evil schemes, taking advantage of others, building his empire at the expense of others, his heart may be singed with guilt. But to assuage the guilt the wicked man tells himself that even if there is a God, he does not see, so there are no worries. And when he is not immediately punished for his behavior he feels confirmed in his belief. That leads to the final lie found in verse 13. The wicked man says in his heart, "You will not call to account!" This time it seems that the men concedes that there is a God, AND He may even see what's going on. But he continues to live in his dreamland by telling himself that God will not judge. God may sure enough see,.....but there will be no calling to account. Of course, this is what the wicked man seeks to avoid at all costs, and is the reason he walks himself down this path of lies. It is heartening that at the end of the psalm, the psalmist sets the record straight - He proclaims the truth to which all men must give account. He says in verse 17-18, "O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that a man who is of the earth may strike terror no more." The psalmist affirms that God is a God of justice. He hears the cries of those who are oppressed. His heart goes out to the afflicted, and in His perfect time He will call all to account. The wicked man who may have brought terror to the earth will one day be silenced and given his due, while the afflicted will find strength and deliverance. A day of reversals is coming! Be assured of that. So live every day in light of the truth, and ask the Lord to keep you from these insidious lies. Take a moment even now and ask the Lord if there is any area of your life where you have espoused these lies. If God reveals anything to you, repent, and be freed from them, and seek all the more to live in the truth.