We’ve all had moments when we look at the world—corruption spreading, arrogance rewarded, the vulnerable crushed—and we ask the ancient question: Where is God? Psalms 10–15 speak directly into that tension. They pull us into the raw emotion of feeling abandoned while guiding us toward a deeper confidence in God’s justice, compassion, and kingship.
These psalms don’t offer shallow comfort. Instead, they challenge our assumptions, expose human pride, and call us into a life of integrity in a world gone upside down.
When Wickedness Seems to Win
Psalm 10 opens with the haunting fear that God is distant while the wicked enjoy success. We’ve all seen it—people driven by arrogance, vanity, and self-worship crushing others to get ahead. As Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz notes, “Though it may seem like the wicked succeed, God knows what He is doing… At the end of the day, justice will prevail” (The Israel Bible, Nov. 13, 2022).
Pride blinds the wicked to the divine presence. Andrew Irwin describes it well: “The arrogance live not just as if there is no God, but as if they themselves are god!” (ATR IRWIN, Nov. 19, 2023).
But Scripture insists: God sees. God remembers. God judges.
Hidden But Not Absent
Even when God feels far away, the psalmist pulls us back to truth: “The LORD is King forever and ever” (Psalm 10:16). Yair Rahat explains that this is the rabbinic hope—that even when the world looks chaotic, divine kingship still endures (Torat Har Etzion, May 5, 2025).
That’s good news for anyone who has ever looked at the headlines and wondered if evil has the final word.
The Test of Faith in Confusing Times
Psalm 11 digs deeper, describing a world where foundations are crumbling and the righteous feel hunted. John Calvin writes, “There are few who retain… the firm persuasion” that God reigns when life becomes chaotic (Commentary on Psalms, p. 179).
Sound familiar?
Our society often calls evil good and good evil, replacing moral clarity with moral confusion. The only hope is faith—the kind Habakkuk speaks of when he writes, “The righteous will live by his faith” (Habakkuk 2:4).
The Corruption of Speech and the Power of God’s Word
Psalm 12 turns its attention to language itself. Lies, flattery, manipulation, and deceit dominate public life. Calvin warns that arrogant speech is “as if they openly declared war against God” (Commentary on Psalms, p. 188).
But the chapter doesn’t end in despair. God’s Word is pure, protective, and powerful. Rabbi Avi Baumol reminds us that only God’s Torah can counteract the destructive power of deceit: “God… will defend, lead, and protect the rights of the downtrodden forever” (The Israel Bible, Nov. 16, 2022).
When God Feels Silent
Psalm 13 captures a feeling that every believer eventually experiences: “How long, O LORD?”
Yet even here, faith rises. The Israel Bible notes that throughout centuries of suffering, the Jewish people have endured because they hold “an unwavering belief in the Lord and His salvation.”
Evil forces—whether human or spiritual—may seem dominant for a season, but their power is temporary. Calvin describes Israel as God’s precious heritage “which the wild beasts devour” (Commentary, p. 202), but never beyond God’s reach.
A Life Worthy of God’s Presence
Psalm 15 shifts from lament to invitation. If God is present and attentive, how then should we live?
The psalm describes a life of integrity—“walking blamelessly,” speaking truth, rejecting slander, protecting the innocent, and refusing bribes. God’s people are called to reflect His character in a world clouded by deceit and injustice.
So—Where Is God?
These psalms don’t give a neat, one-sentence answer. Instead, they take us on a journey:
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When God feels distant—He still sees.
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When wickedness thrives—His justice is still unfolding.
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When lies spread—His Word remains pure.
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When the righteous suffer—His salvation is near.
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When society crumbles—His throne remains unshaken.
God is not absent. He is near the brokenhearted, defending the oppressed, testing hearts, and calling His people to walk in integrity as His hidden light shines through the darkness
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