“Why?” is the question of lament. In Hebrew, the word is lama, and it’s where the word lament finds its beginnings. It’s not typically used to question cause or reason (e.g. “What caused us to be in this situation?”). Instead, it’s a word that interrogates purpose and meaning. Cause works from the past to the present. Purpose works from the present to the future. Asking why in lament calls the future into question. Its interest lies in a fundamental question: Is life worth pursuing?

Psalm 10 questions God on his purposes for allowing the wicked to prevail and prosper in the world. It catalogues the character of evil and laments God’s apparent distance. Wicked men exploit the weak, act deceptively, openly love what is abhorrent to God, deny God’s word, mock God’s judgement, and defy God’s authority. They are boastful and proud and have no reverence for God or his people.

How can God tolerate that? What reason does he have for not intervening? For his glory’s sake? For his people’s sake?

The psalm doesn’t provide an answer. Instead, it offers a perspective. Despite the apparent prosperity of the wicked in the world, the Lord’s sovereignty stands over all. He is King forever and ever. His authority, and so the goodness of his kingdom, transcends the boundaries of time.

This perspective should temper any temptation to side with evil in pursuit of power and prosperity in this world. It also helps us persevere the temporal sufferings of this world, knowing eternal riches belong to those who entrust themselves to God. He doesn’t promise a glamorous life in a sinful world, but he does promise a glorious one in his eternal kingdom. He has secured that for us in Christ. And it is very much worth living for.