Psalm 10 follows the pattern, common in the psalms, of complaint, supplication and praise. These elements, taken together, teach us a lot about prayer. The complaint assumes the covenant context. It assumes that God has bound himself to his people and made certain promises pertaining to his divine role in their lives. Complaining is different to ‘grumbling’. Grumbling is what we do when we walk away from God. Complaint is what we do as we boldly push a claim with God that is based on his self-revelation. The complaints of the psalms are occasioned by situations in which God’s faithfulness or justice remain unfulfilled. The complaint is an important expression of faith. The psalmist recognises the disparity between his situation and the promise of God and prays into the breach. The bigger the breach, the more passionate the prayer. Complaint then forms the context for supplication. The praise that comes at the end of the psalm is the fruit of faith having been exercised. With the activation of his faith in the complaint and the supplication comes the assurance of God’s answer. How and when God will answer is not presumed here, but that he will answer, is taken as given. Is there a breach into which you can pray? Is there a situation in your life in which God seems absent? Do you see a breach anywhere between what is and what God wants? Pray into that breach. Let these situations awaken your faith. Complain, supplicate and then praise your God who is always faithful.
Where do you most want to see God work? Pray into that situation.
Read Psalm 10
