“Break thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man: seek out his wickedness till thou find none.”
The petition to break the arm of the wicked and the evildoer appeals to God to destroy the wicked's capacity to harm and to bring the evildoer's wickedness to light. The breaking of arm suggests disabling violence and the destruction of the wicked's power, making the petition graphically violent. The appeal to bring wickedness to light suggests that exposure and revelation constitute part of divine judgment. This verse expresses the psalmist's desire for God to act decisively against the wicked through both punishment and revelation.
Church Fathers on Psalms 10:15
“Why, O Lord,” says he, “have You withdrawn afar off?” Psalm 9:1. Then he who thus inquired, as if all on a sudden he understood, or as if he asked, though he knew, that he might teach, adds, “You despise in due seasons, in tribulations:” that is, You despise seasonably, and causest tribulations to inflame men's minds with longing for Your coming. For that fountain of life is sweeter to them that have much thirst. Therefore he hints the reason of the delay, saying, “Whilst…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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