“His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.”
The statement that the wicked's ways prosper at all times and God's judgments are lofty beyond him and all his foes he sniffs at establishes the problem of theodicy: the wicked flourishes while the righteous suffers. The phrase ways prosper suggests visible and continued success, making the wicked's position appear secure and the righteous's hope appear naive. The loftiness of God's judgments beyond the wicked's perception suggests that either God doesn't judge or judges in ways invisible to current observers. This verse articulates the acute theological problem that the lament addresses: empirically, wickedness appears victorious and righteousness appears defeated.
Church Fathers on Psalms 10:5
“Why, O Lord,” says he, “have You withdrawn afar off?”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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