What is the meaning of Psalm 10:3? For the wicked man - Scripture never gives the slightest approval to wickedness. Here the psalmist is describing the kind of person who has chosen a path opposed to God, much like in Psalm 1:4, “The wicked are like chaff that the wind drives away.” - Wickedness is not merely an occasional mistake but a deliberate posture. Proverbs 4:16 underscores this when it says the wicked “cannot sleep unless they have done wrong.” - This opening phrase alerts us that everything that follows flows from a heart already set against righteousness. boasts - The wicked man is loud about his rebellion. Jeremiah 9:23 warns, “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom,” yet here the wicked person glories in evil. - Boasting reveals misplaced confidence. Instead of glorying in God as Psalm 34:2 teaches, he celebrates himself. - Such bragging magnifies sin, encouraging others to view arrogance as strength (cf. Romans 1:32, where sinners “approve of those who practice” evil). in the cravings of his heart - Cravings are inward desires that pull a person away from God (James 1:14–15). - Rather than submitting desires to God’s will (Psalm 37:4), the wicked exalts them. - Isaiah 57:10 shows the danger: “You were wearied by the length of your road, yet you did not say, ‘There is no hope.’” Sinful desire is insatiable; boasting in it deepens bondage. he blesses the greedy - To “bless” here means to applaud or congratulate. The wicked calls greed good, reversing God’s values (Isaiah 5:20). - Greed is idolatry (Colossians 3:5). By praising it, he encourages others to worship wealth instead of God (1 Timothy 6:10). - This societal approval of covetousness mirrors Psalm 49:18, “Though in his lifetime he congratulates himself—and men praise you when you prosper.” and reviles the LORD - The climax: open contempt for God. Mocking the Lord is the inevitable outcome when evil is celebrated (Proverbs 14:31). - Reviling God places the person under His righteous judgment (Galatians 6:7). - Such disdain contrasts sharply with the righteous who “bless the LORD at all times” (Psalm 34:1). One blesses greed; the other blesses God. summary Psalm 10:3 paints a sobering portrait: a person already settled in wickedness flaunts sinful desires, cheers on greed, and ends up scorning the Lord Himself. This progression warns that unchecked cravings and misplaced applause inevitably lead to outright hostility toward God. The verse calls believers to the opposite path—humble hearts, godly desires, and continual praise of the LORD. |
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