Psalm 9 & 10 are actually one Psalm which has been split in two for liturgical reasons. They are a prayer to God which begins in thanksgiving and praise to God for deliverance and salvation. It then changes to a prayer that evil is not left unpunished, and finally ends with an expression of confidence in the Lord that he hears the cry of the afflicted, and he encourages, defends and sees that justice is meted out.
This morning's verse talks about the fact that God sees. He observes trouble and grief. This is a quality of God that caused him to be named, 'El Roi' – "The God who sees me". In Genesis 16, we see Hagar who has fled from the cruel treatment of Sarai, and who is out in the desert, pregnant and alone. An angel meets her there and promises her that God has not forgotten her or her child, and that he will bless her, that her child will be the start of a great nation, and that he will take care of them both. In response to this Hagar gives the LORD the name of El Roi.
El Roi is the God who sees what happens in our world. In terms of the bigger picture, God sees the injustice in our world. He sees the corruption that happens behind closed doors. He sees the horrors of slavery. He sees the brutality of war. And while we are tempted to despair – we can be reminded by the second part of the verse that he 'takes it in hand'. Evil will not flourish forever. We can be assured that in the final reckoning justice will prevail. Those who appear to 'get away with murder' will meet face to face with a God who hates oppression and cruelty.
So also when it comes to us and our personal walk with God – we can be assured that God is seeing what is happening. So often when we are struggling with something – whether it is people who hurt us, systems that are flawed and callous, illness that destroys our health or the health of a loved one, grief or fear about the future- we feel alone. We feel as though no one knows or understands our hearts.
God is not far off. He observes trouble and grief. He sees and he is there. He knows and he understands better than you do.
May you be reassured this morning that we serve El Roi, the God who sees us. May you rest in the knowledge that justice will be done in our world. May you know that he sees you personally, and trust that he will meet you in whatever desert you find yourself in as he did for Hagar.
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