Lift up your hand, O God

Psalm 10: 12-13

Arise, Lord! Lift up your hand, O God.
    Do not forget the helpless.

Why does the wicked man revile God?
    Why does he say to himself,
    “He won’t call me to account”?

In the wake of horrific tragedies like this week’s shooting in Las Vegas, we might feel as though God has abandoned us. The Psalmist felt this way too, as we can see in Psalm 10 (read the entire thing here).

Both here and in Genesis 15, we see God listening to people who question his goodness and covenant. In fact, God visibly responds to Abram. Most of us don’t get this luxury, however. For instance, the Psalmist doesn’t hear a verbal response the way that Abram does, but the verses immediately today’s reading suggest that the Psalmist is somehow reassured.

This reassurance usually doesn’t come in the form of an elaborate covenant ceremony. Think back to ways you have felt God’s presence in the past. Most likely, that’s how he will speak to you again. How might you remind yourself to listen for him in that way?