A meditation on forgiveness inspired by Psalm 10.

Why are you so distant, Lord?

Why do you leave me alone in my trouble?

Your adversary, the devil, hunts your people.

He snares his victims with clever schemes

and boasts his success against the Lord.

He tempts the greedy with promises of prosperity,

the lonely with assurances of popularity,

the faithless with worship of themselves.

In the dark soil of human pride

he sows seeds of discontent

and raises crops of hatred and violence.

Neighbor turns against neighbor;

relationships splinter and break apart.

The people repeat the wicked one’s lies until they believe them.

They follow the easy path of sin

and overlook God’s laws for rules of their own.

They cast jealous eyes on each other

and step on a neighbor’s neck to get ahead.

They say to themselves, “I have no need of God.

Nothing can shake me. I am my own stronghold.”

Arise, Lord, and take these wicked people in hand!

Rescue me, for I am desperate.

Why do you hide from me?

Your Spirit whispers to me,

I do see your trouble, child.

I understand how you came to suffer.

I also saw you when you turned away, like the others,

to follow the easy path.

I heard you say, “God will never notice my small sin.”

I know the fears that press on you

and the lies you have taken into your heart.

Come close to me now, child, and let me help you.

Your compassion melts my anger, Lord.

Your truth pierces my heart:

It is not your face that has hidden itself

but my eyes that have looked away—

greedy for the sight of my own pleasure,

blind to the damage I inflict on others.

I am the flame of my own torment.

O Lord, take this fatherless child

and be my Father, my King, my Redeemer.

Secure me in the righteousness of Christ.

Cast these lies from my heart;

scatter the dark fears that shadow my footsteps

that I may walk with new courage

in the assurance of your abiding love.