Why, YHVH, do you stand at a distance? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? The wicked in their arrogance hunt down the poor, who get caught in the schemes they think up.
For the wicked boasts about his lusts; he blesses greed and despises YHVH. Every scheme of the wicked in his arrogance [says], “There is no God, [so] it won’t be held against me.” His ways prosper at all times. Your judgments are way up there, so he takes no notice. His adversaries? He scoffs at them all. In his heart he thinks, “I will never be shaken; I won’t meet trouble, not now or ever.” His mouth is full of curses, deceit, oppression; under his tongue, mischief and injustice. He waits near settlements in ambush and kills an innocent man in secret; his eyes are on the hunt for the helpless. Lurking unseen like a lion in his lair, he lies in wait to pounce on the poor, then seizes the poor and drags him off in his net. Yes, he stoops, crouches down low; and the helpless wretch falls into his clutches. He says in his heart, “God forgets, he hides his face, he will never see.”
Arise, YHVH! God, raise your hand! Don’t forget the humble! Why does the wicked despise God and say in his heart, “It won’t be held against me”? You have seen; for you look at mischief and grief, so that you can take the matter in hand. The helpless commits himself to you; you help the fatherless. Break the arm of the wicked! As for the evil man, search out his wickedness until there is none left.
YHVH is king forever and ever! The nations have vanished from his land. YHVH, you have heard what the humble want; you encourage them and listen to them, to give justice to the fatherless and oppressed, so that no one on earth will strike terror again.
Who are the poor? And why would the wicked hunt them down?
If they are poor, then it isn’t as if they can take money or resources from them. Why bother with a people group that has no utility?
Let’s see if we can better understand this word “poor”:
H6041 עָנִי `aniy (aw-nee') adj.
We’re familiar with the connection between “poor” and one’s circumstances. Having a lack of money and resources is far too common of an issue to be ignored but, again, why would anyone want to go after people with nothing?
The poor, Biblically speaking, are not the poor as we understand them today. We usually consider the homeless panhandler as being poor. But they aren’t poor, they are needy:
H34 אֶבְיוֹן 'ebyown (eɓ-yone') adj.
The needy is someone in need of healing, not resources. The poor, however, want a different and better outcome in life but they can’t seem to break free of the tether holding them back. These are those whose eyes are down. These are those that are trying.
So what is it you can take from those that are trying?
Hope.
And once hope has been taken, you can then exercise complete dominion over a group of people. Meaning, a general populace can be controlled and those in power can keep their power. History shows us that a group of oppressed people that have hope can stand up to an oppressor in unity and power. Interestingly, it only takes one person to ignite the brush. One single human being. And once they take their place of authority, the earth quakes. The oppressors are then removed from their perch, subsequently freeing the oppressed.
But if there is no hope, people decay even further. An entire culture simply gives up. They realize there is absolutely nothing they can do to change things so they surrender to the oppression and allow it to wound deeply. Now they become the needy. All because not one person had hope.
Stealing hope from people ensures you can control them. And there is nothing wrong with a dictatorship if you are the dictator, right?
Why doesn’t Abba stop these wicked people? David asks this same question: Why, YHVH, do you stand at a distance?
Is He uncaring? Is He simply letting you mature? Is He trying to build character?
Let’s look at this from another perspective. Imagine your son or daughter was being abused by an oppressor. Would you not care? Would you let them stay in that state so they can “grow up”? Would you sit back and watch, knowing it was going to “build character”?
I believe any decent parent would cry out with a resounding, “NO!!” You would seek to intervene and rescue your child from the clutches of the wicked. We want life for our children, not death.
Matthew 7:9 “Is there anyone here who, if his son asks him for a loaf of bread, will give him a stone? 10 or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 So if you, even though you are bad, know how to give your children gifts that are good, how much more will your Father in heaven keep giving good things to those who keep asking him!”
You know how to intervene so how much more could Abba. So why doesn’t He?
I don’t think this is an issue of Him not wanting to intervene. I believe His heart is geared towards justice and protecting the oppressed. If that is His heart, then why no movement?
This ultimately presents us with a very difficult question: Is God in control?
If God is in control, why let the wicked take advantage of those that are struggling with hope. Is it to test them to see if they are worthy? Why let their schemes go forth? If He’s trying to teach patience to the oppressed, why can’t He equally teach humility to the proud? How can people go a lifetime abusing others with no recourse whatsoever?
Well, what if God isn’t in control?
“Blasphemy!”, you say. I know, I know, but bear with me for just a moment.
We see that in the beginning, Abba gave complete dominion to Adam and Eve.
Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make humankind in our image, in the likeness of ourselves; and let them rule over the fish in the sea, the birds in the air, the animals, and over all the earth, and over every crawling creature that crawls on the earth.”
Fast-forward a few thousand years and we hear something completely different:
2 Corinthians 4:2 Indeed, we refuse to make use of shameful underhanded methods, employing deception or distorting God’s message. On the contrary, by making very clear what the truth is, we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 So if indeed our Good News is veiled, it is veiled only to those in the process of being lost. 4 They do not come to trust because the god of the world (‘olam hazeh) has blinded their minds, in order to prevent them from seeing the light shining from the Good News about the glory of the Messiah, who is the image of God.
We went from man being the ruler to Satan being the ruler. How did that happen? (Of course, you already know 😉)
At the dawn of creation, humanity was entrusted with a divine assignment: to steward the earth and represent God’s rule. However, through a moment of deception and disobedience, this authority was forfeited, plunging the world into the rule of a counterfeit king. But the story doesn't end there. Yeshua, the Second Adam, came to reclaim what was lost.
In Genesis 1:26-28, God created humans in His image and gave them dominion over all the earth. They were intended to be God’s representatives, governing creation according to His will.
Genesis 1:26 "Then God said, 'Let us make mankind in our image... and let them rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky... over all the earth.'"
Adam and Eve had spiritual authority as image-bearers and earthly governors. They were ambassadors of the Kingdom.
In Genesis 3, Satan, in the form of a serpent, deceived Eve. Adam and Eve ate from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, directly disobeying God’s command. In doing so, they chose to submit to the voice of Satan over the word of God.
This act was not just sin; it was a transfer of loyalty, effectively handing over their God-given authority to Satan.
Romans 6:16 "Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey?"
As a result, Satan is called:
John 12:31 “the ruler of this world”
2 Corinthians 4:4 “the god of this age”
Ephesians 2:2 “the prince of the power of the air”
He operates within the systems of this fallen world, deceiving and accusing, but only with the authority mankind surrendered.
Yeshua enters the world as the perfect image of God and the faithful Son. He resists Satan’s temptations (Matthew 4, Luke 4) and lives in total obedience to the Father.
Unlike Adam, Yeshua does not fall. Instead, He defeats Satan through His obedience, sacrificial death, and resurrection.
1 John 3:8 "The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the devil’s work."
Colossians 2:15 "Having disarmed the powers and authorities, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross."
After rising from the dead, Yeshua announces:
Matthew 28:18 "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me."
He then commissions His followers to go and make disciples — not as defeated victims, but as agents of His restored kingdom authority. Yep, ambassadors.
Luke 10:19 "I have given you authority... to overcome all the power of the enemy."
What was lost in Eden has been restored through the cross. Yeshua, the true King, now rules — and invites us to walk in His victory and advance His Kingdom on earth.
From dominion to defeat and back again — this is the story of redemption.
Creation
Humanity given authority
Genesis 1:26–28
The Fall
Authority forfeited to Satan
Genesis 3
Satan’s Rule
Becomes ruler of the world
John 12:31; 2 Cor. 4:4
Yeshua’s Mission
Yeshua overcomes Satan and sin
Luke 4; Col. 2:15
Restoration
Yeshua reclaims and delegates authority
Matthew 28:18–20
So is God in control? Sort of.
Of course, God is sovereign. He owns it all. It’s like the owner of a house that rents it to someone else. Sure, he owns it but the tenant has all legal rights of ownership. The landlord cannot simply walk in and rummage through your desk drawers. The authority of that home belongs to the tenant, not the landlord. So it is with the earth. It belongs to Abba, but He set us as tenants with full dominion.
Until…
Rulership of this world has changed hands a few times but it was taken for good when Yeshua defeated death and darkness nearly 2000 years ago. Permanent atonement for the sin of surrender way back in the Garden made it so.
The amazing thing is that we have been invited to be ambassadors of the Kingdom and utilize His authority here on earth. Thanks to Adam and Eve, it has become clear that man is a bit flakey when it comes to possessing authority in full. So He’s going to hold onto it but as long as we come to Him in His character (meaning we want to do what He wants done), He will grant us the authority to call it forth.
John 14:8 Philip said to him, “YHVH, show us the Father, and it will be enough for us.” 9 Yeshua replied to him, “Have I been with you so long without your knowing me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father; so how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am united with the Father, and the Father united with me? What I am telling you, I am not saying on my own initiative; the Father living in me is doing his own works. 11 Trust me, that I am united with the Father, and the Father united with me. But if you can’t, then trust because of the works themselves. 12 Yes, indeed! I tell you that whoever trusts in me will also do the works I do! Indeed, he will do greater ones, because I am going to the Father. 13 In fact, whatever you ask for in my name, I will do; so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me for something in my name, I will do it.”
Two things: Yeshua only does what His Father does, and we are to do what Yeshua does -- which is what the Father does.
Now let’s think back.
Was Abba just watching or was He waiting for man to take his place of authority?
Is it possible for man to change the course of history in the heavenlies? More than that, can man change God’s mind?
Yes.
The Bible offers several examples where God is portrayed as changing His mind or relenting from judgment, often in response to human intercession or repentance.
The Hebrew word often translated “changed His mind” or “relented” is נִחָם (nicham) — which can also mean to be grieved, moved with compassion, or to reconsider.
Here are a few times it actually happened:
After Israel builds a golden calf, God tells Moses He will destroy them and start over. Moses intercedes, reminding God of His promises.
Result: God relents.
Exodus 32:14 “Then the YHVH relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.”
Jonah preaches judgment to Nineveh: “40 days and you’re done.” The people repent in sackcloth and fasting.
Result: God relents from destroying them.
Jonah 3:10 “When God saw... how they turned from their evil ways, He relented and did not bring on them the destruction.”
God says He regrets making Saul king due to his disobedience. This passage is complex, as it also affirms that God doesn’t change His eternal purposes — but shows emotional grief.
1 Samuel 15:11 “I regret that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me...”
Amos sees visions of destruction (locusts and fire). He pleads with God, saying, “Jacob is so small. How can he survive?”
Result: God relents both times.
Amos 7:3,6 “So the YHVH relented. ‘This will not happen,’ said the YHVH.”
I know what you may be thinking:
“Yeah, but these were Biblical giants. He’s not interested in little ol’ me.”
But we have evidence in Ezekiel that He’s seeking anyone that will stand in alignment with His heart.
The Book of Ezekiel shows us that (even in the “Old Testament” times) Abba sought someone, anyone, to stand up and take authority:
Ezekiel 22:30 “‘I sought for a man among them who could build a barricade or stand in the break to oppose me on behalf of the land, so that I would not destroy it; but I found no one. 31 Therefore I am pouring out my fury on them, consuming them with the fire of my rage, bringing their own ways on their own heads,’ says Adonai Elohim.”
As Jerusalem was full of injustice and corruption, God sought an intercessor -- someone to act as a spiritual barrier (“in the gap”) between divine judgment and human sin.
Sadly, He finds no one, and judgment follows.
Here, Abraham negotiates with God to spare Sodom if even 10 righteous are found. God agrees — but not enough righteous people are found.
A plague begins due to Israel’s rebellion. Aaron runs with incense and stands between the living and the dead — the plague stops.
“Go up and down the streets of Jerusalem... If you can find but one person who deals honestly and seeks the truth, I will forgive this city.”
So what does this all mean and what role do we play?
Here’s how it goes:
Uh, wait, we are guilty? Well, if you are a priest as Peter and the book of Hebrews described, then yes. “How is that possible”, you may ask?
A strong verse that addresses judgment coming because of the failure or corruption of priests is found in the book of Malachi:
Malachi 2:7-9 “A cohen’s lips should safeguard knowledge, and people should seek Torah from his mouth, because he is the messenger of Adonai-Tzva’ot. But you turned away from the path, you caused many to fail in the Torah. You have corrupted the covenant of Levi,” says Adonai-Tzva’ot. “Therefore I have in turn made you contemptible and vile before all the people, because you did not keep my ways but were partial in applying the Torah.”
The priests (cohanim) were supposed to teach truth and uphold God's covenant. Because they failed and led others astray, God brings judgment and disgrace upon them. Their failure to faithfully handle the Torah brings consequences for the whole community.
Need a few more examples?
Hosea 4:6 “My people are destroyed for want of knowledge. Because you rejected knowledge, I will also reject you as cohen for me. Because you forgot the Torah of your God, I will also forget your children.”
Context: God rebukes the priests for abandoning their role as teachers of truth. Their neglect leads to national destruction.
Lamentations 4:13 “This came about because of the sins of her prophets and the offenses of her cohanim, who, within her walls, shed the blood of the righteous.”
Context: Jerusalem’s destruction is directly tied to the guilt of its spiritual leaders — prophets and priests alike.
Ezekiel 22:26 “Her cohanim have done violence to my Torah and have profaned my holy things. They have not distinguished between the holy and the common, nor have they informed others of the difference between unclean and clean; they have hidden their eyes from my Shabbats, and I am profaned among them.”
Context: The priests’ failure to uphold holiness contributes to the broader collapse of righteousness in the land.
Jeremiah 5:30–31 “An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land: the prophets prophesy lies, the cohanim obey them, and my people love it that way. But what will you do at the end of it all?”
Context: Priests and prophets become corrupt, and the people follow — bringing judgment upon everyone.
(It’s also worth noting that Ezekial 22 and Jerimiah 5 both contain the call for someone to intercede)
So, no, God isn’t just standing by. He’s calling out to us to stand up for those that are downtrodden and whose eyes are low.
He’s looking for us.