O Lord, you will hear the desire of the meek; you will strengthen their heart, you will incline your ear to do justice for the orphan and the oppressed, so that those from earth may strike terror no more. (Psalm 10: 17-18)

In most of the psalms assigned for today the wicked are close and God seems far away. "Why do you stand far off, O Lord," is the first line of the tenth psalm.

But the psalmist promises that the voice of the weak will be heard. He offers assurances that the wicked will no longer bring oppression and terror.

Those who are oppressed are strengthened - kuwn - in their heart or leb. The phrase could also be translated as, "you will prepare their courage, character, and mind." The implication is that this strengthening will give the weak the wherewithal to overcome oppression.

Most translators footnote the final phrase of the tenth psalm, the meaning of the Hebrew is especially ambiguous. The man from earth, or earthen man, or the man of no particular place, or those of earth and not of heaven oppress and terrorize.

God intervenes to transform those who have been crushed. God gives them strength to overcome the wicked. God restores those who have been displaced to their inheritance as children of heaven.

Above is Fire by Ryan Williams, age 8. This is from a series of artworks by people with epilepsy called Expressions of Courage.