It is proud thought.
“In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God.” (Psalms 10:4)
The Lord knows all our thoughts. He knows that we are thinking evil in our hearts (Mt. 9:4). He knows that we are setting our mind on man’s interests, but not God’s (Mk. 8:33). Also, the Lord knows that our thoughts are a mere breath (Ps. 94:11). In particular, our Lord clearly knows proud in the thoughts of our hearts (Luke 1:51). Then, what is our proud thought?
First, our proud thought is “There is no God.”
Look at Psalms 10:4 – “The wicked, in the haughtiness of his countenance, does not seek Him All his thoughts are, "There is no God.” Of course, we have been justified by believing in Jesus Christ and thus we aren’t the wicked people. Nevertheless, we often think as proud as the wicked, according to our old man's nature. The proud idea is that there is no God. In other words, in all our proud thoughts there is no room for God (v. 4). And we don’t seek God when are proud (v. 4). We don’t even feel the need to seek God. Nevertheless, when our ways prosper at all times (v. 5), our hearts are filled with greed and covetous. And we boast of our heart’s desire and are greedy (v. 3). And we curse and spurn the Lord (v. 3). There is no God in our proud thoughts (v. 4). This is foolishness of our pride. Look at Psalms 14:1a – “The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God. ….” There is no God in the foolish thoughts of the proud.
If we are living with the thought that there is no God, we are proud. If we are greedy and covetous with the thought that there is no God, we are proud. It is a proud thought to think that there is no God. We must get rid of this proud thought. God exists. Our God is a living God. This is a humble thought. We must live with this thought before God.
Second, our proud thought is ‘I will not be moved, and I will never be in trouble under any circumstances.’
Look at Psalms 10: 6 – “He says to himself, ‘I will not be moved; Throughout all generations I will not be in adversity.’” If we work with our proud thought that there is no God and thus without seeking him and that work is successful (vv. 4-5), then we will become more proud. We don’t realize that God's judgment is waiting, and we think of ourselves that ‘our path is always firm (v. 5). In the midst of this pride, we say to ourselves,'I will never be shaken and I will never be in trouble under any circumstances' (v. 6). We think to ourselves that ‘I have no struggles. My body is healthy and strong. I am free from the burdens common to man. I am not plagued by human ills’ (73:4-5). Therefore, pride is our necklace and our greed knows no limits (vv. 6, 7). Without knowing that God's judgment is awaiting, we say to ourselves,'I will never be shaken, and I will never be in trouble under any circumstances,’ thinking that our way will be firm at any time (v. 6). This is proud thought.
If the way we are walking on is always firm, then there is a danger of thinking that we are good. The greater danger of illusion is, ‘I will not be moved’ (v. 6). The reason we are in illusion is because we believe in ourselves that we will never be in trouble under any circumstances. The basis of this false and vain faith is ourselves. How can we find the basis of solidity in ourselves? It is meaningless and meaningless and a very proud thought. We must get rid of this proud thought. Our basis of solidarity is only the Lord. Only the Lord is the rock of our solidity (1 Cor. 10:4). Therefore, we must cast our cares on the Lord. Then he will never allow the righteous to be shaken (Ps. 55:22).
Third, our proud thought is “God has forgotten; He has hidden His face.”
Look at Psalms 10:11 – “He says to himself, "God has forgotten; He has hidden His face; He will never see it.” “In pride the wicked hotly pursue the afflicted” (v. 2). The wicked boasts of his heart’s desire (v. 3). “His mouth is full of curses and deceit and oppression; Under his tongue is mischief and wickedness” (v.7). In the hiding places he kills the innocent and his eyes stealthily watch for the unfortunate (v. 8). And he lurks to catch the afflicted (v. 9). And his victims are crushed and they fall under his strength (v. 10). Then he thinks that ‘God has forgotten and has hidden His face and He will never see it’ (v. 11). This is proud thoughts. It is to think that God isn’t seeing us, thinking of ourselves even though we are committing sins secretly. But the psalmist says, “You have seen it” (v. 14).
It is a proud thought if we think that God is hiding His face and not seeing, even though we are committing sins to God in secret. God sees all the sins we secretly commit. God sees all our steps (Job 34:21). In addition, God monitors our hearts and conscience (Proverbs 16:2, 21:2; Psalm 7:9). Not only that, God weights and tries our motives, minds and our hearts (Prov. 16:2; 21:2; Ps. 7:9). Those who believe in this truth will never have a proud thought before God who sees the heart and mind. Rather, knowing that they are chief sinners before God, they will humbled themselves and confess their sins.
Fourth and last, our proud thought is ‘God won’t call me to account.’
Look at Psalms 10:13 – “Why does the wicked man revile God? Why does he say to himself, ‘He won't call me to account?’” The proud wicked despise God. The proud wicked, who boast of the cravings of his heart and blesses the the greedy and reviles the Lord (v. 3). In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak (v. 2) and even he lies in wait to catch the helpless (v. 9), overthrow them (v. 10) and think that God will not judge them (v. 13). The reason they think so is because God does not punish them immediately (Eccle. 8:11). Therefore, “the hearts of the people are filled with schemes to do wrong” (v. 11).
If we are courageous in committing sin, it is because God does not punish us immediately. Why doesn't God immediately punish us? This is because God wants us to repent and turn back (Rom. 2:4). However, we despise the richness of God's kindness, tolerance, and patience (v. 4). How do we despise God? Even though we are sinning against God in pride, we despise God because we think that God will not punish us. What should we do? We must confess our sins and repent. We must repent of our sins that despise God. We must confess and repent of our sins committed in secret.
It is proud thought to think that “There is no God.” Also, it is proud thought that ‘I will not be moved and I will never be in trouble under any circumstances.’ It is proud thought to say, “God has forgotten; He has hidden His face; He will never see it.” We must abandon all these proud thoughts before the cross. We must repent of all our proud thoughts by relying on the blood of Jesus. And we need to think humbly. We must have the heart of Jesus and think humbly (cf. Phil. 2:5).
Wanting to constantly throw way my proud thoughts and think humbly,
James Kim
(Confessing that God who lives and sees my heart is my strong rock)