A few days after hearing of the violent aftermath of Kenya’s disputed election, my wife and I sat with our children for our nightly devotion. We have been reading through the Psalms.

As our children sat at my feet, I read these words from Psalm 10 in my children’s NIrV Bible:

1 Lord, why are you so far away?
Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
2 An evil person is proud and hunts down those who are weak.
He catches weak people by making clever plans.
3 He brags about what his heart longs for.
He speaks well of those who always want more.
He attacks the Lord with his words.
4 Because he is proud, that evil person doesn't turn to the Lord.
There is no room for God in any of his thoughts.
5 Everything always goes well for him.
So he is proud.
He doesn't want to have anything to do with God's laws.
He makes fun of all of his enemies.
6 He says to himself, "I will always be secure.
I will always be happy. I'll never have any trouble."
7 His mouth is full of curses and lies and warnings.
With his tongue he speaks evil and makes trouble.
8 Sinful people hide and wait near the villages.
From their hiding places they murder those who aren't guilty of doing anything wrong.
They watch in secret for those they want to attack.
9 They hide and wait like a lion in the bushes.
From their hiding places they wait to catch those who are helpless.
They catch them and drag them off in their nets.
10 Those they have attacked are beaten up. They fall to the ground.
They fall because their attackers are too strong for them.
11 Sinful people say to themselves, "God doesn't pay any attention.
He covers his face. He never sees us."
12 Lord, rise up! God, show your power!
Don't forget those who are helpless.
13 Why do sinful people attack you with their words?
Why do they say to themselves,
"He won't hold us accountable"?
14 God, you see trouble and sadness.
You take note of it. You do something about it.
So those who are attacked place themselves in your care.
You help children whose fathers have died.
15 Take away the power of bad and sinful people.
Hold them accountable for the evil things they do.
Uncover all the evil they have done.
16 The Lord is King for ever and ever.
The nations will disappear from his land.
17 Lord, you hear the longings of those who are hurting.
You cheer them up and give them hope.
You listen to their cries.
18 You stand up for those whose fathers have died
and for those who have been beaten down.

I love the honesty in the psalmist's cries for justice.

I find this verse particularly applicable to Kenya:

14 God, you see trouble and sadness.
You take note of it. You do something about it.

AFP/Getty Images (via: latimes.com)

So those who are attacked place themselves in your care.

(via: telegraph.co.uk)

You help children whose fathers have died.

(Photograph: Walter Astrada/AFP/Getty via: guardian.co.uk)

You do it so that no one made of dust
may terrify others anymore.

I read today that 7,000 Kenyans are now living in refugee camps in Uganda. Hundreds have been killed.

Please Lord.