God Helps The Fatherless
Why, LORD, do you stand afar off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak, who are caught in the schemes he devises . . .
Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God.
Do not forget the helpless.
Why does the wicked man revile God?
Why does he say to himself, "He won't call me to account"?
But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand.
The victims commit themselves to you; you are the helper of the fatherless. . . .
You, LORD, hear the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, so that mere earthly mortals will never again strike (Psalm 10).
In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak, who are caught in the schemes he devises . . .
Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God.
Do not forget the helpless.
Why does the wicked man revile God?
Why does he say to himself, "He won't call me to account"?
But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it in hand.
The victims commit themselves to you; you are the helper of the fatherless. . . .
You, LORD, hear the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, so that mere earthly mortals will never again strike (Psalm 10).
In light of all the greed, wickedness and injustice we see around us, we often wonder, "where is God?" Why doesn't God do something drastic about the situation? Why do the wicked arrogantly defy God and seem to get away with it?
Too often, we ponder and wonder and simply leave it at that.
But the Psalmist doesn't just ponder and wonder here. He goes a step further.
The Psalmist uses one of the most potent weapons available. He prays and calls upon God to intervene on behalf of the defenseless!
He cries out; "Arise, LORD, lift up your hand . . . the victims commit themselves to you; you are the father of the helpless . . . "
There is a lesson here: We should not ignore the plight of the helpless! We should petition God and passionately intercede on their behalf. The Bible tells us that God blesses those who take up the cause of the destitute. Would you call on the Defender of the fatherless to battle for the afflicted? Remember: "The prayers of the righteous are powerful and effective."
Too often, we ponder and wonder and simply leave it at that.
But the Psalmist doesn't just ponder and wonder here. He goes a step further.
The Psalmist uses one of the most potent weapons available. He prays and calls upon God to intervene on behalf of the defenseless!
He cries out; "Arise, LORD, lift up your hand . . . the victims commit themselves to you; you are the father of the helpless . . . "
There is a lesson here: We should not ignore the plight of the helpless! We should petition God and passionately intercede on their behalf. The Bible tells us that God blesses those who take up the cause of the destitute. Would you call on the Defender of the fatherless to battle for the afflicted? Remember: "The prayers of the righteous are powerful and effective."
Prayer: Father, you are the Defender of the helpless. You are their only hope. You are the true and righteous God. Arise, LORD, and take up the cause of the destitute. Amen.