Sunday, 26 July 2020 Psalm 10
“Arise, O LORD! O God, lift up Your hand! Do not forget the humble.” -Psalm 10:12 [NKJV]
Psalms are Hebrew poetry of very high order. It is nothing but a heart language and expresses the very heart of the writer and the creator God Himself. So when we read the Psalms, we feel it most touching the heart and not to our mind. Its appeals are always directed to the very heart of God. Hence we can see that the greatest Psalmist of all times- King David; God mentions him as:
Acts 13:22 ....He gave testimony and said, 'I HAVE FOUND DAVID THE SON OF JESSE, A MAN AFTER MY OWN HEART, WHO WILL DO ALL MY WILL.'
So it’s always refreshing to read and meditate the Psalms. Today we have the heart cry of the Psalmist David, addressed to the Judge of the Universe- God the Father Himself, to rise up and rescue the humble.
In our society we see unrighteousness all around us, but what is our attitude towards it? Are we closing one eye and walking past this unrighteousness or are we doing something in our capacity to counter it? Or are we like the Lot of the old times of who the Word of God says: "…and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds)—[2Peter 2:7-8]. Often we might feel tormented in our righteous soul and never raise up a finger against it, as if it doesn’t bother us at all. But see how Noah did in his time, he prophesied about the coming judgment of God to his surroundings. His voice was heard in that wicked society far and loud— it was clear enough for them to be warned. Also see how Jesus Christ in His days in the flesh, when He visited the temple courts and seeing it turned to a house of merchandise, reacted most violently and drove them out and declared that it is a place of worship (John 2:13-17). He spoke valiantly against the hypocrisies of the Pharisees and the Sadducees. How about us? Are we serious about this matter? Do we like David cry to God for help when unrighteous situations arise around us?
In the greatest Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. (Matt. 5:6). As a true disciple of Christ, we have a duty to the world around us— Jesus our Lord has called us to be the Salt and Light of the world. Let’s be seen in our righteousness to the world around us. We should have a hunger and thirst for righteousness and the Word of God guarantees us that we shall be filled.
Just to remind you of a little bit of history—when William Carey and family arrived at Calcutta, India, he soon came across the dreadful practices of Sati (a custom by which if the husband dies, the widow of the deceased is bound and burned alive in the pyre of her husband). He took it as a challenge and did everything in his capacity to abolish this evil practice by law. Finally God allowed him to get the attention of the authorities and they passed an official order against the practice of Sati. What a great relief to hundreds of humble women folk of India!
Let’s come boldly to the throne room of God where everything gets settled.
Prayer: Abba Father, Help us to help the oppressed and see Your righteousness established where we live. In Jesus name. Amen.