Daily Devotional Betty Miller shares her daily devotionals which are based on the book of Proverbs in
the Bible.
The Wisdom of God
Verses for the Day:
Proverbs 31:8-9 (KJV):
8 Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to
destruction.
9 Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.
Proverbs 31:8-9 (AMP):
8 Open your mouth for the dumb (those unable to speak for themselves), for the
rights of all who are left desolate and defenseless;
9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, and administer justice for the poor and
needy.
Thoughts for the Day:
These verses
from Proverbs record
more advice from a mother telling her son the things that he should
do as a king, and an important one is to speak up for the cause of the poor and needy. The Bible teaches
compassion toward the poor and the helpless. We find that many of the
benevolent practices in society have their roots in Christianity.
Historically, when true Christianity came to any region, those
who were practicing Christ's commands would begin to reach out to help the poor,
the oppressed, the sick, and needy. Most of our present day hospitals, charity
centers, orphanages and rescue missions were all founded by Christians in
keeping with the Biblical commands of Christ to demonstrate His love to a needy
world. God has always been interested in helping the weak, the feeble and the
afflicted.
The instruction in
these verses encourages the king to speak up, not only for the cause of the
poor, but for those who will perish, if there is not an intervention.
Throughout scripture,
we see God's concern and love for the poor, as He instructs His people to give
to them and treat them with equity. By so doing, we bring honor to the Lord. God
maintains the cause of the poor by raising up people to help them.
Psalm 140:12: I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the
afflicted, and the right of the poor.
Leviticus 19:15: Ye shall do no unrighteousness in judgment: thou shalt
not respect the person of the poor, nor honour the person of the mighty:
but in righteousness shalt thou judge thy neighbour.
In
judgment we are not to show preferential treatment to those who hold a
high position over those who are poor. As God's children, we are
commanded to be fair and just in our dealings.
When we give to the poor and help them with material assistance, it
opens the door so that we might present the gospel of the Lord Jesus
Christ. The Lord is interested in every soul. As we
reach out to others with His love and compassion, we are able to lead
them to salvation. Since this is
Ezekiel
16:49: Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness
of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters,
neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy.
The first
sin listed that Sodom and Gomorrah committed was the sin of pride; then
she was full because she had an abundance of food, and she was also idle,
which was caused by having plenty of everything. In spite of her wealth
and free time, she used it on self-indulgence, instead of helping those
who were bound in poverty.
Ezekiel
22:29-31:
29 The people of the land have used oppression, and exercised robbery,
and have vexed the poor and needy: yea, they have oppressed the stranger
wrongfully.
30 And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and
stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it:
but I found none.
31 Therefore have I poured out mine indignation upon them; I have
consumed them with the fire of my wrath: their own way have I
recompensed upon their heads, saith the Lord GOD.
There is a
penalty to pay, should any nation fall into oppression and robbery as a
way of life, and also make it difficult for the poor and needy. The
people that do this shall reap what they sow. If those in authority and
those who are kings heed this warning and become a defender of the poor,
then all the people will be blessed instead of cursed.
Prayer for the Day:
Dear Heavenly
Father, I am thankful that You are a compassionate God and a defender of the
poor and needy. Lord, may we also be concerned about the struggles of the
poor and reach out and help them. Thank You for blessing me with material
blessings and may I reach out and bless those less fortunate than I with my goods.
Lord, I also want to share Jesus with those who are needy and poor, because when
they know You, they will always have someone to call upon who will never fail
them. They can find peace, love and joy in the midst of their circumstances and
rise above their poverty and need, because You will never forsake them. I
pray in the name of Jesus. Amen.
