Justice and the Prophets
Called to God's Work of Justice
Live in the light of God (Isaiah 2:5)
Practice Justice
Psalm 86:1-13 New International Version
Psalm 86
A prayer of David.
1 Hear me, Lord, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.
2 Guard my life, for I am faithful to you;
save your servant who trusts in you.
You are my God; 3 have mercy on me, Lord,
for I call to you all day long.
4 Bring joy to your servant, Lord,
for I put my trust in you.
5 You, Lord, are forgiving and good,
abounding in love to all who call to you.
6 Hear my prayer, Lord;
listen to my cry for mercy.
7 When I am in distress, I call to you,
because you answer me.
8 Among the gods there is none like you, Lord;
no deeds can compare with yours.
9 All the nations you have made
will come and worship before you, Lord;
they will bring glory to your name.
10 For you are great and do marvelous deeds;
you alone are God.
11 Teach me your way, Lord,
that I may rely on your faithfulness;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name.
12 I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;
I will glorify your name forever.
13 For great is your love toward me;
you have delivered me from the depths,
from the realm of the dead.
For Reflection
Many around the world are suffering troubled times. Much like the Psalmist, in circumstances such as these, we tend to call on God for mercy. In America, we have seen the effect of neglecting the poor and needy. It has been that population that has suffered more deaths and endured the most pain. Praise is not the only thing that God wants. Such injustices demand action by Believers.
God hears our prayers of lament. But the great and marvelous truth is that God has commissioned us to act on God's behalf. The Psalmist cries, "Teach me your way, Lord." Recognize that the Lord has often used people to accomplish justice. God wants us to act compassionately to do justice and care for the needy. "
“Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt. [Execpt for indigenous populations, were not all Americans once foreigners?] Do not take advantage of the widow or the fatherless. If you do, and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry."
Exodus 22:21-23
Pray
Pray, "Teach me your way, Lord. Give me an undivided heart." Pray so that you dare to follow the way of the Lord.
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