April 15, 2011

Psalm 82 (Click to see scripture)

Bible in One Year Passages:
Mark 5:21-34, 1 Corinthians 9:13-27, Judges 5-6

Journal Entry

Scripture

1(B) God(C) has taken his place in the divine council;
in the midst of(D) the gods he(E) holds judgment:
2"How long will you judge unjustly
and(F) show partiality to(G) the wicked?
Selah

3(H) Give justice to(I) the weak and the fatherless;
(J) maintain the right of the afflicted and the destitute.
4(K) Rescue the weak and the needy;
(L) deliver them from the hand of the wicked."
5(M) They have neither knowledge nor understanding,
(N) they walk about in darkness;
(O) all the foundations of the earth are(P) shaken.

6(Q) I said, "You are gods,
sons of the Most High, all of you;
7nevertheless, like men(R) you shall die,
and fall like any prince."[a]

8(S) Arise, O God, judge the earth;
for you shall(T) inherit all the nations!

Observation

The psalmist has placed God on the throne of divine judgment overseeing the ways of the earth. In the same breath he is warning men who hold the seat of earthly judgment how long they will carry on to upholding the ways of the wicked and the repressing the weak. The psalmist end in verse 8 by asking God to come and take over the earth and rule it with Justice.

Application

The Psalmist is seeing the prevailing injustices to the weak , fatherless and destitute by those who hold the power of judgment in the World. If the heart of God is to protect the powerless and the voiceless then how should we respond to these injustices as God’s people. Verse 4 is quite clear to how we need to respond as the psalmist writes “Rescue the weak and the needy;
(L) deliver them from the hand of the wicked." We need to be the voices and the advocates to those who are without and are in need for this is the heart of God

Prayer

Lord you are a just and righteous God. Forgive me for intentionally looking away when you called me to be an advocate for the voiceless and the powerless. As it is with you make my heart beat for the needy and cry for the lost. Help me to overcome my selfishness and see the world beyond my comfortable walls that there are ones in need all around me. Give me the power to act in love and obedience that reflects your heart. Amen

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