Protection of the Poor

Day 12.
“Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan,
I will now arise,” says the Lord;
“I will place him in the safety for which he longs.” (Psalm 12:5 ESV)

The Bible is replete with commands to take care of the poor. Instead, most “plunder” the poor. Ignoring the poor is the same as plundering them as we have been commanded that there be “no poor among you.”. That command is directed toward Israel, which is the body of God’s people, and to those who come under the care of Israel (the sojourner). The appeal to care for the sojourner is because Israel was once a sojourner. This is why we have such a call to help the poor. We too were once poor. If not financially, certainly spiritually. And God has made us rich in his righteousness. We have the wealth of the father to draw upon.

In fact, the reason Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed was not its deviant sexual practices but their lack of care for the poor.

Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy. (Ezekiel 16:49 ESV)

Are you aware of any poor in your church, or ministries to the poor in your city? Have you had opportunities to serve them? Was it rewarding? How so?

Ask the Lord to show you how you can be intentional in your concern for the poor.

Chronological Reading Plan plus Psalms: Job 32-34, Ps 12