Deliver the Weak and Needy

“Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked”

 In today reading, Psalm 82, God is speaking to unjust civil rulers. God is reminding them of their duty to take care of the weak and the poor.

 This is not about social justice. A ruler, who was referred to as a “god” in some places, had responsibilities of service. Rulers were to serve all people, not just the rich. They were to ensure that the rich in society did not unfairly take advantage of the poor. The rulers were not to take from the rich and give to the poor (social justice), but rather were to ensure that all people were treated according to the laws and customs in place at that time.

 The psalmist concludes with, “Rise up, O God, judge the earth, for all the nations are your inheritance.” The psalmist wants Judgment Day to come. The corrupt, world where wickedness reigns, will be replaced with the perfect, eternal reign of God.

 Psalm 82 applies to Christ’s Church today.

 As members of the Church, we are to serve all people, especially the poor. We are called to give what we have to those in need, but like the rulers of old, we are not to take from the rich to give to the poor. We are to give to others what God has given to us.

 Today, we too live in a corrupt world where wickedness reigns. Like the psalmist, our hope is eternal life in a perfect world ruled by Jesus.

 There are many in this wicked world who do not share this hope. They do not believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

 These are the people we are also to serve.

 We serve them by sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. These people are in the hand of the wicked. They will spend eternity in the lake of fire with Satan, the great tormentor.

 These people are truly the weak and needy. They are weak and needy in spirit. They are in the hand of the wicked.

 It is our job, as members of the Church, to proclaim the Gospel, so that they might be delivered from the hand of the wicked.

The Cry of Injustice

"How long will you defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked?  Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed."  Psalm 82:2-4.

I have come to believe that one strand woven into the DNA of every soul is a powerful sense of justice ... moral rightness.  It's not that we are so just, but we know injustice in a heartbeat!

A child craves his parents' love, but sees their greater affection lavished on his sibling.

A man's identity is covered over by one who paints him a new one based on the color of his skin.

The promised family heirloom is taken by -- or, worse, given to -- another.

A girl "finds love," trusting herself to a man who then sells her favors to who knows how many others.

One's reputation is ruined by another, whether intentionally or from judgment without understanding.

A person of power imposes it not as he ought, but to the lesser standard of what he wants.

A penniless man is jailed for stealing small sums, while men of means bilk millions without impunity.

And when we suffer injustice of any sort or any size, it strikes a dissonant chord in the darkest caverns of our soul, reverberating from deep within us and rising in search of an unreachable crescendo, ever louder but never enough.  It will not be muted until the wrong has been made right.

Two things we Christians must know.  All people suffer injustices, some in greater magnitude than others, but we all are deeply affected by them.  And we must be where injustice lives, for we are the body of Christ on earth and it is through us the he works his will and his ways.

The whole creation joins the Psalmist in crying out to God for justice; we the redeemed people of God must act within our gifts to fight injustice.  No matter its form, no matter its size.