Defend the Poor and Fatherless - Psalms 82:3

In Psalms chapter eighty two Asaph asked the people of Israel, “How long will you judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah”, and in chapter eighty two and verse three of Psalms Asaph said, “Defend the poor and fatherless”, where we read,

Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.

The verse begins, “Defend the poor and fatherless:” Asaph began with the words, “Defend the poor” or “judge, govern over and execute judgment over the lowly, weak and needy” “and fatherless” which means “and children without parents or orphans”. Asaph instructed the people of Israel to govern and execute judgment over children who are without parents.

The verse goes on to say, “do justice to the afflicted and needy.” Asaph continued with the words, “do justice” or “be righteous and make right in a moral or forensic sense” “to the afflicted” which means “toward the lowly, humble and wretched” “and needy” or “and in want, lacking and impoverished”. Asaph instructed the people of Israel to be righteous toward people who are lowly and impoverished.

When we consider the words in this verse, we see how Asaph challenged the people of Israel to execute righteous judgment over people who are needy or orphans, and they were to extend morally righteous judgments over people who were lowly and lacking. Many people take advantage of those who are less fortunate in this world, and those who govern over them should remember that they are lower than Jehovah God. God sees everything, and He knows everyone. He is aware that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (See Romans 3:23), and we are all in need of a “Savior”. God sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for our sins, and when we put our faith and trust in Him, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and rule and reign over us in a merciful and righteous manner that we may extend to others who are “poor, fatherless, afflicted and needy”.

Next time Asaph says, “Deliver the poor and needy”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".