Psalm 9: Pt. 6 Jehovah cares for the poor and we should long for Him
Good morning.....
Psalm 9:18-20 For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever. 19 Arise, O LORD; let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged in thy sight. 20 Put them in fear, O LORD: that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah.
We bring this study of Psalm 9 to a close and it ends as it began. King David is trusting Jehovah with all of his needs and concerns. Our last post focused on the subject of murder and the millions of innocent babies being aborted each year. We noted that innocent blood cries out to Jehovah for justice and vengeance.
David now shows us our need to trust our cares and concerns to the LORD.
Jehovah cares about the poor and needy and so should we.
Psalm 9:18 For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever.
King David brings the plight of the poor to our attention and rightly so. It is far too easy to think only of our own immediate needs and provide for our own families. Yet, as those who are redeemed by Jehovah are commanded to make sure we do not neglect those who are less fortunate around us.
Thus, David reminds us that though society may overlook, neglect or ignore the plight of the poor and needy, God remembers them. And so should believers.
How we might do this will probably be different for each one of us. For example, some may be able to donate clothing to those in need. Some may be able to make a monetary contribution to an agency that supports the need with meals or shelter. Some may be able to teach new skills to an underprivileged person so that they can find employment. Some may donate food to feed those in need. There is a wide variety of ways that the poor can be helped by believers.
God provides for the poor in His law.
Leviticus 19:9-10 And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest. 10 And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the LORD your God.
God made a provision in the law for farmers not to glean the corners of the field so that the poor could go in after the reapers were done and find food. The same was true for those who picked fruit from trees. Farmers were not to try to get every last stalk of grain or all the fruit or berries from a tree. It was reserved for the poor and the strangers.
Do not have a hard heart toward the poor.
Deuteronomy 15:9-11 Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the LORD against thee, and it be sin unto thee. 10 Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto. 11 For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.
It is clear from this text that the Lord holds us accountable for our attitude toward the poor and needy. We are not to turn a deaf ear to their cry nor are we to be angry or annoyed that we are required to assist them.
To be clear, God is not talking about lazy people known as the sluggards or slothful. (See Proverbs 6:6; 6:9; 10:26; 12:24; 12:27;13:4; 15:19; 18:24; 19:24; 20:4; 21:25; 22:13; 24:30; 26:13-16)
Rather, we are talking about people who have a genuine need and who need a helping hand.
Proverbs 28:27 He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.
Our attitude toward the poor is presented both in a positive way where the giver is blessed and in a negative way where God will judge us for having a hard heart toward those in need.
A cry for Jehovah to judge the world in righteousness.
19 Arise, O LORD; let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged in thy sight. 20 Put them in fear, O LORD: that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah.
This attitude is one that we should also maintain in our hearts. Final judgment by Jehovah as King over all nations is something that Israel longed for throughout the Old Testament and is something New Testament believers are exhorted to look forward to.
The texts below are examples of our need to be watching, waiting and serving our Lord until His return.
Waiting and watching for Christ's return.
Titus 2:12-14 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Luke 21:25-28 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Thoughts to Ponder...
Psalm 9 has given all of us plenty to think about. The application of this truth will vary greatly because our circumstances and environments vary greatly.
I pray that the LORD will speak to each of our hearts as we need Him to speak and that He will find us with hearts willing to hear and heed what He says.
Bob
Psalm 9:18-20 For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever. 19 Arise, O LORD; let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged in thy sight. 20 Put them in fear, O LORD: that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah.
We bring this study of Psalm 9 to a close and it ends as it began. King David is trusting Jehovah with all of his needs and concerns. Our last post focused on the subject of murder and the millions of innocent babies being aborted each year. We noted that innocent blood cries out to Jehovah for justice and vengeance.
David now shows us our need to trust our cares and concerns to the LORD.
Jehovah cares about the poor and needy and so should we.
Psalm 9:18 For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever.
King David brings the plight of the poor to our attention and rightly so. It is far too easy to think only of our own immediate needs and provide for our own families. Yet, as those who are redeemed by Jehovah are commanded to make sure we do not neglect those who are less fortunate around us.
Thus, David reminds us that though society may overlook, neglect or ignore the plight of the poor and needy, God remembers them. And so should believers.
How we might do this will probably be different for each one of us. For example, some may be able to donate clothing to those in need. Some may be able to make a monetary contribution to an agency that supports the need with meals or shelter. Some may be able to teach new skills to an underprivileged person so that they can find employment. Some may donate food to feed those in need. There is a wide variety of ways that the poor can be helped by believers.
God provides for the poor in His law.
Leviticus 19:9-10 And when ye reap the harvest of your land, thou shalt not wholly reap the corners of thy field, neither shalt thou gather the gleanings of thy harvest. 10 And thou shalt not glean thy vineyard, neither shalt thou gather every grape of thy vineyard; thou shalt leave them for the poor and stranger: I am the LORD your God.
God made a provision in the law for farmers not to glean the corners of the field so that the poor could go in after the reapers were done and find food. The same was true for those who picked fruit from trees. Farmers were not to try to get every last stalk of grain or all the fruit or berries from a tree. It was reserved for the poor and the strangers.
Do not have a hard heart toward the poor.
Deuteronomy 15:9-11 Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the LORD against thee, and it be sin unto thee. 10 Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto. 11 For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land.
It is clear from this text that the Lord holds us accountable for our attitude toward the poor and needy. We are not to turn a deaf ear to their cry nor are we to be angry or annoyed that we are required to assist them.
To be clear, God is not talking about lazy people known as the sluggards or slothful. (See Proverbs 6:6; 6:9; 10:26; 12:24; 12:27;13:4; 15:19; 18:24; 19:24; 20:4; 21:25; 22:13; 24:30; 26:13-16)
Rather, we are talking about people who have a genuine need and who need a helping hand.
Proverbs 28:27 He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.
Our attitude toward the poor is presented both in a positive way where the giver is blessed and in a negative way where God will judge us for having a hard heart toward those in need.
A cry for Jehovah to judge the world in righteousness.
19 Arise, O LORD; let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged in thy sight. 20 Put them in fear, O LORD: that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah.
This attitude is one that we should also maintain in our hearts. Final judgment by Jehovah as King over all nations is something that Israel longed for throughout the Old Testament and is something New Testament believers are exhorted to look forward to.
The texts below are examples of our need to be watching, waiting and serving our Lord until His return.
Waiting and watching for Christ's return.
Titus 2:12-14 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Luke 21:25-28 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;
26 Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. 27 And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.
Thoughts to Ponder...
Psalm 9 has given all of us plenty to think about. The application of this truth will vary greatly because our circumstances and environments vary greatly.
I pray that the LORD will speak to each of our hearts as we need Him to speak and that He will find us with hearts willing to hear and heed what He says.
Bob
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