Image from healthservices.org
Hear Here! 1 God calls the judges into his courtroom, he puts all the judges in the dock. 2 "Enough! You've corrupted justice long enough, you've let the wicked get away with murder. 3 You're here to defend the defenseless, to make sure that underdogs get a fair break; 4 Your job is to stand up for the powerless, and prosecute all those who exploit them." 5 Ignorant judges! Head-in-the-sand judges! They haven't a clue to what's going on. And now everything's falling apart, the world's coming unglued. 6 "I commissioned you judges, each one of you, deputies of the High God, 7 But you've betrayed your commission and now you're stripped of your rank, busted." 8 O God, give them their just deserts! You've got the whole world in your hands! (Psalm 82 The Message)
Tremendous Thursday is what we aim for! Make it one by starting with God, dear Reader! Any tremendous day begins with time spent with God, in His word, in prayer, and in reflection on what God may be saying or asking of us. I pray that this devotional serve that purpose for you and me.
As we follow yesterday' word from the prophet Amos, we come to this prophetic Psalm. The summary of this psalm is found in the graphic above; God speaking to the rulers of His nation. This version sets the conversation in a courtroom setting. God has called them to be judged. They have completely failed God and served instead themselves. The responsibility of the judge called by God has to 1). Defend the weak and the fatherless. 2). Uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. 3). Rescue the weak and the needy. 4). Deliver all of these from the hand of the wicked. God has found these judges to be the kind with their "head-in-the-sand" judges, which means they're not aware of anything. Murderers are getting away with murder, and the list goes on; God is not pleased. Their betrayal of their commission means they will be stripped of their rank and busted from serving God in this way.
What does this psalm have to do with us, everyday, for the most part, non-judges? Well, we all have a responsibility to the list found within this psalm. We are not islands on our own away from others. This is the parable of the Good Samaritan in capsule form, for all believers. If you love God, share love with God's people. This is also Jesus' "I was hungry, thirsty, naked, in jail, sick, and you did nothing for me" sermon from Matthew 25. Yes, it has everything to do with us. And it starts not where we want to be, but where we are. We are already blessed and entrusted to serve Him.
PRAYER: Awesome Father, thank You for where I find myself today, right now. I accept the charge to care for others and with Your help I will serve. Let me be a blessing for You. I pray in Christ Jesus' strong name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! Be the kind of "judge" that God expects; a loving, helpful, caring one!
Blessings of love,
Pastor Eradio Valverde
