04/21/W – Considering the Poor

Psalms: “Happy is one who is considerate of the poor; the Lord will save him in a day of adversity. The Lord will keep him and preserve him; he will be blessed in the land. You will not give him over to the desire of his enemies. The Lord will sustain him on his sickbed; you will heal him on the bed where he lies.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭41:1-3‬ ‭CSB)

Psalm 41 is a lament psalm that David wrote about a time when he suffered from people speaking maliciously of him and even betraying him. He was in a helpless situation, where he could not help himself and needed God to move on his behalf. Therefore, to begin this psalm, David wrote about how important is was (and still is) to consider the poor. The word for poor in Hebrew did not refer strictly to the financially poor. The word actually referred to anyone who was weak, powerless and in a lowly state. The Hebrew word for considerate means pay attention to, understand, and cause to prosper. David said that if you consider the poor instead of ignoring them and writing them off, you will place yourself in a position to receive utmost blessing from the Lord.

What blessing can you expect by paying attention to, understanding and giving aid to the weak, powerless and downtrodden? David said the Lord will deliver you when you encounter times of trouble… when you are weak and powerless. Similar to the law of forgiveness – if you do not forgive others, the Lord will not forgive you – is the promise surrounding care for the poor. If you do not care for the weak and vulnerable around you, you should not expect the Lord to show the same mercy and grace to you – but if you do care for the weak and vulnerable, the Lord will care for you when you are overwhelmed by your circumstances. When you consider the poor, the Lord will sustain you, preserve you, protect you, strengthen you and heal you.

How many times do we… do I overlook those who are weak and vulnerable, ignore those who are distressed and downtrodden, brush off those who are poor and powerless? The Lord’s heart is bent toward those who are helpless and vulnerable. When I was helplessly bound to sin and powerless to set myself free, the Lord considered my lowly estate and rescued me. Should I not also be willing to do the same for others. And by doing that, we please God and place ourselves in a position to receive utmost blessing from the Lord.

Prayer: Lord, I know through Your word, that Your heart is always bent toward the weak, powerless and vulnerable. You call us to care for the widow, the orphan, the foreigners and the poor. It is my human nature to ignore those who are in need. But You do not call me to live according to human nature, but according to the divine nature that is in me by the Holy Spirit through faith. Fill my heart with Your compassion for the poor, that I may be Your hands and feet to those who are in need. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.