Bible Reading: Psalm 82
“God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods. How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked”- Psalm 82: 1-4(KJV)
The congregation of the mighty is mount Zion, the City of the Living God. Among the inhabitants of mount Zion is the general assembly and church of the firstborn. These are made up of both the spirits of departed saints and the redeemed of the Lord – those that are redeemed by the precious blood of our Lord Jesus Christ having escaped the corruption and lust that is in the world and have obtained divine nature by the Word of God (2 Peter 1:4). They are those that have been born of water (Word) and of the Spirit (John 3:5) of whom the bible refers to in John 1:12(KJV): “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name”. So in the congregation of the mighty, which is mount Zion, are the sons of God. Jesus said concerning the redeemed of the Lord in mount Zion, “..Is it not written in your law, I said Ye are gods? If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken;” – John 10:34-35(KJV).
From the above revelation, it is clear that the Almighty God was speaking in mount Zion to the Church of the firstborn, condemning the unjust judgment and being blinded by inducement to subvert justice being practiced among His children. The Almighty further instructed His children in Zion to defend and protect the poor and fatherless. We are to deliver the poor and needy and rid them out of the hand of the wicked. This is what is expected in Zion among the believers. The poor should run to Zion as the city of refuge and get justice. The body of Christ should be the defender of the poor and needy as God their father is. It is a major attribute of God to defend and provide justice for the poor and needy. Psalm 113: 7-8(KJV) provide a picture of divine intervention in the life of the poor and needy, “He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill; That he may set him with the princes, even the princes of his people”. This was the experience of the shepherd boy David who was translated to the throne as the greatest king of Israel. For us to remain relevant in our Christian pursuit we must carry and operate in the attribute of God our father. We must give ear to the poor and needy. We must protect and fight for the oppressed. We must avoid dealing wickedly against the fatherless and the afflicted. This is what Christianity is all about. The Lord shall give us grace to emulate and be like him. True love for God and man comes by the Word of God through the working of the Spirit of God. It is that true love that will initiate us into divine attribute such as caring for the poor and needy.
Prayer: Father I plead for your grace to live and act like you in my relationship with the poor and needy
Bro. Joel Ezeugo