The Daily Psalm

The Daily Psalm: A Devotional by Mark D. Roberts, encouraging prayer based on the Psalms. Learn how to pray the Psalms.

Saturday, March 25, 2006

The twenty-second day of Lent.

Give justice to the weak and the orphan;
maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute.

Psalm 82:3

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Psalm 82

0 A Psalm of Asaph.
1 God has taken his place in the divine council;
  in the midst of the gods he holds judgment:
2 “How long will you judge unjustly
  and show partiality to the wicked? Selah
3 Give justice to the weak and the orphan;
  maintain the right of the lowly and the destitute.
4 Rescue the weak and the needy;
  deliver them from the hand of the wicked.”
5 They have neither knowledge nor understanding,
  they walk around in darkness;
  all the foundations of the earth are shaken.
6 I say, “You are gods,
  children of the Most High, all of you;
7 nevertheless, you shall die like mortals,
  and fall like any prince.”
8 Rise up, O God, judge the earth;
  for all the nations belong to you!

Daily Prayer (based on Psalm 82:3)

Today, Lord, I am praying for leaders of our nation, for the President and his administration, for the Congress, for the courts. May those who make and apply our laws be committed to justice, especially for the weak and the orphan, for those who are helpless and needy. May our lawmakers be concerned, not merely for national interest, or partisan advantage, but for those who are the least in society. May this concern lead to wise laws and decisions.

And, though I'm not a political leader or judge, help me, Lord, to exercise justice in my own life, as a parent, a pastor, a boss, and a citizen. Help me see the needs of the lowly and destitute, and to do my part for their good, however small it may be.

Postscript

A confession: I find it easy to be critical of our government for all the things it does wrong (in my opinion), and for the right things it fails to do (in my opinion). Of course I have the blessed freedom to think this way, and even to exercise my concerns in action. But sometimes I need to see the log in my own eye. For example, I may be unhappy with the way our government is helping the poor. And I may even be right. But at some point I need to look closely at my own life, at how I spend my money and my time. Though my difference for the poor will be small, it will matter.

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The Scripture text used in The Daily Psalm is from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved