In March 2007, I was standing in an Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camp in northern Uganda gazing at hundreds of young refugees who were staring back at me. As I looked into their eyes, saw their malnourished frames, and witnessed their deplorable living conditions, the Holy Spirit filled me in a way I’d never experienced before. I sensed God was telling me, “I love these children. I love them!” And then, it was as if He extended this invitation: “Come love them with me.”
So I did just that. I moved to East Africa and—through both the beautiful and gut-wrenching journey of walking with victims of war and with children who’d been orphaned or abandoned—witnessed the glorious truth of Psalm 12 that “the Lord’s promises are pure, like silver refined in a furnace” and that He sees, He hears, He cares, and He shows up (Psalm 12:6). In His words: “I have seen the violence done to the helpless, and I have heard the groans of the poor” (Psalm 12:5).
Though much of the world overlooks and even dismisses the impoverished, the refugees, the widowed, and the otherwise marginalized, God doesn’t. To the contrary, in response to cries to Him for help, He says, “I will rise up to rescue them, as they have longed for me to do” (Psalm 12:5). His compassionate heart is revealed in the ways He moves to “protect the oppressed” (Psalm 12:7).
Whether we’re struggling through our own pain or weighed down by the suffering of others, we can take comfort in God’s sure promises in Psalm 12 to be with and deliver the oppressed. Even if we can’t easily see how, we can rest assured that our God is working to rescue the poor—perhaps even using us as part of His loving, restoring work.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Luke 7:36–8:3
More:
Read Isaiah 1:17 and consider what it means to follow God in rescuing the oppressed.
Next:
List at least two steps you can take to join God in helping the marginalized in your own community and around the world. As you read the verses in Psalm 12, what do you learn about His heart for those in need?
Gary Shultz on July 7, 2017 at 5:18 am
Hi Roxanne: Sobering thoughts and words. A place that is so foreign to those of us who live in cultures where there is plenty. And the question remains what do we do? We are commanded to help the poor, that has been a hall mark of the heart, of a real believer. Several good organizations have done something to answer that call. I would think we can give of our abundance. Nothing is more powerful than prayer, because God has no shortage of supply, and He is not restricted in what He can do, so prayer joins God in this movement toward the needy. I wish there was space for you to tell of times when God breaks through. Maybe even times when all seems lost. I would also think in these people groups children of God come from the ranks. Poor in material, but rich in spirit and faith, they are our brothers and sisters in Christ. Will it be asked of us what did you do for these? Thanks Roxanne
Tom Felten on July 7, 2017 at 8:24 am
Roxanne, thank you for your example of Christlike love—caring for those in need and even adopting an orphan to be your son. As you have written, may we use our resources, our pain, all that we have to help the oppressed as God provides what we need!
tccarr777 on July 7, 2017 at 8:53 am
Of all the wonderful writers of ODB, I look forward to that one time per month, you share your experiences. 3Jn 3:4 – “I have no greater joy, than to know, my children are walking in the truth”.
tccarr777 on July 7, 2017 at 8:57 am
3 Jn 4
Brands Monica on July 7, 2017 at 12:12 pm
Thanks Roxanne.