February 1 Daily Devotional

Bible Reading

Psalm 10:1-14:

¹Why standest thou afar off, O LORD? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?
²The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor: let them be taken in the devices that they have imagined.
³For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth.
⁴The wicked, through the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God: God is not in all his thoughts.
⁵His ways are always grievous; thy judgments are far above out of his sight: as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.
⁶He hath said in his heart, I shall not be moved: for I shall never be in adversity.
⁷His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity.
⁸He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages: in the secret places doth he murder the innocent: his eyes are privily set against the poor.
⁹He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den: he lieth in wait to catch the poor: he doth catch the poor, when he draweth him into his net.
¹⁰He croucheth, and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.
¹¹He hath said in his heart, God hath forgotten: he hideth his face; he will never see it.
¹²Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble.
¹³Wherefore doth the wicked contemn God? he hath said in his heart, Thou wilt not require it.
¹⁴Thou hast seen it; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: the poor committeth himself unto thee; thou art the helper of the fatherless.

Devotional

There is much wickedness in the world. There is great injustice. The poor are oppressed, and the widows and fatherless are often ill treated. Does God see it? Does He care? Will He defend their cause? He surely will. He has clearly stated this in his Word. So in our text: "Thou hast seen it, for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand." So in Psalm 146:9: "The Lord preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down." So in Prov. 22:22f.: "Rob not the poor, because he is poor: neither oppress the afflicted in the gate: for the Lord will plead their cause, and spoil the soul of those that spoiled them." And in Jer. 50:34: "Their redeemer is strong; the Lord of hosts is his name: he shall thoroughly plead their cause."

What a comfort for all the poor, and needy, and oppressed, and all that suffer wrong, who put their trust in the Lord! The mighty God is a father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widow in his holy habitation. Therefore let the poor and needy commit themselves and their cause unto God, and He will avenge the wrong done unto them. "He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor." "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" Praise be to his name.

Prayer

Our Father in heaven, Thou beholdest, Thine eyes try the children of man. Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil. Thou canst not look on iniquity. The wicked cannot stand before Thee, but Thou beholdest the upright, and their prayer is Thy delight. O Lord, hear their prayer, and deliver them from the hand of their oppressor. For Jesus' sake. Amen.

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Scripture in Devotional: Ps. 146:9; Prov. 22:22-23; Jer. 50:34; Ps. 68:5; 72:4; Gen. 18:25.

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