Psalm 14

Psalm 14 (NRSV)


1 Fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds;
there is no one who does good.
2 The Lord looks down from heaven on humankind
to see if there are any who are wise,
who seek after God.
3 They have all gone astray, they are all alike perverse;
there is no one who does good,
no, not one.
4 Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers
who eat up my people as they eat bread,
and do not call upon the Lord ?
5 There they shall be in great terror,
for God is with the company of the righteous.
6 You would confound the plans of the poor,
but the Lord is their refuge.
7 O that deliverance for Israel would come from Zion!
When the Lord restores the fortunes of his people,
Jacob will rejoice; Israel will be glad.
[1]

Lord,

What a majestic hope! Those who “eat people as bread” and ignore you will come crashing down. You will take care of those who cannot take care of themselves. You will restore the fortunes of your people!

Dear Lord, let the wind of Your Spirit ignite the embers of hope into fire within me and among all of your people. Let your Kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Let this hope be the air that we breathe as we live in you.

It comes to mind that we modern Americans benefit greatly from the plight of the global poor. Cheap labor around the world provides inexpensive goods which we all enjoy. When the poor lose their poverty, we’ll all have to pay more and some of us may earn less, the money going to those who actually make the products. Lord, if we are complicit in the misuse or abuse of others, we seek your pardon. But let it be so, be “the refuge of the poor.” And deliver us all into the regions of your righteousness.

PERSONAL PRAYERS:
Ask God to stir hope within your mind and heart.
Ask God to shape your life according to God’s concern for the least and lost.
Name 5 things for which you are grateful and say “Thank you” to God.

In Christ’s name,
Amen.


[1] The Holy Bible : New Revised Standard Version. 1996, c1989. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.