Monday: “Do Something, God!”
Read Ps. 82:1-8. What is the message here to us?
Despite the ordering and rules of society that God gave to them, at various times in their history the Israelite nation failed to live up to this plan. They too easily became like the nations around them, living by a pattern of injustice and oppression.
Help!
Leaders and judges looked after only themselves, and their favor could be purchased with bribes. Without courts to protect them, ordinary people, and the poor especially, were subject to exploitation.
Psalm 82 is a response to such a situation. It describes God’s role as Supreme Judge, and it depicts a scene in which He judges the leaders and even the judges of the people. This psalm emphasizes that those who fill such roles in society “are appointed to act as judges under Him”. – Ellen G. White, Prophets and Kings, p. 198. They hold their position and conduct their work as representatives and subordinates of God. In the psalmist’s view, the justice of God is a model for how earthly justice should function, and it also provides the measure against which such justice or injustice—and those who dispense it—will be judged.
The psalm concludes with a specific call for God to act (Ps. 82:8), to intervene and to stop the injustice that is so prevalent in the nation. Like many of the psalms, this one gives a voice to the voiceless and to the oppressed, those whose voices have been silenced by the unjust systems in which they live and work.
Psalm 82 makes an appeal to God in His position of Supreme Judge and Sovereign Ruler of the universe and of all the nations. There is no higher court or authority to which such an appeal could be made. The assurance comes that when earthly courts do not hear or uphold the cries of the poor and oppressed, which is so often the case here, there is still an undeniable opportunity to call for help.
At different times in our lives we might find ourselves as victims of injustice, but at other times we might be the one committing or profiting from injustice. In passages such as Psalm 82, we can find insight and wisdom, whether we are the oppressed or the oppressor. God is concerned for the unjust judges, too, describing them as His children and wanting them to choose to live better (see Ps. 82:6). Thus, there’s hope even for those on the wrong side of oppression, if they will allow themselves to be changed.
(43)
I am sure that we often resonate with the frustration of the psalmist and pray that God will come and fix the things that we see as wrong.
But perhaps God does answer our prayer with a question, "What are you doing about it?" Are we praying and not listening?
There are of course the big issues like famine and immigration, and people-trafficking/exploitation and so on. We would like to be able to resolve those issues but they are too big and complicated for us as individuals to tackle. On the other hand we can do our bit to help when the problem does touch us.
There is a situation in Australia where young people from overseas on a working holiday can get a second year on their visa if they can prove they have worked on a farm or orchard for 88 days in the previous year. The farm owners know this and many of them exploit the situation, providing either very poor accommodation and board, or low wages. Converted animal sheds for accomodation, extortionate boarding and transport, demands for sexual favors, are often what they have to put up with. The stories the young people tell about the exploitation are often quite disturbing. One Adventist couple I know are making a difference. They offer employment on their farm for such young people but they accommodate them in a proper house and the young people eat with them every day. Interestingly, they make a point that they are vegetarians and that has a really positive impact on young people who have been used to eating from fast food outlets during their travels. It is a small positive contribution in a situation that has become an embarrassment to Australians. The 20-30 young people each year that visit their farm and are treated as family members have had their unspoken prayers for help answered.
We may not be able to solve the global issues of poverty and exploitation but it is quite possible that within our own small sphere of influence we can hear the prayers of the exploited and do God's work in answering those prayers.
This is very true. We can be God's hands and feet, eyes and ears in our sphere of influence. More so, if we fail to act when it is in our power to do so, we are as guilty as if we are, in fact, the oppressor.
Thanks for sharing that inspiring anecdote, we may not be able to solve the entire problem, but we can become part of the solution by doing what we can and encouraging/motivating others to do the same
A fellow was stuck on his rooftop in a flood. He was praying to God for help.
Soon a man in a rowboat came by and the fellow shouted to the man on the roof, "Jump in, I can save you."
The stranded fellow shouted back, "No, it's OK, I'm praying to God and he is going to save me."
So the rowboat went on.
Then a motorboat came by. "The fellow in the motorboat shouted, "Jump in, I can save you."
To this the stranded man said, "No thanks, I'm praying to God and he is going to save me. I have faith."
So the motorboat went on.
Then a helicopter came by and the pilot shouted down, "Grab this rope and I will lift you to safety."
To this the stranded man again replied, "No thanks, I'm praying to God and he is going to save me. I have faith."
So the helicopter reluctantly flew away.
Soon the water rose above the rooftop and the man drowned. He went to Heaven. He finally got his chance to discuss this whole situation with God, at which point he exclaimed, "I had faith in you but you didn't save me, you let me drown. I don't understand why!"
To this God replied, "I sent you a rowboat and a motorboat and a helicopter, what more did you expect?"
This is an allegory. I am not making a theological point.
Having said that, our cry is often, "Do something God."
God is saying, "Are you willing to hear when I speak to you."
Matthew West sings a song entitled Do Something. In the song after seeing all the injustice, sickness and poverty in the world he shakes his fist at heaven and says God why don't you do something. God replies, I did. I created you. Ouch.
Most excellent!