Fight for Justice || Psalm 12:1 || Manna for the Mind #23

Welcome to Day 23 of my “Manna for the Mind” devotional series! This series takes a passage of scripture (typically 1-3 verses) and builds its understanding through its context and connecting scripture. Doing this helps us understand what the Bible truly teaches us. 

Psalm 12:1

1            Help, O Lord, for the godly are fast disappearing! The faithful have vanished from the earth!

Living for God in a deceitful world can be difficult and lonely. The great prophet Elijah once felt so lonely he wanted to die. God told him that 7,000 faithful servants were still in battle against evil. When it comes to our battles against evil, we are never alone. When the feeling of loneliness washes over you, talk with God. Ask him to point out someone you can connect with for strength and support. They may even reach out to you first, but I believe God will put people in our path for a reason.

I was preparing for a future series and came across the story of Elisha praying for an army leader who was fearful of the enemy approaching. Elisha prayed for God to open his eyes. When it happened, the leader saw a lot of chariots of fire and additional fighters on his side that no one else could see. The angels walk among us in many different forms. It could be people or situations we see as lucky or answered prayers that we weren’t expecting. The spiritual forces of the universe are far beyond what we can comprehend. Still, we lean on our faith when those forces interact with our existence.

I believe that we are never truly alone. God always walks alongside us. The angels ensure we stay safe and rescue us from danger in those moments. God has his messengers that are sent to protect us. It’s why many Christians say that each day is a blessing because the spiritual forces know that God’s not done with us. God has a plan for us; we must lean into these forces through faith to live the life God wants.

Check out Micah’s loneliness in Micah 7:2.

Micah 7:2

1            How miserable I am! I feel like the fruit picker after the harvest who can find nothing to eat. Not a cluster of grapes or single or a single early fig can be found to satisfy my hunger.

2            The godly people have all disappeared; not one honest person is left on the earth. They are murderers, setting traps even for their own brothers.

Micah is speaking out against those who planned evil deeds at night and woke up to do them in the morning. He was at war against those who used their positions to exploit others. This type of injustice spread throughout the nation and was destroying people from the inside out. Think about the number of people today who are victims of unethical attempts by others to take the little they have and give to those who are more powerful. Some of these actions are legal in the eyes of the cultural law, but they’re not morally acceptable to God. Just because an action is legal doesn’t necessarily mean it’s right.

Let’s hang on to that last sentence. Just because an action is legal doesn’t necessarily mean it’s right. The reverse of this is also true. Just because an action is illegal doesn’t necessarily mean it’s wrong. What’s the common theme in both structures? Control by governing authorities. This isn’t me telling you to revolt against our government or your local government because God teaches us to respect our government. The goal of sharing this with you is to look at the governing bodies you submit to and see if they align with God’s moral law, which focuses on caring for each other. Look at the laws around you. Whether they be rules in your home or workplace, laws in your city or country, or general ways of living, evaluate them to see if they are morally right.

If you have concerns about them, chat with your governing authority. Be open to communicating your concerns and hearing why they were implemented. It may have been necessary then, but not now. Times change, too, so see if a middle ground can be reached. If communication doesn’t work out, there are other ways to step up. Protests are becoming common today. Petitions too. Think about what works for you and how to make the most significant change for your community.

Let’s pray. Father God, through your teachings and word, we thank you for the ability to discern right from wrong, just from unjust. We know you have the final say in how justice will be served, but lead us to be your hands and feet to seek the justice needed. It’s in your name, we pray. Amen.