Defend the Rights of the Poor

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Defend the Rights of the Poor

Date: Jun. 24, 2017

Passage

Proverbs 31:1-9 (ESV)

1 The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him:

2   What are you doing, my son? What are you doing, son of my womb?
    What are you doing, son of my vows?
3   Do not give your strength to women,
    your ways to those who destroy kings.
4   It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
    it is not for kings to drink wine,
    or for rulers to take strong drink,
5   lest they drink and forget what has been decreed
    and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.
6   Give strong drink to the one who is perishing,
    and wine to those in bitter distress;
7   let them drink and forget their poverty
    and remember their misery no more.
8   Open your mouth for the mute,
    for the rights of all who are destitute.
9   Open your mouth, judge righteously,
    defend the rights of the poor and needy.

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Daily Bread

Key Verse: 31:9

Open your mouth, judge righteously,
defend the rights of the poor and needy.

1. What the king should avoid (1-7)

We are a royal priesthood. As a godly king should avoid, so men should not spend their strength on women. We should not crave wine and beer. A drunkard drinks and forgets what the law decrees and deprives all the oppressed of their rights. Only perishing people who are in anguish like drinking.

2. What the king should do (8-9)

He must speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the right of all who are destitute (2Sam 14:4-11). To love God is to love our neighbors.

Prayer: Lord, let me not use my strength on women and alcohol. Let me use them to love you and neighbors who are in need.

One Word: Defend the rights of the poor

Complacent or Victorious?

Revelation 3:1-13

Key Verse: 3:5

The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.

Today's Question

How is Christ exalted?

See answer and references