Nougat 9

Today’s Holy Nougat closes our brief season of praise and invites us to reflect on our actions.

“With every bone in my body I will praise him: “Lord, who can compare with you? Who else rescues the helpless from the strong? Who else protects the helpless and poor from those who rob them?”” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭35:10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Talk about leading by example!

God calls us to care for the people on the margins (the invisibles) – the poor, the widows, the elderly, the weak, the abused, the ones with disabilities, the hurting, the disenfranchised … yes all those who might be exploited. Because God’s seen them and also given the invisibles priority.

This is the confirmation the psalmist offers. God protects the people we most often ignore. That’s why many don’t get sick as readily as we do. God’s protection is upon them.

We might be inclined to wonder, ’if God protects those people, why do they look downtrodden and defeated?’ There’s two responses I’d like to consider.

A. In offering some of God’s own authority to us; perhaps the question is really then, what are we doing to shift the status quo? For we are called to be God’s agents of transformation and hope, so taking care of the invisibles should become our chief priority. Except it often isn’t our priority. So …

B. Even as we ask why God’s protection is looking so limited; let’s also ask ourselves how did these people get exploited in the first place; and why we have allowed this to become a reality.

By How, I mean that we examine some root causes – did we abandon persons initially? Have we been guilty of misusing others, resulting in their abuse by others? And then we find the Why is automatic, we Must ask ourselves Why do we do nothing when we witness exploitation? Do we fear systems and structures more than upholding God’s Word? Are we bothered by Injustice?

Which leads to the What – what will we do differently, now that it’s brought back to our attention? Start by examining our own lives and seeking forgiveness for our complicity; then begin the transformation process one person at a time!

So yes, let’s praise God Who protects the vulnerable. Then we follow God’s example and become the change our world needs.

Selah

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May all we seek be found in Christ