Tag: poor and needy

4.v. You will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear

Job 5:15   But he saves the needy from the sword of their mouth and from the hand of the mighty. So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts her mouth.

Psalms 9:18    For the needy shall not always be forgotten, and the hope of the poor shall not perish forever.

Psalms 10:14    But you do see, for you note mischief and vexation, that you may take it into your hands; to you the helpless commits himself; you have been the helper of the fatherless.

Psalms 10:17    O LORD, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear

Psalms 35:10    All my bones shall say, “O LORD, who is like you, delivering the poor from him who is too strong for him, the poor and needy from him who robs him?”

Psalms 72:12-13    For he delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper.  He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy.

Psalms 107:41    but he raises up the needy out of affliction and makes their families like flocks.

Psalms 140:12    I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will execute justice for the needy.

When people call on God, He will not abandon them.  He will hear their cry for help and deliver them.  What He won’t do is answer prayers given up to false gods and idols.  These cries for help will go unanswered.  God will not be mocked.  If we live in such a way that does not keep God first and honor Him with our thoughts, actions, and words first in our life, then we too can expect no answer to our prayers.  We will rightly get what we sow.  If we sow our life and live our lives apart from God we will reap the just rewards of our sowing.  We do well to examine our hearts and mind in and through His word.  We do well to intentionally choose to seek and desire to know Him more and more.  We do well to humbly serve, honor, follow, trust, and obey Him with all our life, all of our days, for His glory.

None Like Him

“To whom then will you liken God, or what likeness compare with him?”

Exodus 15:11   “Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?

Deuteronomy 3:24     ‘O Lord GOD, you have only begun to show your servant your greatness and your mighty hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as yours?

1 Samuel 2:2     “There is none holy like the LORD: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.

2 Samuel 7:22     Therefore you are great, O LORD God. For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

1 Kings 8:23     and said, “O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you, in heaven above or on earth beneath, keeping covenant and showing steadfast love to your servants who walk before you with all their heart;

Psalms 35:10    All my bones shall say, “O LORD, who is like you, delivering the poor from him who is too strong for him, the poor and needy from him who robs him?”

Psalms 86:8     There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours.

Jeremiah 10:16    Not like these is he who is the portion of Jacob, for he is the one who formed all things, and Israel is the tribe of his inheritance; the LORD of hosts is his name.

Jeremiah 10:6    There is none like you, O LORD; you are great, and your name is great in might.

Isaiah 40:25     To whom then will you compare me, that I should be like him? says the Holy One.

Psalms 89:6-8     For who in the skies can be compared to the LORD? Who among the heavenly beings is like the LORD,  a God greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones, and awesome above all who are around him?  O LORD God of hosts, who is mighty as you are, O LORD, with your faithfulness all around you?

Isaiah 57:15     For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite.

We try to imagine what God is like so we can comprehend Him.  Yet there is none like Him.  He inhabits eternity and dwells in a high and holy place.  Scripture does not stop there, it also says that God also dwells with those having a contrite and lowly spirit.  There is none other like Him.  None mighty as He is.  None loving as He.  None who reached out to His creation with a redemptive plan of salvation like Him.  None who promised eternal life like Him.  None who can forgive sin like Him.  None who has steadfast love like Him.  None who strengthens our spirit like Him.  None who knows our thoughts like Him.  None who can give us peace like Him.  None who can lift up the weak and make the strong fall like Him.  None who can move nations like Him.  None who can soften a heart like Him.  No there is none like Him and we do well to live, act, speak and think in all our ways, to humbly serve, honor, glorify, follow, and obey Him.

Behold this was the guilt

“while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived”

Genesis 19:1  The two angels came to Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gate of Sodom. When Lot saw them, he rose to meet them and bowed himself with his face to the earth  and said, “My lords, please turn aside to your servant’s house and spend the night and wash your feet. Then you may rise up early and go on your way.” They said, “No; we will spend the night in the town square.”  But he pressed them strongly; so they turned aside to him and entered his house. And he made them a feast and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.  But before they lay down, the men of the city, the men of Sodom, both young and old, all the people to the last man, surrounded the house.  And they called to Lot, “Where are the men who came to you tonight? Bring them out to us, that we may know them.”

Leviticus 18:22     You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination.

Leviticus 20:13    If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them.

Judges 19:22    As they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, worthless fellows, surrounded the house, beating on the door. And they said to the old man, the master of the house, “Bring out the man who came into your house, that we may know him.”

Isaiah 1:9    If the LORD of hosts had not left us a few survivors, we should have been like Sodom, and become like Gomorrah.

Isaiah 3:9    For the look on their faces bears witness against them; they proclaim their sin like Sodom; they do not hide it. Woe to them! For they have brought evil on themselves.

Jeremiah 6:15     Were they ashamed when they committed abomination? No, they were not at all ashamed; they did not know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; at the time that I punish them, they shall be overthrown,” says the LORD.

Matthew 11:23-24    And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You will be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.  But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you.”

Romans 1:23-24     and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.  Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves,…. 26  For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature;  and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error

1 Corinthians 6:9    Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality,

Jude 1:7     just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.

Truth from God’s word.  Warning with a promise of punishment given to man to give them choice.  Choosing a life path contrary to God’s word will have consequences.  Choosing to teach and speak as though God’s word and promises are but fairy tales and false hopes will have eternal consequences.  Just because all are doing it or tolerating it, does not make it right.

The sin of Sodom was clear and stated in Ezekiel 49 “Behold, this was the guilt of your sister Sodom: she and her daughters had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not aid the poor and needy.” We also know what this led too, an entire city with like mind where the natural course for man was perverted.

Do you ever wonder where it starts or how it starts?  How could everyone be on the same page?  How could they not know it was wrong?   It all starts with one step, in one moment, on a single day where someone chooses to abandon following God.  It could be a parent leading their children astray, which could lead to another generation moving one step further away and the impact of one generation after another each stepping further and further away from God until they give no thought of Him or honoring Him, or serving Him.

Do you ever ask yourself what am I doing to ensure my children are not caught up in the culture of liberation, entitlements, truth is just what you make of it, God is not real and does not exist?  Do you ever wonder if your children see a difference in the way you live, think, act, and speak?

I am convinced now more than ever we need people who call themselves christians need to be more than intentional in their walk with God.  More intentional in prayer.  More intentional in reading and thinking about God’s word..  More intentional in living to honor, serve, worship, follow and obey God.  Maybe we save our family, our towns, our nation.  It all starts with one person in one family to live seeking God’s plan and purpose with all their heart, mind , and soul.

Living God, Steadfast love

Psalms 86:1    Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.  Preserve my life, for I am godly; save your servant, who trusts in you—you are my God.  Be gracious to me, O Lord, for to you do I cry all the day.  Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.  For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.  Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace.  In the day of my trouble I call upon you, for you answer me.  There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours.  All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name.  For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God.

Isaiah 61:3     to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified.

Isaiah 66:13     As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.  You shall see, and your heart shall rejoice; your bones shall flourish like the grass; and the hand of the LORD shall be known to his servants, and he shall show his indignation against his enemies.

Psalms 62:8    Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.

Psalms 143:8     Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.

Exodus 15:11     “Who is like you, O LORD, among the gods? Who is like you, majestic in holiness, awesome in glorious deeds, doing wonders?

Daniel 6:26     I make a decree, that in all my royal dominion people are to tremble and fear before the God of Daniel, for he is the living God, enduring forever; his kingdom shall never be destroyed, and his dominion shall be to the end.  He delivers and rescues; he works signs and wonders in heaven and on earth, he who has saved Daniel from the power of the lions.”

There is a peace that comes to mind when reading these verses.  They speak of God’s dominion, rescuing power, signs, wonders, comfort, holiness, refuge, deliverance, grace, and steadfast love.  These words speak of our LIVING GOD.  They were spoke in during times of trouble or immediately after being delivered.  The depth of the heart cry speaks of the hope and trust they had in God.  The out pouring of praise and worship during their time of trouble reveals their heart and soul reliance in God.  God’s signs and wonders are  around us if our eyes, ears, heart and mind desire to seek, hear, and see His work.  We might see the change of heart at work in people.  We may see joy in someones life.  We may see deliverance from sin.  We may see conviction, confessing and true forgiveness.  We may see peace that passes all understanding.  We may find hope when it appears there is none.  We may have victory over a besetting sin.  We have understanding and knowledge from His word.  We may have success over a difficult task.  Spend time in His word.  Seek to know and understand the depths of His power, might, and steadfast love.  Choose to be a humble servant, ever thankful, ever seeking to honor, ever wanting to follow, and heart set on obedience.

My Helper

“casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”

“Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life”

Psalms 69:29  But I am afflicted and in pain; let your salvation, O God, set me on high!

Psalms 40:17    As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God!

Psalms 109:22    For I am poor and needy, and my heart is stricken within me.

Psalms 70:5   But I am poor and needy; hasten to me, O God! You are my help and my deliverer; O LORD, do not delay!

Psalms 109:31    For he stands at the right hand of the needy one, to save him from those who condemn his soul to death.

Psalms 34:6    This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him and saved him out of all his troubles.

1 Peter 2:23   When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.

Hebrews 13:6    So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

Understanding our circumstance and condition gives us ground to seek God for help and strength.  It is easy, when things have gone south, to seek God in a humble attitude.   Why does it seem God is closest during times of trials and trouble? Could it be because we are seeking Him with our whole heart, mind and soul?  Could it be because we have given up on trying to handle it on our own?  Could it be because we are in a state of mind that now allows God’s word to be heard in our heart and mind?  Could it be our somewhat hardened heart has softened to the point of yielding to laying those trials and issues at His feet?  Could it be our focus has changed from things of this world to promises of God?   But what about times when things are going smooth and our lives are without issue or much concern?  What is our desire then???? Is God even a thought throughout the day?   Training, knowledge, understanding, and wisdom of God and things of God requires commitment, effort, and dedication.  Train your heart, eyes, mind, and ears to focus on God and His purpose for you life at all times.  Don’t waste a single day without humbly serving, honoring, following and obeying Him.  Soon things of this world will grow much dimmer and He will shine much brighter in all you think, see, say and do.

Call on Him

“The LORD is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth”
“This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me”

Psalms 17:1
Hear a just cause, O LORD; attend to my cry! Give ear to my prayer from lips free of deceit!

Psalms 86:1
Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy.

Psalms 142:1
With my voice I cry out to the LORD; with my voice I plead for mercy to the LORD.

Psalms 43:1
Vindicate me, O God, and defend my cause against an ungodly people, from the deceitful and unjust man deliver me!

Psalms 140:12
I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and will execute justice for the needy.

Psalms 61:1
Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer;

Nehemiah 1:6
let your ear be attentive and your eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that I now pray before you day and night for the people of Israel your servants, confessing the sins of the people of Israel, which we have sinned against you. Even I and my father’s house have sinned.

Hear these heart cries from men of God who did not think it shameful or weak to run to God for help.  These cries are heart deep because there is something in their heart, mind and soul that places God first and their life dedicated to being a humble servant with a desire to worship, honor and glorify God.  Note in contrast what Jesus said about those whose hearts were not – “this people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.” How easy is it to give lip service to being a follower of God while our heart is so far away from living each moment of every day in His presence.  God hears our cries for strength and protection but should that be the only time we turn our heart, mind and soul to Him.  No it is not.  Live each day with Him on your mind, in your heart flooding your soul.