By Solange Rodnez
Solange Rodnez is a retired registered nurse who has decades of experience teaching Sunday School lessons, Bible studies, and women’s groups. She wrote Daily Devotional as part of her time with God, studying the Word and sharing teachings on her daily prayer time.
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Scripture Reading
Psalm 123:1-4 – I lift up my eyes to you, to you whose throne is in heaven. As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master, as the eyesof a maid look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, until he shows us his mercy. Have mercy on us, O Lord; havemercy on us, for we have endured much contempt. We have endured much ridicule from the proud, much contempt from the arrogant. [1]
Devotional
In this psalm, we see themes of commitment, perseverance, endurance, trust, expectation, and submission-a plea for deliverance. The psalmist cries out for God’s favor in a community overwhelmed by oppression, harassment, mistreatment, and discontent. He calls on the God of Israel, who alone can rescue His people from their oppressors.
Have you ever reached a point where you felt, “Enough is enough”? I have. Sometimes, people in positions of authority take advantage of those under their control, driven by their own selfish, even evil desires. When mistreatment strikes, our natural response is to pray-to call on the Lord for mercy, for He is our help and refuge in times of trouble.
Jeremiah 33:3 reminds us, Call on me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. Our God has not changed. The God of creation is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He has the power to save and stands with us even when we are taken advantage of.
This psalm encourages us to fix our eyes on the One who can deliver us from those who treat us with contempt. God is a God of justice; He will fight our battles. We must not lose our faith, no matter how dire the situation.
PsaJm 91:14-16 promises: Because he loves me, I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him from the enemy. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation. These promises are trustworthy; we can depend on them because our God is faithful.
When I consider the violence and discrimination happening around the world, I am reminded that God is in control. Our responsibility is to pray and to reach out to those under the pressure of the evil one.
We must stand up for those who cannot defend themselves and adopt the mindset and attitude of Christ-loving people regardless of their status. We must also be sensitive to the needs of orphans, the elderly, and widows.
Jesus said in Matthew 10:42, If anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward.
As we reflect on the mistreatment many endure, let us also be grateful for the freedom we have through God’s grace and mercy-a gift we should never take for granted. Let us keep our eyes on the Lord as we continue to pray fervently for those who need mercy and deliverance from their oppressors, knowing that everything has its reason and season.
When we feel oppressed, discouraged, or harassed, we cry out for mercy. The Lord our God is a mighty warrior, and we will not give up until He shows us mercy. God uses the circumstances around us to transform us into the likeness of His Son. As Jesus reminds us in John 16:33, In this world you will have trouble, but take heart-I have overcome the world. With. the help of the Holy Spirit, who strengthens us in our weakness and teaches us to conform to God’s will, our hope remains secure in the One who is able.
YOUR APPLICATION
