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11/9 Reading Portions: 2 Kings 22; Hebrews 4; Joel 1; Psalms 140-41
Psalm 140:12
I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted,
and will execute justice for the needy.
POOR
Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, David penned this psalm with an eye upon the Messiah, when YHVH God would execute justice for the needy; that is, render judgment on behalf of the poor. While this verse certainly applies to the poor and downtrodden, it contains a more significant and sanctified gospel truth. Who is more needy than those who need salvation in Jesus Christ? It is written, that…
though [our Lord Jesus Christ] was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you by His poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9
God rendered judgment upon Jesus for our sake so that He executes justice upon our needy condition— filling us with all the fullness of Christ because we trust in Him by grace through faith. When we are afflicted, Christ maintains our cause because He who was afflicted more than any man, and beyond all men (Isa 53:4), will comfort, strengthen, and protect those who are His, keeping us from losing our witness and from denying the faith (Phil 1:6).
All men need Christ; but alas, not all men have Christ. We who are saved by God’s grace are most needy indeed. As the hymn states, you and I need Him every hour. There is not a moment upon this earth that Christ’s redeemed are not in need of Him. Any thought or feeling to the contrary is a lie from the pit of hell. Any work accomplished apart from our need of Christ, and apart from our strength in Christ alone, is a shameful thing and full of corrupt flesh. Our true need is not health, wealth, leisure, or political efficacy. Our greatest need, and truly, our only need, is Jesus Christ. Indeed, it’s Christ, and Him alone! Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Our cause will our Lord Christ maintain
When afflicted we become;
He upholds right for our poor frame
Because in Christ we’re one.
