God’s Heart For The PoorSample

A Royal Advocate

In the culture of this verse, servants of the royal court had power that could be easily abused. That abuse led to gain for the powerful, while the poor were often oppressed. This proverb assures us that when oppression occurs, the Lord will take up the case of the poor and be their advocate.

The abuse of the needy continues today when justice for the poor is overlooked. In James chapter 2, we learn how easy it is to slip into favoritism of the rich over the poor. The rich would often use their powers to drag the poor into court. Maybe we’re not dragging the poor to court in an attempt to exploit them, but are we actively serving the neediest among us? We may not be abusing them directly, but are we protecting those who are most vulnerable to exploitation?

We learn that God “takes up the case” of those who have been crushed. When we follow His lead, we become an advocate for the poor—doing whatever we can to fight for justice.

If that culture spoke of justice in regard to poverty, we are wise to listen and follow their example.