Daily Devotion (January 19, 2024)
Psalm 9:9–10 (NKJV)
9 The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, A refuge in times of trouble.
10 And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; For You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.
Throughout history the children of God have been oppressed. Sometimes oppression comes from the outside of our lives, sometimes it is because we make choices leading to oppression. Either way oppression is real. I read the other day that the number one oppressed group in the world throughout history is Christians. In the United States of America, we really have not felt government oppression. (Thank you, writers of the Constitution, and “Bill of rights.) These days are quickly ending.
In the 1989 “Batman” movie the Joker parading down the street ask the question, “And now, folks, it’s time for ‘Who do you trust!’ …money, money, money! …’I’m giving away free money.’” Oppression. What is evil, oppression, is not always seen with the naked eye. I was young at the time but still remember the infamous quote or misquote of Khrushchev speaking to the UN saying the United States would be taken down by small doses of socialism and finally wake up to discover it was taken over by communism. (These are my words not necessarily verbatim of what Khrushchev said.) But the point being that we are quickly moving in that direction. Oppression comes in many forms. Greed is one of the forms.
“His majesty the baby” cries out, “I want it and I want it now.” Ego-centric, self-centered greed has overtaken this nation. The poor, in whatever form, have moved to the pendulum to lean towards those who will give them the most. Ethics have been thrown away in place of satisfying the emptiness of living a godless life. Oppression has truly come into the lives of those who have forsaken God.
Slowly the God of the Bible has been wiped out of American life and replaced with the god of greed. Oppression has truly taken over. Destruction is not far behind. Where do the followers of God turn? Wickedness is found in almost all the institutions we have trusted. The psalmist reminds us that the Lord is still our refuge, God still knows who we are. God has not forsaken His people.
2 Chronicles 7:14 “if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
God has not forsaken us, we have forsaken God. We worship a god who will give us what we want instead of a God who deserves our worship just because He is God. We do not worship God for what He can do for us…He already has given us the greatest gift of all…Salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ.
We need to go back and let God be the God our life.