Daily Devotional For Tuesday, May 19, 2026

Good morning and good day Southside!  I have chosen today's verses from the One Year Chronological Bible’s reading for today. We are looking at Psalm 82:3-4:

“Give justice to the poor and the orphan; uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute. (4) Rescue the poor and helpless; deliver them from the grasp of evil people” (NLT).

Psalm 82 speaks to the context of our modern world today. The psalmist focuses on the weak, the oppressed, the orphaned, the weak, the destitute, the hungry, and the ones in slavery. We live in a world where the following statistics are a daily reality for many people:

1. 1 billion people live in abject poverty, lacking clean water,and basic medical care.
2. 153 million orphans need to be protected, sheltered, provided for and loved.
3. 42 million babies are murdered in their mother’s womb every single year.
4. 27 million people live in slavery right now. We have child slave labor in places such as Asia. Sex slave trafficking is the fastest slave trade in the world today. 

What does this mean? We live in a world of horrible and demonic injustice. How should we react and respond to these injustices as the people of God? Do we just turn a blind eye to it and go our merry way, ignoring them as if they do not exist? Absolutely not. When we read Psalm 82:1, who is this?: “God has taken His place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods He holds judgment” (ESV). Who are these “gods"? 

1. Verse 1 could be referencing human rulers who extort the poor with a lust to make their own lives better. The Old Testament at times refers to “judge” as god. [For example, the word translated as “judges” in Exodus 21:6 is elohim, which can also be translated as “God” (see Gen. 1:1) or “gods/idols” (see Ps. 95:3). The NASB translates the term as “God” in Exodus 21:6 and it footnotes this as it could be referring to “human judges.” Context lets us know how this Hebrew word is being used.
2. Verse 1 could be referencing demons, the fallen angels who were cast out of heaven with the devil (Eph. 6:12). The Hebrew word translated as “gods” is the Hebrew word [אֱלֹהִים, elohim]. 

When we look at verse 3, we read the word “justice.” We read it as a noun, but in Hebrew it is a verb – command. It is the Hebrew word [שָׁפַט, shiftu]. This word means “to judge justly” and often implies that human agents, God’s people, are to be those human agents who judge justly in their responses and actions to the less fortunate. Meaning, God expects those in power and God’s people to help those who have been marginalized in society. An example in the Old Testament is Job, who went to the gate, where cases were heard and tried, and helped the poor from his wealth (Job 29:12-13). God used the prophet Amos to condemn those with means oppressing and ignoring the poor, the orphan and the poor (Amos 5:10-12).

In the Old Testament God commanded His people to protect and care for those less fortunate – the poor and warned them what would happen to them if they failed or refused to do this. Look at Exodus 22:21-24, Deuteronomy 10:17-18, Isaiah 1:17, Isaiah 10:1-2, Jeremiah 5:28, Jeremiah 22:3, 16, Amos 2:7, Amos 4:1, Amos 5:11-12, Amos 8:6, Ezekiel 16:49, Ezekiel 18:11-12, and Ezekiel 22:29, The judges over Israel were to make sure the care for the poor, the orphan and the widow were met: Leviticus 19:15, Deuteronomy 16:19, Isaiah 3:13-15, and Micah 3:1-4. I could list more but I think you get the message here from the Lord. 

Psalm 82:5b says this of these oppressors, “They walk about in darkness.” What kind of darkness? The psalmist implies three types of darkness according to Old Testament scholar Marvin Tate:

• “The darkness they have brought to the lands because of their malfeasance in judgment.
• The darkness they use to cloak or hide the way they oppress the poor, the widow, the orphan, and the weak.
• The darkness of a heart so hardened to the poor due to the lust in it for more power, more possessions, more positions and more privileges for themselves” (Source: Marving Tate, The Word Biblical Commentary, “Psalms 51-100, Vol. 20, p. 337).

The third reason sounds like our world doesn’t it? Does it sound like you and me? In Matthew 26:11a, Jesus said this, “You will always have the poor among you” (NLT). So, are we off the hook? Jesus gave several warnings about ignoring those less fortunate and those who are children. Jesus said this in Matthew 18:16, “But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea” (NLT). A longer warning from Jesus can be read in Matthew 25:31-46. Those who ignored such people were cast into hell. Let that sink in for a moment. 

Look at these two verses below:

• Proverbs 14:21, “It is a sin to despise one’s neighbor, but blessed is the one who is kind to the needy” (NIV). In this case your neighbor can be anyone. In Luke 10, an expert in the law came to Jesus asking Him questions. One question he asked was, “Who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29). Then Jesus told him the Parable of the Good Samaritan. The point Jesus was making is that a neighbor is anyone you see in need.
• Proverbs 19:17, “If you are kind to poor people, you are lending money to the Lord. He will pay back the debt to you” (ESY).

I would not challenge you to do anything that my household is not doing about this. That would be hypocrisy. I am not boasting here but simply giving you examples of ways like this you can help those less fortunate with your money:

1. We give to the International Missions Board Children’s World Hunger Fund called Send Relief. They debit a specific amount weekly from our checking account. Every penny goes for food and medical care for children.
2. We give monthly to ShowHope – this is an organization started by Christian singer, Stephen Curtis Chapman. Its goal is to provide resources to potential parents to adopt international children.
3. We give to Compassion International monthly to support a young girl in Africa. We are able to write to her and make sure her needs are met.

There are many others out there such as World Vision’s – World Vision Sponsor A Child and Chosen, which provides clean water, food, clothing and medical care to children. There are many others out there. All it takes is a little tightening of one’s belt with money for items such as lattes, Cokes, etc and send that money for something that touches the heart of Jesus. For example, NC Baptist Children’s Homes has over 11,000 orphans they care for every day. You can give to them through the following link: Baptist Chidrens' Homes.

Reflection Assignment: You do not have to do 2-3, unless the Lord convicts you to do that. But you can do one and touch the heart of our Lord and the heart of a child. You can touch the heart of God or have His judgment touch you. So, the rest is now up to you. What will you do? I know what you can do. The only question is: will you?

Scripture To Meditate On: Proverbs 31:9, “Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice” (NLT).

Prayer To Pray: “Dear Lord, guide me in who I can and should do this for You. I do not want to waste money on fake and scandalous web sites, but I do want to judge justly the poor, the oppressed, the hungry child, the sick, the sex-trafficked girls/boys and the poor. Lord, I do not have much but what You have given to me, I will use some of this for justice for those less fortunate. I love You Lord. In Jesus’ name, Amen!”

I love you Southside! – Pastor Kelly