Praying For The Helpless

Arise, O LORD!

Punish the wicked, O God!

Do not ignore the helpless! . . .

The helpless put their trust in you.

You defend the orphans. . . .

LORD, you know the hopes of the helpless.

Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them.

You will bring justice to the orphans and the oppressed,

so mere people can no longer terrify them.

Psalm 10:12-14, 17-18

David had seen a lot of injustice in his life, but he never got used to it. In this prayer, David was angry with the wicked: “Like lions crouched in hiding, they wait to pounce on the helpless” (10:9). His heart was full of compassion for the oppressed, the widows, the orphans, the poor, the weak, and the innocent. He saw the injustice of how they were treated and pleaded for God to come to their defense.

Do you still get angry at the injustice in the world? Do you plead with God to come to the defense of the oppressed and the helpless? Has your heart become cold and indifferent? Ask God to give you a compassionate heart. Pray for God to bring justice to this world.

• Dear Lord, do not ignore the helpless . . .