Proverbs 31 - 7.10.24

Scripture

“ Open your mouth for the speechless, In the cause of all who are appointed to die. Open your mouth, judge righteously, And plead the cause of the poor and needy.” (Prov 31:8,9, NKJV)

Observation

Proverbs 31 is famous for guidance for women to become the perfect wife and mother. It is recorded as advice given to King Lemuel by his mother. Some Bible scholars speculate that King Lemuel was Solomon, and this was advice given by Bathsheba. But this remains speculation, as there is no evidence for this. All scripture is God-breathed and given by God, so the author of these verses is the Holy Spirit, as is the rest of the scripture (2 Tim 3:16). 

In this verse we are called to speak out and defend the ones who cannot speak, and defend the cause of the ones “appointed to die” (verse 8, NKJV). Whenever I read this verse, I can’t help thinking of the defenceless babies in the womb who are terminated by choice. God is our defence and he defends us. In turn, God expects us to plead for and defend the destitute, the poor and the needy (verse 9).  Throughout the Bible, we see God’s commandment to plead the cause of the poor and ensure justice. “Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow” (Isaiah 1:17). In Jeremiah 5:27, the prophet calls out the sin of the people in “not pleading the cause of the fatherless, and the right of the needy”. In Psalms 82:3, we are commanded to “Defend the weak and the fatherless, uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed”. Zachariah 7:9-10 says “Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor”.

Application

God expects us to be a light in the dark world he has placed us. True Christianity is caring for the widow and the orphan (James 1:27).  We are called to not just mind our business and turn a blind eye when injustices happen to others around us, but to do everything in our power to help defend and execute justice for the oppressed, the defenceless and the poor. I learned this early in my life, during my late-teens in college. My classmates chose to bully the smartest girl in the class, out of nothing but pure jealousy. In spite of God’s prompting in my heart, I chose to ignore this and not speak out in her defence, because I didn’t want to offend the majority. God allowed me to go through the same treatment from the same classmates later, which was very painful. I later understood that this was a chastening from God which led to a character transformation in me.

Prayer

Dear Father, I thank you because you are my defence, my shield and the lifter of my head (Psalms 3:3). I can face this world, because you are with me, shielding me and protecting me. In you, I am more than a conqueror (Rom 8:37). You are in me, and He who is in me is greater than He is in the world. Show me how I can be your light in the place you have planted me in. Open my eyes and show me the areas where I need to speak out and defend the cause of the defenceless. Show me how I can shine the light you have given me, and not hide my light under the bed (Luke 8:16). Use me for your glory and to accomplish the purpose for which you created me. In Jesus’s name. Amen.

- Asha Chacko George