“The poor man and the oppressor meet together; the LORD gives light to the eyes of both.” Proverbs 29:13
Devotional Thought For The Day
The wisdom of this proverb is deep and extensive and its lessons are not quickly or easily digested. It pertains to people who are in quite different circumstances, though there are relationships between the two groups – “they meet together.” God has a good and gracious will toward both – sun and rain are provided for all. [Matt. 5:45] People in both groups are variously loathed and lauded depending upon the condition of heart of those doing the judging. God allows conditions to prevail so that we always find both poor people and oppressors in the world. [Mark 14:7] Some are poor through their own foolishness, others are impoverished by oppressors, and the plight of the poor is often exacerbated by wicked and wealthy people preying upon their vulnerability. When overly ambitious people are allowed to exercise unbridled selfishness the poor suffer miserably; and when such selfish and ambitious values prevail the oppressors are even commended by some as wise and successful, and many actually envy them and idolize them. Those who have wisdom and vision will understand and observe these things even today.
God wills all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth [1 Tim. 2:4], and this includes people who are poor and people who have spent a good deal of their lives honing the skills of oppression. Among those whom Jesus called to Himself and reclaimed were Matthew and Zacchaeus, both of whom were tax collectors [Matt. 10:3; Luke 19:2]. Zacchaeus was wealthy and privileged, as were Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea [Matt. 27:57-60; John 19:39]. Obviously, when Jesus calls oppressors to come to Him and follow Him they must repent of and forsake their oppressive ways and adopt the ways of love [Luke 19:8; Luke 3:8-14]. Likewise, it has always been plain that the majority of Jesus’ followers have been humble, poor, and simple people [1 Cor. 1:26-29]. It is much easier for the poor to take comfort and hope in God’s love and to understand and adopt the ways of love; wealth is a strong impediment to faith, new life, and salvation [Matt. 19:21-24], and the desire to be rich brings great spiritual danger [1 Tim. 6:9,10].
So we understand God’s wisdom in allowing deplorable circumstances to continue for the sake of His greater goal of saving human beings for His kingdom. He remains God and Father of all people [“With Him are strength and sound wisdom; the deceived and the deceiver are His.” Job 12:16], and He seeks to gather all to Him as a hen gathers her chicks [Luke 13:34]. So whether we are among the poor or the oppressors, let us consider His patience, clemency, kindness, and mercy in Christ Jesus, and allow Him to draw us to faith and to give us newness of life in His love. As we contemplate His love for us and for all people, let us grow in our love for all people, especially the poor but also for the oppressors – for both “the deceived and the deceiver.” In so doing we become more like our Father in heaven and more aligned with His love and His good and gracious will [Matt. 5:44-48]. This is wisdom that is deep and broad and that must be developed within us over the course of a lifetime, but wisdom that brings great blessings to us.
We know all the small minded and twisted arguments that our sinful flesh poses against this wisdom of God, the arrogant and rebellious resentment we have against His gracious love. So we pray that God may grant us humility and transform us so that the mind of Christ might invade our hearts and take us over. [Phil 2:3-8] This is the life of the church, abiding in the Word of Christ, being His workmanship, and being changed into His image “from one degree of glory to another.” [2 Cor. 3:18] It is our goal and destiny [1 Jn. 3:2] and our privilege and pleasure even now. Let the wise understand and consider, and even more wisdom shall be added.
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, how slow of heart and mind we are to observe, understand, accept, and embrace the wisdom of Your gracious love. Help us to rest ourselves in Your hands, to devote ourselves more fully to Your Word, to trust more in Your love, and to learn more from You. Thank You for Your redemption and salvation. Thank You for the light that You give to us all. Keep us in Your light and continue to transform us into Your image so that we become more like You. Amen.