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Day 217

Psalm 82:3a "Defend the poor and the fatherless..."

Day 217 – Psalm 82

“Defend the poor and the fatherless…” Psalm 82:3a

IN THE SEAT OF POWER

Not everyone would be able to find themselves in the seat of power. The following observations may be made concerning those who attained power:-

1. Inherited rights

a) Princes inherited their seats of power.
b) Their worthiness or unworthiness would be proven when they were appointed to power.

2. Earned rights

a) These often came from the educated class.
b) The educated were:-
i) The priests and the Levites.
ii) Those whose parents could afford them a good education.

THE TASK OF THE JUDGES

What were some of the most basic functions of these in the seat of power?

“Defend the poor and the fatherless;
Do justice to the afflicted and needy.”
Psalm 82:3

1. “Defend the poor and the fatherless”

a) The poor and the defenceless.
b) These needed all the help they could get.
c) If those who were in the seat of power do not defend them, they would be at the mercy of the wicked.

2. “Do justice to the afflicted and needy”

a) The poor and the fatherless would belong to the category of the “afflicted and needy”.
b) Their expectation to find justice ought to be upheld.
c) In the ancient days there were no lawyers who would readily take up the case of the afflicted and needy.