Proverbs 31:9. Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.
We introduced this last chapter of Proverbs yesterday. These are the words of the Queen Mother, King Lemuel’s mom. She has rebuked him for his careless lifestyle, his self-indulgence through alcohol and women. Lemuel has fed his own appetites while his people are in “bitter distress” (31:6).
A good and godly king cannot and must not stay silent as his people suffer. A good king will open their mouth, they will judge righteously, and the will defend the rights of the poor and the needy. A king who won’t do these things is not worthy to be king. No king exists for their own sake, but for the sake of the people they serve. Humanity has corrupted God’s good order from the beginning. Adam and Eve were created to be the king-priests of creation, serving and protecting everything around them. Not the other way around. The people don’t exist for the king, the king exists for the people.
Lemuel’s mother knew this. Do you?
You may be thinking, I’m not a king, so what does any of this have to do with me? But if you are in Christ then you are wrong. You ARE a king or queen. You reign in life with Christ (Rom. 5:17). You are seated on a heavenly throne next to King Jesus (Eph. 2:6). You are God’s royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9). You are an heir of God and a co-heir with Christ of the Kingdom of God (Rom. 8:17).
So now that we know who we truly are, kings and queens, can we receive the mandate we’ve been given in Christ – judge righteously, defend the poor and the needy? This is what the Bible calls “doing justice,” as in Micah 6:8.
Micah 6:8. He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
For you and I today, this isn’t about the social justice movements of our day. It’s not even primarily about economic systems, profit distribution, or the creation of moral civil laws (although all of these things are important). We’re talking about simple generosity. Helpfulness. Kindness. The rejection of partiality. Loving your neighbor. Doing good like Jesus did.
Acts 10: 38. He went around doing good.
Peter says in Acts 10 that Jesus went around doing good because he was anointed with the Spirit and with power. In Christ, we have this same anointing. A royal anointing with the Holy Spirit and with his power. The power to show mercy, to forgive, to love, and to do justice. The gospel empowers this day by day lifestyle of restoration. Lifting people up. Doing for others what they cannot do for themselves. Empowering righteous living. Walking in good works (Eph. 2:10), from our position of grace through faith (Eph. 2:8-9).
The gospel declares us to be justified in Christ. So what should the justified do? Justice. They should judge righteously. They should defend the poor and the needy. Starting right where you are, in your home, in your neighborhood, your community, your workplace, your church. There’s no better time to start going around doing good.
You: How aware are you of any injustice around you?
You in Christ: How does the gospel of grace and mercy empower us to do justice?
Christ in you: Is there any ongoing injustice around you that you need to address today?
Pray: Father, I am a king/queen in your kingdom of justice. Use me to help others today and not only myself. Amen.
To Live is Christ 