Sermon – Psalm 82 – Inalienable Rights

Rev. Jeffrey T. Howard

Pitts Creek and Beaver Dam Churches

Sermon – Psalm 82 – Inalienable Rights

July 7, 2013

On July 4, 1776 the Continental Congress, meeting in Philadelphia, made a declaration of independence from the tyrannical government of King George III of England. King George had asserted that his right to rule was given to him by God. The men who met in Philadelphia that day disagreed. They believed that God grants right to individuals and that government is instituted to preserve, protect and defend these rights. Thomas Jefferson put it this way. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

Years later a group of men gathered to write a constitution that would create a government that would guarantee these God given rights. They believed that God has given us the right to assemble and speak the truth. We have the right to worship as we chose. We have the right to the private use of our homes free from unwarranted government searches and seizures. And we have the right to defend ourselves and our families with our guns. The framers believed that all these rights came from God and they instituted a government to ensure them. Today we will look at some more inalienable, God given rights, but first let's pray.

“Grant unto us, O Lord, to be occupied in the mysteries of thy heavenly wisdom, with true progress in piety, to thy glory and our own edification. Amen.” (John Calvin)

Psalm 82:1 - 83:1 ^NIV Psalm 82:1 A psalm of Asaph. God presides in the great assembly; he gives judgment among the "gods": ² "How long will you defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked? Selah ³ Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. ⁴ Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked. ⁵ "They know nothing, they understand nothing. They walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken. ⁶ "I said, 'You are "gods"; you are all sons of the Most High.' ⁷ But you will die like mere men; you will fall like every other ruler." ⁸ Rise up, O God, judge the earth, for all the nations are your inheritance.

According to the psalmist, inalienable God given rights must be guaranteed to the weak, the orphan, the poor, the oppressed, and the needy. This is a list of those in society who cannot care for themselves. In ancient times the poor and the needy had the God given right to the gleanings in the field after the harvest. The people of God remembered living in poverty in Egypt when they were often hungry and had little to eat. They wanted to make sure that in Israel and Judah everyone would always have plenty to eat. So God told farmers not to harvest all the way to the edges of their fields, and if something fell off their wagons they should leave it on the ground. This way the poor and needy would find something to eat.

But sometimes the poor and needy were exploited for personal gain by evil men. Some people would lend the poor money at high interest rates that could never be paid back. Some people would not let the poor from foreign countries glean their fields. Some people would take a coat from a poor person as a pledge for a debt and not return it on a cold winter night. Some employers would not pay their poor workers their daily wage at the end of the day. The poor and needy are often filled with sorrows and troubles.

Who are the poor and needy today? How are they fed? How can they stay warm on cold nights? They are all around. You see them every day. There are people with mental illnesses who cannot hold onto a job. There are people trying to raise families while their spouses are in jail or run off. There are children with no parents, living in one foster home after another. Who cares for these who cannot help themselves.

For the most part we let government take care of the problem. And God certainly hold government responsible. The federal Department of Agriculture supplies bulk food to food banks and food stamps directly to the poor. The State of Maryland food banks delivers food to church and non profit organizations to supplement this. County government fund offices of social services to ensure that people get the services they need.

Psalm 82 was written in the context of the poor not getting enough to eat. Listen to the first three verses again. “God presides in the great assembly; he gives judgment among the "gods": ² "How long will you defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked? ³ Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.” So God has come to hold people responsible for the poor not being fed.

The people being judged are called “gods” with a little “g”. Who are these gods? First of all we know that there is only one God, with a big “G:. This is the creator God we worship. But who are these lesser gods? Some argue that these are the lesser gods of the nations whom the kings of the world mistakenly worship. This is a possibility. Others have argued that the psalmist is referring to the kings themselves who mistakenly think that they are gods. This too makes sense. But there was a first century rabbi who had a very interesting interpretation of who these “gods” are. His name was Jesus, and gave his surprising interpretation in the context of an argument with some Pharisees. According to Jesus these “gods” in Psalm 82 refer to everyone who has received the word of God. So that means that we are the “gods”, little “g”. God has come to judge us because we are the ones God has given the responsibility to care for the poor and needy, the widow and orphan, and the alien in our land.

As we gather around this table today we believe that we are lifted up by the Holy Spirit into the presence of God. We stand before the throne of God awaiting his judgment. We will be judged by how well we have cared for the weak in our society. What will you say when God asks you to account for what you have done for the poor and needy?

Here in Pocomoke there are opportunities where you can give your time and money to help the poor. Samaritan Shelter provides rooms where people can stay temporarily while they are looking for work. They serve meals to the community and have a food pantry where people can get groceries to feed their families. Miracle Deliverance Temple has the Helping Hands Outreach Ministry on Market Street where they operate a food pantry several days a week. We can get involved with one of these. Or we can do something on our own. There is no reason why we couldn't cook a free lunch once a month and invite the poor and needy into our building for food and fellowship. There is no reason why we couldn't get food from the Maryland Food Bank and have our own emergency pantry.

This past week I met with Melissa Johanning who manages the relationships with nonprofits and churches for the Maryland Food Bank in Salisbury. They sell food at a nominal cost to cover their own expense and will deliver it to our door. All we would have to do is invite people to come and get it and keep track of who do.

So I challenge you to think about who the poor and needy are here in this community, and how does God want us to serve them? Today we are feasting at the table God has prepared for us. This would be a wonderful time to ask God what it is that he wants us to do. The need is great. The opportunities are numerous. And we have the responsibility.

The right to have enough food, and the right to have a warm place to sleep are inalienable, God given rights. We have been commissioned by God to preserve, protect and defend these rights. And God will judge us on what we do. Let us pray.

God in heaven, as we approach your throne today help us to see the weakest in community and place in our hearts a burden to care for them by satisfying their needs for food to eat and a warm place to sleep. Bless us with opportunities to serve the poor here Pocomoke though our efforts and our church. We pray this is the name of the one who brought good news to the poor, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.