Centrally placed in the Bible we find an important word of God for leaders:
“8 Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all who are destitute. 9Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.”
(Pr 31:8-9)
These words of wisdom call on people in leadership positions to speak out publicly in support of socially vulnerable people who are unable to speak for themselves.
An important task for us Christians, then, is to give voice to those who have no voice, both in society and in the church. To speak for those who no one wants to listen to. To call attention to those whom society turns a blind eye to.
This is not something that only activists and relatives should be doing. This text is addressed directly to the King of Israel. Raising your voice for the weak in society is a task assigned to leaders. Or as Job put it:
“16 I was a father to the needy, and I searched out the cause of him whom I did not know. ”
(Job 29:16)
The person at risk of deportation, the person who does not have the right to vote, the person who is sick, the person who has no contacts, that person has no chance in our society. But as Christians we have a responsibility to take up that person’s cause and make the struggle our own.
What good is it if you only pray for a fellow human being without also being the answer to your prayer? When we combine prayer with holy work, it not only helps our fellow human beings, it also transforms us into a more righteous person and creates the community of love on which God’s kingdom is based.
You have read a free chapter of my book Friend of Strangers. If you like this book, please consider purchasing the ebook through Amazon. Since English is not my native language, there may be some linguistic inaccuracies. Please contact me if you find any.
Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.