A father of orphans and a judge of widows is God in his holy habitation. God causes the lonely to live in a household. He brings out the prisoners into the prosperous land…
Throughout history, there has never been a lack of the unfortunate with need for an advocate.
We see this as far back even as the Israelites in Egypt; the corrupt nature of mankind constantly leads those in sin to disregard, if not utterly oppress, whomever they can by whatever way they justify it. Between lack and need or abuse, the cries of the misfortunate rise to God on a near-constant wind.
These days there is a powerful thrust in society to uplift the oppressed. For some it becomes akin to a holy rite, something that supersedes family, religion, culture, even common sense at times. These campaigns are often taken up with the noblest intentions, but we see one major pitfall again and again: as quickly as a cause may arise for some group in suffering, it often lasts only as long as it’s headline news. Then for many, it disappears, falling by the wayside in favor of the next plight to be picked up.
I remember witnessing this profoundly in 2021, when the plight of Cuba took center stage. For about two weeks, social media and the news abounded with reports of Cubans fighting for their freedom against a communist regime—or fighting against a dearth of medical supplies, depending on your news source. Most felt the two were connected, anyway. Regardless of the reason, no one could deny Cubans were being cut off from the rest of the world, suffering, their youth carted away for protesting in the streets.
And then the coverage just…ended. And right before my eyes, I watched the outrage fizzle out, too. Across social media and the news, focus turned to the next plight, and besides a smattering of posts from those with family in Cuba who were begging people to still care…their suffering seemed forgotten.
How often has this happened throughout human history? Perhaps you’re one who’s felt the sting personally—yours, your family’s, a dear friend’s, or a whole community’s suffering overlooked by the large populace. My heart aches for you in that, for all those touched by the endless bouncing eyes of the world looking to the next outrage and many times forgetting those left behind.
But what a joy and hope there is in passages like Psalm 68. God does not forget. His eyes see all and He remembers all. He is a Father to the orphan, caretaker of the widow. He does not neglect the lonely or forget those carried off in bondage and oppression. Regardless of how the world moves, God is steady, His attention constant, His hands always on those who are His.
I hope this reminder comforts your heart. I hope you feel His eyes on you, always. And I hope you know that your brother Jesus pleads your case in the heavenlies night and day. You are never forgotten and you are never alone.
