Who Will Speak for the Right?

Daily Reading: 2 Chronicles 28 

But a prophet of the Lord was there... (2 Chronicles 28.9)

Devotional Thought: War is an ugly thing.  Even "national security" can be ugly as attested by what is happening on our southern border with the influx of migrants and the "necessity" of detention centers.  Politicians on the left and right demagogue the issue, but we need a voice of reason and compassion. 

The Old Testament is replete with the gruesome realities of war.  Even there, war is an ugly thing.  In a battle between Israel and Judah, 200,000 people were carried away as spoils of war. Emotions ran high, but the fact of the matter was that these prisoners were brothers and sisters to their captors.  A calm voice of reason and compassion was needed.  Oded, a prophet of the Lord, provided that voice.  He spoke up in defense of those captives: "Now hear me, and send back the captives from your relatives whom you have taken, for the fierce wrath of the Lord is upon you" (v. 11).  Because Oded raised his voice, others found courage and compassion as well and added their voices to his (vv. 12-13).  As a result, the captives were clothed, fed, healed, and transported home. 

In today's angry world of cable news, Twitter, voxxing, and political theater, what we need is a voice of reason and compassion.  The people of God need to serve as Odeds.  Instead, too many Christians join the fray as angry accusers, impugning the actions and motives of those with whom they disagree.  Yes, the issues are complex - that's life in today's world - but the need for reason and compassion is undisputed.  Shouldn't we as Christians be prophets of the Lord's love and life? 

Prayer: Father, give me the courage to stand against oppression and intolerance in all its forms.  Grant that I may be an Oded, a prophet of the Lord, to speak up for what is right and to share your love and life.  Amen.

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 78:65-72

65 Then the Lord awoke as from sleep, like a strong man shouting because of wine.

66 And he put his adversaries to rout; he put them to everlasting shame.

67 He rejected the tent of Joseph; he did not choose the tribe of Ephraim,

68 but he chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which he loves.

69 He built his sanctuary like the high heavens, like the earth, which he has founded forever.

70 He chose David his servant and took him from the sheepfolds;

71 from following the nursing ewes he brought him to shepherd Jacob his people, Israel his inheritance.

72 With upright heart he shepherded them and guided them with his skillful hand.