The Downtrodden in the Psalms (I)
Layman’s Theological Reflections on Psalms Topic Series: Mark Hardisty
The Downtrodden:
Psalm 138:6 says: “For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar.” The Psalms emphasize that God watches over and values the downtrodden. They are described as the needy, the helpless, the afflicted, the humble, the oppressed, the fatherless, widows, the poor, the brokenhearted, the crushed in spirit, the destitute, the weak, the lowly, the sojourners, and God’s people who are prisoners. Psalm 9 addresses several of these groups: the oppressed, the afflicted, the needy, the poor, and those who seek God. It is a song of praise and thanksgiving to God, who sits enthroned forever, has established his throne for justice, and judges the world with righteousness (9:7). For the oppressed, the Lord is a stronghold, a stronghold in times of trouble (9:9). God does not forget the cry of the afflicted, and the God who avenges blood is mindful of them (9:12).
Concerning the needy and the poor it says: “For the needy shall not always be forgotten, and the hope of the poor shall not perish forever” (9:18). The song ends with a cry to God: “Arise O Lord! Let not man prevail; let the nations be judged before you! Put them in fear, O Lord! Let the nations know that they are but men (9:19-20)! Psalm 82 addresses giving justice and rescuing the weak, fatherless, needy, afflicted, and destitute. In the Psalm, God challenges those who sit in seats of judgment. He says: “How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? Give justice to the weak and fatherless; maintain the right of the afflicted and destitute. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked (82:2-4).” The Psalm ends as Psalm 9 did with a plea to God to arise and judge the earth. Psalm 12:5 says: “Because the poor are plundered, because the needy groan, I will now arise, says the Lord; I will place him in the safety for which he longs.” Psalm 103:6 says: “The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed.” Even so, the Psalmist in Psalm 74:21 asks God to rise up for the downtrodden: “Let not the downtrodden turn back in shame; let the poor and needy praise your name.”
How does God Respond to the Downtrodden?
He is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble (9:9). He does not forget the cry of the afflicted (9:12). He is the helper of the helpless and fatherless (10:14) He hears the desire of the afflicted; strengthens their heart; inclines his ear to them to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more (10:17-18). He is a refuge to the poor (14:6). He saves a humble people, but the haughty eyes he brings down (18:27). He does not hide his face from the afflicted and he hears them when he cries to him (22:24). He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble the way (25:9). God hears the righteous when they cry for help, he hears and delivers them out of all of their troubles. He is near the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all (34:17-19). Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation. God settles the solitary in a home; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a parched land (68:5-6). God hears the needy and does not despise his own people who are prisoners (69:33). He saves all of the humble of the earth (76:9). He regards the prayer of the destitute and does not despise their prayer (102:17). He satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things (107:9). He raises up the needy out of affliction and makes their families like flocks (107:41).
David praises God and gives thanks to him because God stands at the right hand of the needy one, to save him from those who condemn his soul to death (109:30-31). He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes, with the princes of his people. He gives the barren woman a home, and makes her the joyous mother of children. Praise the Lord! (113:7-9). The Lord preserves the simple (116:6). Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints (116:15). For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar (138:6). He maintains the cause of the afflicted, and will execute justice for the needy (140:12). The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. He fulfills the desire of those who fear him; he also hears their cry and saves them (145:18-19). The Lord executes justice for the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. The Lord watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. The Lord will reign forever, your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the Lord! (146:7-10). For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation (149:4). Praise the Lord (149:9). In conclusion: Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the LORD his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever; who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free; the LORD opens the eyes of the blind. The LORD lifts up those who are bowed down; the LORD loves the righteous. The LORD watches over the sojourners; he upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. (146:5-9)
