Topical Bible: The Poor: God: Delivers

◄ The Poor: God: Delivers ►

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Topical Encyclopedia

The theme of God's deliverance of the poor is a recurring and significant motif throughout the Bible. Scripture consistently portrays God as a defender and deliverer of those who are impoverished and oppressed. This divine concern for the poor is rooted in God's character and His covenantal relationship with His people.

Old Testament Foundations

In the Old Testament, God's deliverance of the poor is often linked to His justice and righteousness. The Psalms frequently highlight God's intervention on behalf of the needy. Psalm 72:12-14 declares, "For he will deliver the needy who cry out and the afflicted who have no helper. He will take pity on the poor and needy and save the lives of the oppressed. He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight."

The Law given to Israel also reflects God's concern for the poor. The Israelites were commanded to care for the needy among them, as seen in Deuteronomy 15:7-8 : "If there is a poor man among your brothers within any of the gates in the land that the LORD your God is giving you, you are not to harden your heart or shut your hand from your poor brother. Instead, you are to open your hand to him and freely loan him whatever he needs."

Prophetic Voices

The prophets of Israel echoed this divine concern, often rebuking the nation for neglecting the poor and warning of judgment for such injustices. Isaiah 41:17 states, "The poor and needy seek water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. I, the LORD, will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them." This assurance of God's deliverance is a testament to His unwavering commitment to justice and mercy.

New Testament Fulfillment

In the New Testament, Jesus Christ embodies God's deliverance for the poor. His ministry is marked by compassion and care for the marginalized. In Luke 4:18 , Jesus reads from the scroll of Isaiah, proclaiming, "The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed."

The early church continued this mission, as seen in Acts 4:34-35 : "There were no needy ones among them, because those who owned lands or houses would sell their property, bring the proceeds from the sales, and lay them at the apostles’ feet for distribution to anyone as he had need." This practice reflects the community's commitment to living out the deliverance and care that God extends to the poor.

Theological Implications

The deliverance of the poor is not merely a social or economic issue but a profound theological truth that reveals God's heart. It underscores His sovereignty, justice, and mercy. God's deliverance of the poor is a call to His people to reflect His character by advocating for justice, practicing generosity, and extending compassion to those in need. The biblical narrative affirms that God is not indifferent to the plight of the poor but actively works to deliver and uplift them, inviting His followers to participate in this divine mission.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Job 36:15
He delivers the poor in his affliction, and opens their ears in oppression.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Psalm 35:10
All my bones shall say, LORD, who is like to you, which deliver the poor from him that is too strong for him, yes, the poor and the needy from him that spoils him?
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

No Gift of God is More Excellent than Love.
... nor gives all his goods to the poor, either because ... give or because some necessity
hinders, nor delivers his body ... 1014] Love, therefore, which is of God and is ...
/.../augustine/on the holy trinity/chapter 18 no gift of god.htm

Prayer and Trouble
... Trouble often drives men to God in prayer, while ... Prayer often delivers out of trouble,
and still oftener gives ... Rich and poor alike, the learned and the ignorant ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/bounds/the essentials of prayer/v prayer and trouble.htm

And Bring us not into Temptation but Deliver us from Evil
... know that the Plotter plots to cast down the needy and the poor, especially since ...
God delivers us from Evil, not when the enemy does not engage us at all in ...
//christianbookshelf.org/origen/origen on prayer/chapter xix and bring us.htm

The Snare of the Fowler
... But the second thought was, that God delivers his people, even ... hour, come into the
net, yet God will bring ... Poor Christian and Hopeful got into the fowler's net ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/the snare of the fowler.htm

He Confirms what Has Been Already Said, by the Parable of the Rich ...
... a kingdom; and shows that when the Son delivers up the ... Hereafter we shall be in the
kingdom of God, where the ... fulness of His Godhead, Who was made poor for us ...
/.../ambrose/works and letters of st ambrose/chapter xii he confirms what.htm

On the Danger of Increasing Riches
... O no! do not make so poor a return to your beneficent Lord ... evil; that when a man
has, for many years, hid his precious talent in the earth, God delivers him up ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 126 on the danger.htm

Let Him Deliver Him Now
... to meet all demands, and then Satan yells, "Let him deliver him now." The poor man
has ... Let me remark that, if God delivers you and me in the same way as he ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 34 1888/let him deliver him now.htm

How Sweetness and Tenderness in Prayer Differ from Consolations. ...
... Even in this life God delivers us from them when we reach the last mansion, as by ...
The poor soul suffers; although not now to blame, it has sinned at other times ...
/.../teresa/the interior castle or the mansions/chapter i how sweetness and.htm

The Wrath of Love
... Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh ... old heathen notions from
which this psalm delivers us"concerning what God's anger means ...
/.../kingsley/town and country sermons/sermon xxxix the wrath of.htm

The Forgiveness of Sins.
... see men crying to God for mercy"poor, sinful, debtors ... servants, refusing to our fellow
men what God gives us ... now He withdraws His pardon, and delivers him to ...
/.../the life of duty a years plain sermons v 2/sermon lvii the forgiveness of.htm