“Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy” (Psalm 82:3).

Someone needs to stand with God in favor of the weak and disadvantaged.

Someone needs to stand with God Who stands with those who have no other to be a father to them.

Someone needs to stand with God to stand up for those who are targeted by the injustice and unkindness of others.

Maybe if I’m that someone, others may mock or misunderstand me.

Well, some certainly mocked Jesus.

May God move my heart to make me a just defender of those whom He would defend.

And followed, too.

“Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways!” (Psalm 81:13).

As a people-shepherd, I have experienced at times this sort of sad regret. Once in a while I have wished that someone in my family-flock or my school-flock or my church-flock or my mission-flock would have listened to me better. They would have saved themselves some problems or grief.

Then I wonder how often I have provoked in the Good Shepherd a verse 13 response.

In fact, am I doing that now in some aspect of my life?

I don’t want to do that to Him.

So I’ll try again to listen. And to walk in His ways.