We interrupt this six-week unit on the subject of FAITH to bring you a special lesson.

For the past several years, the Southern Baptist Convention, in conjunction with LifeWay resources, has set aside the third Sunday in January as a special emphasis day for the protection of the unborn.  This date was the anniversary of the legalization of abortion in the 1973 case of Roe V Wade in the Supreme Court of the USA.  

This Louisiana girl is so grateful to be a resident of the state of Mississippi.  With the Thomas Dobbs V Jackson Women’s Health Organization legal case, we saw Roe V Wade overturned.  Abortion supporters were gearing up to celebrate (?) fifty years of legalized abortion in January 2023.  They had to cancel that celebration in June 2022!  

The decision came after 60+ million babies had lost their lives.  That’s ten times the number of Jewish lives lost in the HOLOCAUST. 

We do have reasons to rejoice about this news.  However, many of our states have legalized abortion and “codified” it in their law books.  In addition to those decisions, the abortion “pill” is still on the market.  In a word, the battle for the unborn continues.  We must continue to take a stand for life in our churches.

We must continue to be helpers in the lives of mothers who make the decision to keep their babies rather than abort them.  We need to stand ready to help our local crisis pregnancy centers as they minister to these new family units.  Prayers.  Diapers.  Food.  Clothing.  Counseling.  All of these services are rendered locally.  I am grateful to be a part of a church who cares about this ministry.  The annual Walk for Life is coming again in May.  You all gave so generously to the “coin” drive as we filled baby bottles for the Center for Pregnancy Choices.  Thank you! 

We will look at verses in Psalm 10 for our lesson this Sunday.  Psalm 10 has no notes indicating the human author.  Commentators suggest that Psalm 9 (written by David) and Psalm 10 go together.  Psalm 9 is thanksgiving for the justice of God.  Psalm 10 is a prayer-filled outcry for the overthrow of the wicked. 

The first outcry is asking God that ever-present question: “WHY?”  Where are you God?  Why do the wicked prosper?  Their pride leads them to pursue those who are afflicted. The greedy man does not seek God.  His thoughts claim that there is NO God.  The wicked man snorts at anyone who opposes him.  Curses, deceit, oppression, mischief are his sweet tooth.  He lies in wait to injure the innocent.  Like a lion, he crouches and bows down ready to pounce on the less fortunate.  Sounds just like Peter’s description of Satan, the roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8).

The folly of the wicked is that they truly believe that God does not see them.  God will never judge them, they fully believe.  In verse 5, the writer states that the judgement of God is “on high, out of sight of the wicked.” The whole counsel of scripture declares that the judgement of God is certain and will come at the proper time.  He alone is the righteous judge.  He sees all.  He knows all.  He will vindicate. 

In spite of all the grief and chaos, this writer is well aware that God is watching and that He is in charge of all things and all people and all events. The Psalm closes with a firm declaration of deep, abiding faith: “The LORD is King forever and ever.  Nations have perished from His land (while He Himself remains unmovable!).  The LORD will hear the desire of the humble.  The LORD will strengthen their heart.  The LORD will incline His ear.  The LORD will vindicate the orphan and the oppressed.  That man who is of the earth (the wicked one) may cause terror no more.” 

As we stand with God, we stand in truth.  We seek ways to help those who are in need.  The unborn.  The oppressed.  The widow.  The widower.  The incarcerated.  The recently liberated!  The neighbor next door.  That wayward family member.  The nations we serve with a missions and evangelism mindset.  We stand up.  We speak up.  We act in love, even to enemies.  God honors those who bring glory to Him by serving others.  Jesus died for this!  We are to live in His resurrection strength and serve the broken and defenseless.  This is the gospel.