Compassion for the poor

This Psalm was written by Solomon, David's son.  Solomon mentions kings from foreign nations worshiping God.  That would be us!  I'm not sure what the people thought when they heard this.  But this prophecy has been unfolding for the last 2000 years.

Psalms 72
9 Foes will fall on their knees before God,
his enemies lick the dust.
10 Kings remote and legendary will pay homage,
kings rich and resplendent will turn over their wealth.
11 All kings will fall down and worship,
and godless nations sign up to serve him,

Another thing that amazes me is God's compassion for people who are poor.  You'd think the Creator of the Universe would have more important things to worry about than our financial problems.  But that's not the case.  There are many families in the US, today, that are struggling to make ends meet. 

Moses spoke about how God wanted the poor treated in the book of Deuteronomy. It's the attitude we are to have that's pretty cool.
Deut 15:7-8
7 "If there is among you a poor man of your brethren, within any of the gates in your land which the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart nor shut your hand from your poor brother, 8 but you shall open your hand wide to him and willingly lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he needs.
NKJV

One day Jesus sat and watched how much people were putting into the temple treasury.  There were many wealthy individuals. They came and threw in some of their coins.  But it was someone else who caught His eye.

Mark 12:42-44
42 Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites... 43 So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury;  44 for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood."
NKJV

As we struggle to make ends meet, this encourages me to give Him all I've got.  To continue in my work and not give up.  The trick is to not blame myself or get discouraged (get stuck on me).  Don't worry about the bank account, but keep moving forward with new ideas and pray a lot!  And give to others when I can.   It's a mystery with God, if I give, thinking something is gone- it somehow comes back like a boomerang.  As exactly what I need.

Psalms 72:12-13
12 Because he rescues the poor at the first sign of need,
the destitute who have run out of luck.
13 He opens a place in his heart for the down-and-out,
he restores the wretched of the earth.

This stood out to me a lot.  God actually feels the pain we feel.  A lot of things will make a lot more sense when we get to Heaven.  What an awesome God!

Psalms 72:14

14 He frees them from tyranny and torture —
when they bleed, he bleeds;
when they die, he dies.

Here's a description of Jesus from Hebrews.
Heb 4:15
15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
NKJV

And to think I thought I was just reading a Psalm today.  God had other ideas. :)   Exactly what I needed to hear.
Psalms 72:18-20
18 Blessed God, Israel's God,
the one and only wonder-working God!
19 Blessed always his blazing glory!
All earth brims with his glory.
20 Yes and Yes and Yes.
THE MESSAGE