LIVING WORD DEVOTIONAL
_By Pastor Mensa Otabil_

Thursday 19th March 2026

THE HELPER OF THE FATHERLESS

Scripture Reading: Psalm 10

But You have seen, for You observe trouble and grief, To repay it by Your hand. The helpless commits himself to You; You are the helper of the fatherless.  Psalm 10:14

The Psalmist began this Psalm with questions. His prayer to God was about His difficult circumstances. He talked about the wicked and their proud boasting. He then transitioned to affirming his faith in God. 

Today’s verse is a response to the claim that the Lord pays no attention to what the wicked are doing. Here, the psalmist confidently asserts that God is not passive to evil on earth.

God sees the attacks of the wicked.

The verb used for ‘seen’ in this verse indicates a past action of God which is also a present reality. That means when the psalmist thought the Lord had not seen what the wicked was doing, the Lord had already seen it and continued to see it. 

God knows our troubles and griefs.

 Troubles have to do with the bad things we experience that are seen by all. Griefs have to do with what we go through internally that no one sees. The Lord sees what is seen and unseen.

- *God repays the wicked with His own hand.* That means the Lord takes wicked acts against His people personally. When the wicked persecute God’s children, the Lord sees it as a direct assault on Himself. Because of that, He personally acts against the wicked.

God helps the helpless.

The ‘fatherless’ are those who have no one to provide for them or defend them. God’s commitment to all those who are vulnerable is to be their helper and sustenance. He speaks for them, provides for them and defends them. When we are thrown into a pit too deep or an ocean too wide, God is there to help us.

We may have legitimate questions about life’s experiences as the Psalmist had. But we must move beyond those questions and perplexities to affirmations of our faith in who God is. We must develop a sure confidence in the faithfulness of God.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, you are the helpless Helper. Let your hand bring deliverance to all who trust in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.