8 Rise up, O God, judge the earth, for all the nations are your inheritance. Psalm 82:8

For the first time in this psalm, Asaph addressed his comments to the Lord. They are as fitting now as they were when he wrote them.

There are some very serious problems in the world. We have a tendency to live in our own little bubble and forget that billions around the world do not enjoy clean water and decent health care. Millions are homeless. Millions of children are true orphans. Disease in many countries has not been eliminated as it has been in the West. Then there’s widespread, vicious terrorism and wars, human trafficking, religious persecution, and slavery. Throw in government corruption and lack of a fair legal system in most countries, and it’s no wonder the world is deteriorating so quickly.

It’s easy to ignore what happens outside our little bubble, but sometimes we need to air it out. All of those things are not positive or pretty but they’re real, and it’s what many of our Brothers and Sisters in Christ are facing.

I was looking at orphanages around the world recently and was reviewing the conditions of each of them. I get to parts where it says “abandoned, abused, and often sold into sex slavery” and become livid and enraged at the perpetrators and often the governments who turn a blind eye because of bribes given. Shame on you! Like Asaph, I say, “Rise up, O God, judge the earth.”

The time will come when those hideous individuals will have to give an account for their actions. They believe they’re getting away with these treacherous acts, but nothing escapes His watchful eye. Why He doesn’t just wave His hand and declare a “do over” tells us something about His character – namely the character trait of patience.

I still feel for the orphans who have had to endure a nightmarish life, but trust in the Righteous Judge to settle matters…at the end of the day.