Government for the Poor

As a political conservative, more or less, I tend to prefer smaller government, and tend to prefer that individuals take responsibility for themselves, and for the government not to be a nanny. Yes, I am one of those who sees the primary purposes of government as being that of public protection (fire, police, military) and providing necessary infrastructure and basic services (highways, water, courts, etc).

(Which reminds me, our local government really needs to get on the ball as regards gang activity, and why don’t we have water ready to flow from Randleman Lake? That is a governmental disgrace.)

Generally I tend not to be as supportive of large government welfare programs for individuals and families.

But, trying to be a praying man, and trying to pray the Psalms each day, I came across a Psalm that I have read many times but which struck me in a new way this week - Psalm 72. The heading of this Psalm says that it is “Of Solomon” who was of course the king for a good while. So Psalm 72 is a prayer to God by the king for the king. I am sure there are parts of the Psalm which some would find objectionable, but I wanted to excerpt a few passages which give some insight as to a government's responsibility to the most needy of its people.

Notice how it begins:

1 Give the king your justice, O God,
and your righteousness to the royal son!
2 May he judge your people with righteousness,
and your poor with justice!
3 Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people,
and the hills, in righteousness!
4 May he defend the cause of the poor of the people,
give deliverance to the children of the needy,
and crush the oppressor!

About this king the Psalm goes on to say:

12 For he delivers the needy when he calls,
the poor and him who has no helper.
13 He has pity on the weak and the needy,
and saves the lives of the needy.
14 From oppression and violence he redeems their life,
and precious is their blood in his sight.

I know, ours is no theocracy, but is there any insight to be gained from these Jewish and Christian Scriptures?

For myself, I cannot say in any categorical way that it is not the job of government to care about the weak and needy and poor. In other places in the Scripture emphasis is also placed on orphans, widows, and strangers and aliens, the latter which means, more or less, immigrants.

It seemed to be a big deal to Solomon that he as king do right by the poor. It mattered a whole bunch to the prophets. Maybe it should matter to us too.

If a king finds himself praying to God that he care about and do justly for the poor and needy, could not a representative assembly do the same? Well, I mean if they were allowed to pray that is.

Just food for thought.

Joel