Speaking for Those who Cannot Speak

Proverbs 31:8-9

ETS: King Lemuel’s mother taught him his responsibility to speak for those who cannot speak for themselves.

ESS: We should speak for those who cannot speak for themselves

OSS: [MO: Consecrative] {SO: I want the hearers to be enlisted in the service of God, specifically in standing up for pro-life and the sanctity of human life, and speaking up for the unborn, those who cannot speak for themselves.}

PQ: What implications do these verses have for us today?

UW: Implications

Introduction: A bill passed through the House of U.S. which is described as “the most radical pro-abortion bill ever passed.” While the bill has not passed through the Senate yet, it is on its way to them. This bill, if passed, would “overturn all federal and state pro-life laws, and go further to make it illegal for elected officials to even introduce pro-life legislation.” (lifenews.com, last bullet under effects of bill being passed); Furthermore, this bill takes away any protection currently in place to prohibit late-term abortions. This is SERIOUS. In light of this, I want us to study a passage in Proverbs 31 together which has great implications for us. Though the babies in the womb cannot speak yet, they are still lives- created and blessed by God. We MUST speak for those who cannot speak for themselves.

Background of Proverbs 31:1-9;10-31

TS: Let us examine now the implications of this text:

The first implication is that we have been commanded to speak up. (v. 8a, 9a)

King Lemuel’s mother commanded him to speak up for those who could not speak for themselves. Scholars agree that it was the king’s responsibility to see that those who were “less than valuable” by society be heard and treated justly. Specifically, orphans are the subject, but generally, all who are needy and considered to be less than and counted out by society.

APPLICATION: We are commanded by Scripture to SPEAK UP!

The second implication is that there are those who have no voice. (vv. 8b-9)

As previously mentioned, this text is likely specifically referring to orphans, those considered by society to be the lowest of low; however, it extends generally to all who are “less than valuable” whether related to being uneducated, poor, or unpopular. The reality rings true regardless: there are those who have no voice.

APPLICATION: We must realize that there are those who have no voice and are not considered valuable to society. Among those are the unborn children who are everyday being murdered; Among those are also other populations considered less than by our society and leadership. WE MUST realize that there are those who have no voice. For them, we must speak up.

The third implication is that we must advocate for those who are oppressed, needy, and unable to be heard on their own. (vv. 8-9)

The terminology of verse 9, “judge righteously, and defend the cause...” speaks with a meaning of advocating. We must stand and support those who may never be supported by anyone else! We must speak for them. God created them. They matter.

APPLICATION: There are those who are needy, oppressed, and unable to be heard among us. For them, we must advocate and speak up.

CONCLUSION:

Today, there is a great need for us to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves.

Though I am not sure when the Senate will determine whether or not to pass the bill, I do know that on December 1st, the SCOTUS is scheduled to hear the state of MS’s proposal for a bill to be passed in MS that abortion be banned after 15 weeks. Today, there stands 66 days between now and December 1st. Beginning now, will you commit every day from now until December 1st to pray at 6am with your family for our country? Of specific interest to me is 2 Chronicles 7:12-22. Solomon just completed the temple and God spoke to him on conditional basis: if you follow after me, I will bless you; if you turn away and abandon me, I will destroy you. Today, let us commit to following after God; let us commit to seeking His face- in humility, prayer, and repentance. Let us acknowledge our wrongdoing and abandoning Him. Let us boldly repent and beg of His forgiveness. Let us pray for our nation to do the same.

2 Chronicles 7:12-22

Psalm 79:9