Sunspots 507

Things I have recently spotted that may be of interest to someone else:
Christianity: Vincent van Gogh was, apparently, a devout Christian. (Thanks to a commenter for the link!)


Ken Schenck says that it's more important for the Bible to form us than to inform us.
 
Computing: Gizmo's Freeware recommends Cookie Spy, a free program that helps you look at your stored cookies, and delete them, if you want to.


Humor: (Not really, but I don't have a category for this) National Public Radio reports on something many of us know -- meetings at work are often a wasted of time, and, therefore, money.


Politics: Columnist George F. Will says that the welfare state is growing too fast, and too large.


Science: Wired reports on a really weird insect parasite. Really weird, and creepy.


Wired also tells us why wet dogs smell so badly.


Wired also tells us why the recent blizzards were worse, because of global warming.


And Wired reports on the smallest snake there is. It can curl up on a quarter.


Image source (public domain)

Psalm 72 on government assistance to the poor

Psalm 72:1 God, give the king your justice;

your righteousness to the royal son.

2 He will judge your people with righteousness,

and your poor with justice.

3 The mountains shall bring prosperity to the people.

The hills bring the fruit of righteousness.

4 He will judge the poor of the people.

He will save the children of the needy,

and will break the oppressor in pieces

12 For he will deliver the needy when he cries;

the poor, who has no helper.

13 He will have pity on the poor and needy.

He will save the souls of the needy. (World English Bible, public domain)

I had never seen this, but I should have. Psalm 72, apparently written by either David or Solomon, speaks of the government -- which, in those days, was the king -- saving the children of the needy, having pity on the poor and needy, and delivering them. Presumably, this should have included material blessings. In other words, the Psalm seems to be condoning, even expecting, that the government, and/or the rich, would help the poor.

There are plenty of Old Testament passages about God's displeasure when those in power treat the poor unjustly. This one indicates His pleasure when they help the poor.

This post is a reaction to a better post on the same subject, governmental assistance to the poor, by Ken Schenck, Bible scholar.

Thanks for reading.