Psalms 146: 7,8 who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The LORD sets the prisoners free; the LORD opens the eyes of the blind.

The Psalmist is prophetically describing the ministry of Jesus. When Jesus stood up in the temple, he quoted from Isa 61:1 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and qualified me to preach the Gospel of good tidings to the meek, the poor, and afflicted; He has sent me to bind up and heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the [physical and spiritual] captives and the opening of the prison and of the eyes to those who are bound…”

These verses provide the HOPE for those who are oppressed, hungry, imprisoned and blind. The LORD is the rescuer, provider and healer of all.

From the world’s perspective, being a white male, living in America, possessing a college education and living in a home whose mortgage is owned by a bank; I am neither oppressed, hungry, a prisoner or blind. Yet from a spiritual perspective, I AM oppressed by the evil one and by sin. I AM hungry for righteousness. I have been and continue to fight against being a slave to ‘various passions and pleasures’, particularly lust. Like Samson, I fight the spiritual blindness brought on by lust. There always seems to be a multi-dimensionality to all of the Scriptures.

The impoverishment and needs of my soul can only be met through the saving, rescuing, healing touch of Christ in my life. The Gospel of Jesus sets my soul free. Jesus has fulfilled the requirements of the law and in Him; I have been set free. Jesus said that soul nourishment is from Him. He promises that by coming to Him, I will never hunger and thirst again. Paul prayed that the eyes of my heart would be open…

Whether spiritually or physically impoverished and needy, the divine answer is to be found in Jesus.