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I. THE RIGHT TREATMENT OF THE AFFLICTED.

1. Its nature. To consider the poor, in a scriptural and true sense, is —

(1)  To honour their nature as men.

(2)  To promote their rights as citizens.

(3)  To alleviate their woes as sufferers.

(4)  To appreciate their work as servants.Poor though they be, they are children of the same great Father, and endowed with the high attribute of moral intelligence. Poor though they be, they have their rights as citizens of the same state, and they have done more to help on the world than any other class of men. They work our mines, construct our fleets, build our cities, fight our battles, write some of our best books, and invent many of the most useful and ornamental arts.

2. The happiness of the right treatment.

(1) "Blessed is he that considereth the poor." Such a man is blessed in the service he renders. The exercise of benevolence is the source of our chiefest joy. "It is more blessed to give than to receive."(2) But the writer specifies certain advantages which are bestowed in addition to this (vers. 1-3).

II. THE WRONG TREATMENT OF THE AFFLICTED (vers. 4-13). Under this ill-treatment —

1. He had a consciousness of his own sins (ver. 4).

(1)  Great afflictions often awakes a sense of sin.

(2)  Under a consciousness of his own sins he appeals for mercy. "Lord, be merciful unto me."

2. He deeply felt the wicked conduct of his enemies (vers. 5-9).

(1)  They desired his death.

(2)  They plot his ruin.

3. He directs his heart to the great God (vers. 10-13).

(1)  He prays.

(2)  He confesses.

(3)  He worships. It is well when all our trials and varied experiences end thus.

(Homilist.)

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KJV: {To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David.} Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble.

WEB: Blessed is he who considers the poor. Yahweh will deliver him in the day of evil.