Wednesday 15 July 2020

Hear God's Words on Justice.



Photo by: "Carlos Delgado; CC-BY-SA

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you.   Psalm 89:14

Some people wonder where God's justice is in this world. The problem God has is he must work through his people to have justice on the earth. This is earth, not heaven, where justice reigns. Evil people outnumber the godly people and therefore there is injustice and horrible crimes committed every day. God does reach out himself to save many people's lives, but he can't turn this world into a heaven. Not yet. Evil must be played out to its bitter end so it never rises up again in the universe.

Isaiah, a prophet of God, wrote about the people of his time who questioned God. They asked him, “Why have we humbled ourselves and fasted but you have not noticed?” They didn’t understand why their prayers went unanswered.

This is God’s answer, “On the day of your fasting you do what you want and exploit all your workers. Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast like this and expect your voice to be heard on high!

Is that the kind of fast I want? Do you call this an acceptable day of the Lord?

This is the kind of fast I desire: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set free the oppressed. It is a day to share your food with the hungry, to provide the poor wanderer with shelter. When you see the naked, to clothe them and not turn away from your own flesh and blood.

If you do this, your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear. Then your goodness will go in front of you and I will bring up the rear. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help and he will say, ‘Here I am!’

If you get rid of the burden of oppression that goes with pointing your fingers and cruel words, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.

The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and strengthen your body. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a stream whose waters never fail.”   Isaiah 58:3-11

But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.   Amos 5:24

This is what the LORD says: Administer justice and righteousness. Rescue the victim of robbery from the hand of his oppressor. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow. Do not shed innocent blood in this place.   Jeremiah 22:3