The Bible talks about Justice. 預覽

Yesterday we read about how God is just, and how we are called to reflect the justice of God as His images. God’s justice is both retributive and restorative—punishing evil and defending the oppressed. 

As you continue reading the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms, again and again you begin to see the kind of people that God defends with His justice. Today’s reading is a broad selection of verses that are meant to show you four groups that God specifically calls out: the poor, the immigrant, the orphans, and the widows. According to God, whatever it means to do justice, it always includes prioritizing the rights and defending these groups. 

But why these people? Going all the way back to Cain, God knows that humans tend to exercise their authority over one another. This is especially true for those who are at a disadvantage in their society. Injustice always prioritizes the disadvantaged in our world, so we should always prioritize justice for these same people.

The prophets echo this message as they call Israel to reflect God’s image by caring for the same people as God. One of the best ways humanity can reflect the image of God is by caring for those created in God’s image who are disadvantaged because of their wealth, ethnicity, or family security.

As you read today, reflect on the people God prioritizes in His justice, and ask God for a life that reflects His love for the disadvantaged in our world, too.