Justice

Posted by Traci at 8:52 PM

Reading through Isaiah right now and in the first chapter God is breaking bad on Israel.  Not a big shock, God beats up on Isreal a lot.  But as I read I was surprised at what God got so mad about.  It wasn’t their partying or dirty movie watching or smoking or any other typical badness we rant about on Sundays.

He was ready to destroy them because… they didn’t fight for justice.  Here’s a Google definition of justice: just behavior or treatment, the quality of being fair and reasonable.

This was news to me.  God was ready to destroy his nation with fire from heaven because they didn’t treat people fairly.  Really??

God has given us three beautiful children.  They are all smart and funny and everything else every parent thinks their kids are, but the truth is right now it’s easier to deal/talk/communicate/be with one of them than the other two.  But nearly every day since I read this passage, God has reminded me that he longs for justice, he fights for fairness. 

In Isaiah he is screaming for some kind of fair fight for the fatherless.  I know it’s my job to do the hard part and treat all my children the same.  But this has been difficult for me because I am lazy.

I’m thankful for God’s constant whispers.  And I’m thankful that he’s empowering our kids.  The other night they were in the playroom while I was cooking dinner.  Rosalee ran into the kitchen crying with Eli trailing behind her.  As is my bad habit, I asked Eli what happened and he said “oh well... I don’t know”.  Rosalee looked at me and signed “Eli pushed me, tell him no no”.  I about died laughing and hugged her.  And told Eli no no.

Keeping their eyes on little brother (lest he take a Matchbox car they've claimed).

Quit your worship charades.

    I can’t stand your trivial religious games:

Monthly conferences,weekly Sabbaths, special meetings—

    meetings,meetings, meetings—I can’t stand one more!

Meetings for this, meetings for that. I hate them!

    You’ve worn me out!

I’m sick of your religion, religion, religion,

    while you go right on sinning.

When you put on your next prayer-performance,

    I’ll be looking the other way.

No matter how long or loud or often you pray,

    I’ll not be listening.

And do you know why? Because you’ve been tearing

    people to pieces, and your hands are bloody.

Go home and wash up.

    Clean up your act.

Sweep your lives clean of your evildoings

    so I don’t have to look at them any longer.

Say no to wrong.

    Learn to do good.

Work for justice.

    Help the down-and-out.

Stand up for the homeless.

    Go to bat for the defenseless.

Isaiah