Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Jeremiah 22:1-5
22:1 Thus says the Lord: “Go down to the house of the king of Judah and speak there this word, and say, ‘Hear the word of the Lord, O king of Judah, who sits on the throne of David, you, and your servants, and your people who enter these gates. Thus says the Lord: Do justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place. For if you will indeed obey this word, then there shall enter the gates of this house kings who sit on the throne of David, riding in chariots and on horses, they and their servants and their people. But if you will not obey these words, I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that this house shall become a desolation. (ESV)
by Leota Stevens
God’s justice system as detailed in this passage of Scripture reminds me of the game of football. God’s justice has a goal and employs both offensive and defensive actions to reach that objective. Judgment and righteousness are the interior line. The word of instruction from God is delivered into the hands of each “receiver,” and we are expected to run the ball according to his game plan. His coaching is perfect; his strategy for victory is genius—free the oppressed from the hand of the oppressor (recover the fumble); do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, or the widow; do not shed innocent blood in this place (keep your muscular momentum out of the spectator sidelines—don’t run people over). If we obey his plan we win; if we don’t, the victory dance will be choreographed by the enemy of our souls.
Copyright Information
Daily Bible Meditations are taken from The Helping Hand,a Sabbath School student quarterly for youth and adults. Copyright © 2008, Seventh Day Baptist Board of Christian Education, Inc.
Scripture quotations marked "ESV" are taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright ©2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Text provided by the Crossway Bibles Web Service .
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