Thank you for taking the time to read the message today. I hope that you are all doing very well. I am feeling better as for as my arthritis is concerned. Thank you for your continued prayers.
This week, we are continuing with our series on the names of God found primarily in the Old Testament. For today's message, I want us to focus on the fact that God is called the God of justice. In the Hebrew, God of justice is Elohei Mishpat. We see God called by this title in Isaiah 30:18 that reads, "Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, therefore He exalts Himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is God of justice, blessed are all who wait for Him.
In addition to this verse from Isaiah, we read in verses including Psalm 11:7 that God loves justice. Deuteronomy 32:4 tells us that one of the characteristics of God's nature is that He is a just God. Many other verses in the Bible tells us that God is a God of justice, and He is a God who is concerned that justice is carried out.
In the Bible, we can see in various places that God is concerned about justice. For instance, one of the best examples is when David had Uriah killed in order to conceal his sin with Bathsheba. Nathan told David a story about a wealthy man who took and killed a poor man's pet lamb in order to feed his friends. David was outraged at this injustice. Nathan said to David, "You are that man." God demanded justice for what happened to Uriah. God also demanded justice when Ahab used his power in an oppressive way to kill Naboth and to take his families vineyard.
Throughout the Scriptures, we see that God is concerned about justice especially that those who are oppressed should receive justice. One important passage that expresses this is Jeremiah 22:3 that states in part, "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, the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place." God demands that the vulnerable members of society be treated fairly and equally. He will bring judgment on those who oppress others.
We also read about the justice of God in Zechariah 7:8-10. This passage states, "Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart."
Knowing that God is a God of justice and that he wants justice to be done for the oppressed and the vulnerable, what are we to do. Amos 5:24 tells us, "Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream." In other words, we as followers of the Lord God Almighty need to do something about the injustice and oppression in this world.
There is a lot of injustice and oppression in this world. Right now, there are millions who live on very little. They have barely enough to eat, and they are dying from treatable diseases. This is due in large part because of the oppression of the poor in their wages and by the effects of years of colonial oppression. There are wealthy corporations all over the world who pay people a pittance for hard labor while they enrich themselves and their shareholders. Drug companies make billions in profits while people die unable to afford life-saving medications. This is all wrong, and followers of the God of justice should take a stand against these and other injustices in the world.
The first step is to speak out against injustice. Advocate for policies that promote help and justice for the poor and for the oppressed. Speak out in the name of the Lord Jesus against racism and other oppression. Stand with those who are hurting and put down by those in positions of power who are misusing their power. Work to bring those to power who will govern, lead and do what is fair, just and good in this world.
Jesus preached a message of liberation. He said that He came to set the oppressed free. If we would follow the message of Jesus, we would do unto others as we would have done unto us. We would seek to help the poor and oppressed. We would all seek to do good and to love our neighbor as ourselves. When we do this, and when we persuade others to follow the true path of Jesus, we are helping to bring justice in the midst of an unjust world.
Jesus who is the incarnation of the God of justice will come one day to bring ultimate justice to the world. When Jesus returns, He will right every wrong, and He will end every form of injustice. Jesus said the last will be first and the first will be last. Even so Lord Jesus come. Amen.
Prayer Requests
I need you to pray about something please. Last week, I thought things were going better at work. I was wrong. I must find a new job as soon as possible. Please pray that I can find at least a somewhat decent job really fast. I am tired of getting screamed at and being made fun of because I have a bad leg and can't walk that fast. Thank you for your prayers.
Please pray for peace. Pray for a ceasefire in Gaza. Pray for peace in that whole region of the world. Pray for peace in Yemen, Syria, Libya, Sudan and of course keep praying about the situation in Ukraine.
Pray for those who can't find homes, jobs or enough to eat. Let us all work to help others and pray that the systems that cause injustice might be changed in the name of Jesus.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Guinea and the UAE. Pray that many will come to know Jesus.
I just want to remind you that I am currently posting the second half of the Exploring the Minor Prophets book midweek. I will be posting the chapter on Haggai this week. I will post the verses on Monday, and we will continue with our current series for the sermon next week. May God bless you all.
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