Read
The Lord
21Jerusalem, you are like
an unfaithful wife.
Once your judges were honest
and your people lived right;
now you are a city
full of murderers.
22Your silver is fake,
and your wine
is watered down.
23Your leaders have rejected me
to become friends of crooks;
your rulers are looking
for gifts and bribes.
Widows and orphans
never get a fair trial.
24I am the Lord All-Powerful,
the mighty ruler of Israel,
and I make you a promise:
You are now my enemy,
and I will show my anger
by taking revenge on you.
25I will punish you terribly
and burn away everything
that makes you unfit
to worship me.
26Jerusalem, I will choose
judges and advisors
like those you had before.
Your new name will be
“Justice and Faithfulness.”
The Lord
27Jerusalem, you will be saved
by showing justice;
Zion's people who turn to me
will be saved
by doing right.
28But those rebellious sinners
who turn against me, the Lord,
will all disappear.
29You will be made ashamed
of those groves of trees
where you worshiped idols.
30You will be like a grove of trees
dying in a drought.
31Your strongest leaders
will be like dry wood
set on fire by their idols.
No one will be able to help,
as they all go up in flames.
Reflect
In today’s reading Isaiah continues with the LORD’s prophetic accusation of Jerusalem. The city has become unfaithful and turned away from God. But rather than rail against idolatry which was prevalent, Isaiah points to the injustice found within the city. Instead of administering justice the rulers chase after bribes and enrich only themselves. Widows and orphans never get a fair trial (Isaiah 1:23).
Sad to say, 2,500 years after Isaiah penned these words not much has changed. Human nature remains the same. Corrupted. The rich and powerful continue to amass obscene amounts of wealth, while the needs of the poor are largely ignored. The scales are tipped in favor of the highly placed and well to do. Isaiah’s prophetic words are just as relevant today.
The need for justice and fairness is built into the human spirit. Why as a society do we fail at this so miserably? As a parent I would never give a treat or a gift to only one of my sons. That would be unfair. The one who was short changed would definitely make his feelings known. And so he should. From an early age we can quickly spot injustice.
There is a solution. Isaiah states it clearly. Jerusalem, you will be saved by showing justice; Zion’s people who turn to me will be saved by doing right (Isaiah 1:27). Repentance means turning to God. It means realizing the error of our inborn selfishness. By gazing into the heart of our heavenly Father, we can begin to grasp the love he has for those in need around us.
Respond
LORD God, I cannot solve all the problems and the injustice in the world around me, but help me make a tangible difference in someone’s life today. Amen.
David Kitz
David Kitz is an actor, an award-winning author, and teacher. For more than thirty years, he has served as an ordained pastor. His love for drama is evident to all who have seen his Bible-based performances. He has toured across Canada and United States with a variety of one man plays for children and adults. Raised in Saskatchewan, David now lives in Ottawa with his wife Karen. Books in print: The Soldier Who Killed a King, Little Froggy Explores the BIG World, Psalms Alive!, Tunks on Tongues