Saturday, 4 February 2023

Jeremiah 5:25-29 – The call to treat everyone justly

Jeremiah 5:25 began by saying that because of the people's iniquities and sins, blessings and good things were being kept from them. Having said that, Verses 26-29 then went on to show the sins and iniquities. Social injustice was widespread. The wicked rich and wealthy were exploiting the less fortunate people to advance themselves. These were malicious, cunning, conniving, and oppressive cheats who would lay traps to obtain their ill-gotten power and wealth.

They would do anything to prosper themselves for they had no qualms about how the poor and needy would suffer. The cause of the orphans was disregarded, and the poor were treated unfairly and unjustly. No one would come to the assistance of the poor. Because of all these social injustices, Jeremiah said that they were setting themselves up for the inevitable judgment of God.  What they had done was offensive to the Lord and He would act swiftly to deal with them.

 

Throughout the Bible, we see God’s concerns for social justice. We are all created equal in standing before God. Hence James in his letter reminds believers not to show partiality. James 2:6 admonished believers not to dishonor or oppress the poor. According to James, loving our neighbors as ourselves is the royal law, and being partial would violate the law of love to our fellowmen.  God expects believers to treat the rich or the poor equally. Let us not exploit one another, especially the less fortunate instead let us love them as we would love ourselves. 

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