Week 33   Day 6

someone has noted that 

            justice  

is getting what one deserves 

sometimes we deserve things

not because we have earned them

but because it is a basic human right 

and the basics are declared

in sacred and secular documents 

the prophet Micah proclaimed

"What does the Lord require of you 

but to do justice, and to love kindness 

and to walk humbly with your God?" 

the pamphleteer Thomas Paine had a similar ring 

"Religious duties consist in doing justice, loving mercy,

and endeavoring to make our fellow creatures happy." 

both the Psalmist and Isaiah declared

that the Lord loves justice

and those who practice it 

and Martin Luther published that 

peace was not made for the sake of justice, 

but justice for the sake of peace." 

Amos wanted justice in abundance

throughout the land 

            rolling down like water  

            flowing like a mighty stream 

if there is no peace without justice

we would do well to make justice a priority

                                                            ---rus 

                    RELIGION WITHOUT RIGHTEOUSNESS

Repentance means a changed life, also justice and compassion.

                                                   Amos 5

4Thus says the Lord to the house of Israel:

     "Seek Me and live; but do not seek Bethel, nor enter Gilgal;

     For Gilgal shall surely go into captivity,

     And Bethel shall come to nothing.

     6Seek the Lord and live, lest He break out like fire in Joseph,

     And devour it, with no one to quench it in Bethel--

     7You who turn justice to wormwood,

     And lay righteousness to rest in the earth!"

10They hate the one who rebukes; the one who speaks uprightly.

     11Because you tread on the poor and take grain taxes from him,

     Though you have built houses, you shall not dwell in them;

     You have planted pleasant vineyards, and will not drink wine.

     12For I know your transgressions and your mighty sins:

     Afflicting the just and taking bribes;

     Diverting the poor from justice at the gate.

     13Therefore the prudent keep silent.

14Seek good and not evil, that you may live;

     So the Lord will be with you, as you have spoken.

     15Hate evil, love good; establish justice in the gate.

     It may be that the Lord God of hosts

     Will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.

16Therefore the Lord God of hosts says this:

     "There shall be wailing in all the streets,

     They shall say in all the highways, 'Alas!  Alas!'

     They shall call the farmer to mourning; lamenters to wailing.

     17 In all vineyards there shall be wailing.

     For I will pass through you,"  says the Lord.

18Woe to you who desire the day of the Lord! 

     What good is the day of the Lord to you?

     It will be darkness, and not light.

     19As though a man fled from a lion, and a bear met him!

     Or in the house he leaned on the wall, and a serpent bit him!

     20 Is not the day of the Lord darkness, and not light?

     Is it not very dark, with no brightness in it?

21"I despise your feasts, and do not savor your sacred assemblies.

     22Though you offer Me burnt offerings and grain offerings,

     I will not accept them, nor regard your fattened peace offerings.

     23Take away from Me the noise of your songs,

     For I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments.

     24Let justice run down like water; righteousness like a mighty stream."
                        _{This Bible passage was condensed from the NKJV}

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