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True Justice and Tender Mercy

“This is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘Administer true justice. Show loving devotion and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil in your hearts against one another.’” — Zechariah 7:9-10 When the people questioned the value of their religious rituals, God responded through the prophet Zechariah with a striking redirection: focus not on outward observances, but on inward transformation and relational righteousness. The measure of faithful worship is not how consistently one fasts, but how deeply one loves. In God’s eyes, true justice is inseparable from loving devotion and compassion. Justice is not sterile lawfulness; it is truth infused with mercy. To “administer true justice” is to resist the temptation of performative fairness. It is not justice tailored to our convenience, culture, or comfort, but justice grounded in God’s unchanging character. And where true justice is practiced, compassion must follow. The ...
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Learning to Do Right

“Learn to do right; seek justice, correct the oppressor. Defend the fatherless and plead the case of the widow.” — Isaiah 1:17 This verse from Isaiah is a stirring command from God delivered to a people who had grown comfortable with hollow rituals. Their sacrifices and worship were no longer pleasing to Him, not because they lacked form, but because they lacked justice. God calls them back to the heart of faithfulness—a life marked by righteousness that defends, seeks, corrects, and pleads. This is not theoretical righteousness. It is practical, relational, and fiercely compassionate. To “learn to do right” is to admit that doing right doesn’t always come naturally. It requires humility and a willingness to be taught. It involves unlearning patterns of indifference and selfishness, and embracing a life that prioritizes others—especially those who are often forgotten. Who in your community today is without a voice? Who is vulnerable or alone? How might your own growth in righteousness ...
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A Community That Says “Amen”

“Cursed is he who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow. And let all the people say, ‘Amen!’” — Deuteronomy 27:19 This verse is drawn from a solemn moment in Israel’s journey—a public covenant ceremony in which blessings and curses were declared aloud for all to hear. At the heart of this declaration is the unwavering standard of justice. God makes clear that to withhold justice from the foreigner, the fatherless, or the widow is not just an oversight—it is a violation so serious that it brings a curse. And in response, the gathered community affirms, “Amen.” It is a moment of collective accountability, a vow to uphold God’s justice together. This is no private reflection or personal sentiment. It is a communal declaration of identity. The people of God are not simply individuals striving for righteousness—they are a society committed to justice. Together, they are to ensure that no one slips through the cracks, that the vulnerable are not ignored, and that...
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Leave Room for Mercy

“Do not deny justice to the foreigner or the fatherless, and do not take a widow’s cloak as security. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt, and the LORD your God redeemed you from there; therefore I am commanding you to do this. When you reap the harvest of your field and forget a sheaf in the field, do not go back to get it. Leave it for the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow, so that the LORD your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. When you beat the olives from your trees, do not go over the branches again. Leave what remains for the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow. When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, do not glean it again. Leave what remains for the foreigner, the fatherless, and the widow. Remember that you were slaves in the land of Egypt. That is why I am commanding you to do this.” — Deuteronomy 24:17-22 This passage reveals how profoundly God’s justice touches the everyday patterns of life. He commands His people not only to be fair in le...
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Love What God Loves

“He executes justice for the fatherless and widow, and He loves the foreigner, giving him food and clothing. So you also must love the foreigner, since you yourselves were foreigners in the land of Egypt.” — Deuteronomy 10:18-19 This passage offers a deeply moving glimpse into the heart of God. He is not passive or distant in the face of need; He acts. He defends the fatherless, cares for the widow, and loves the foreigner—not just in sentiment but through direct, physical provision. He gives food. He gives clothing. These are acts of justice and mercy woven together in the daily lives of the vulnerable. And then, with unmistakable clarity, God calls us to do the same: “So you also must love the foreigner.” This is not a call to admiration, but to imitation. We are meant to live as reflections of God’s character. Just as He gives, we are to give. Just as He loves, we are to love. But this love is not born out of duty alone—it is born from remembrance. “You yourselves were foreigners.” ...
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Love the Stranger as Yourself

“When a foreigner resides with you in your land, you must not oppress him. You must treat the foreigner living among you as native-born and love him as yourself, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt. I am the LORD your God.” — Leviticus 19:33-34 This passage from Leviticus is a striking call to radical love—not just justice or tolerance, but love. God commands His people to love the stranger as they love themselves. This is not a comfortable, distant charity. It is a deeply personal standard, mirroring the love we hold for our own lives. And who is this neighbor to be loved? Not a family member, not a friend, but the foreigner—the one most easily overlooked or feared, the one who looks, sounds, or lives differently than we do. In ancient Israel, foreigners held no inherited land, few legal rights, and often no social standing. Yet God places them at the center of His ethical commands, requiring that they be treated “as native-born.” Why? Because God’s people were once foreigner...
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He Hears Their Cry

“You must not exploit or oppress a foreign resident, for you yourselves were foreigners in the land of Egypt. You must not mistreat any widow or orphan. If you do mistreat them and they cry out to Me, I will surely hear their cry. My anger will be kindled, and I will kill you with the sword; then your wives will be widows and your children fatherless.” — Exodus 22:21-24 God’s command in this passage is not merely a directive from a bygone era—it is a window into His compassionate heart and unyielding commitment to justice. Foreigners, widows, and orphans are named here as emblematic of the vulnerable and the voiceless—those who are often overlooked or exploited by society. God does not leave their care to chance; He takes their suffering personally. When they cry out, He hears. When they are mistreated, He responds. His justice is swift, and His warning is serious. The command to protect them is not a suggestion but a moral imperative grounded in divine empathy. The call to remember—“y...
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