Maintain Justice; Do What’s Right – Isaiah 56

A text – Isaiah 56:1, 6-8

56:1 Thus says the LORD: Maintain justice, and do what is right, for soon my salvation will come, and my deliverance be revealed.
56:6 And the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, to minister to him, to love the name of the LORD, and to be his servants, all who keep the sabbath, and do not profane it, and hold fast my covenant–
56:7 these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.
56:8 Thus says the Lord GOD, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, I will gather others to them besides those already gathered.

A reflection:

Just in case we needed a good reason to maintain justice and do what is right, Isaiah gives us one.

Do these things because, as you do what is right, foreigners will see this life of justice that you are living and join you in it. And you will all be brought to the Lord’s holy mountain. “And my house will be a house of prayer for ALL peoples. “Thus says the Lord God, who gathers the outcasts of Israel: “I will gather others to them besides those already gathered.”

This intent of God to gather others besides his chosen few might not have been welcome news to the chosen few. Many of us enjoy being exclusive – the only ones in on a secret place or event or benefit. But God seems to be of a different character – He goes out to the highways and byways and invites strangers in.  The original guests might be aghast, but in the the outcasts and strangers come, by invitation.

Also, if we are living in justice, maintaining justice, and doing what is right, our paths will inevitably cross the paths of those who are not fairly treated, who are outcasts, who are different. We will have bumped into those whose life is hard and whose work never ends. If we are maintaining fairness and justice in the world, we will already know some of these folks God is just bound to include in the abundant invitation. And it won’t seem strange to us that all are included in God’s bounty. While it will rankle some, it might just seem wonderful to us.

A prayer:

Lord God, Thank you for loving us. Thank you being a God of bounty who includes the foreigners and outcasts. Help us to always maintain justice and do the right thing, so that we can gratefully be the ones at the heavenly banquet to be the friendly face of welcome when you include the strangers.   Amen.