“Wash and make yourselves clean. Take your evil deeds out of my sight; stop doing wrong.  Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed.  Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.

“‘Come now, let us settle the matter,’ says the Lord.  ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.'”  Isaiah 1:16 – 18.

My mind goes back to the opening chapter of this word of God through the Prophet Isaiah. God speaks a clear word.  It is a word from his heart. It reveals what he desires, always and at all times.  In summary it is profoundly simple but, I must admit, as difficult to obey as it is simple! Here it is.

First.  Stop doing wrong.  God’s people were obviously taking advantage of one another without regard for the needy among them. Learn to do right.  There it is, right and wrong.  And it has to do with how we think and what we do.  Isaiah does not specify what is wrong-doing but that is clarified in his command that they do right!  That is to seek justice, defend the oppressed and to take up the cause of the fatherless and the problems facing widows.

In other words, do what is in the heart of God to do, stand with those who are pushed aside and who face real problems because society turns its back against them.  Think of them.  How can you help them? Should that be any of your business?  In our nation we hope that our taxes will address that issue, not us. I suppose it was the same in the days of Isaiah when the Jews supported the Levites who were to look after the poor and outsiders. If I hear the word of God clearly, we must help as we can.

That is God’s first command, do good.  But He does not leave it at that. The heart of the prophecy is revealed, if we sin against God and man there is forgiveness.  Repent, receive cleansing and get on with God’s work! Now that is a working formula. It gives us freedom yet responsibility, all made possible by the grace of God. I must remember that again and again in the year that we are now entering, 2016.