The Role of the Church in the Community

Justice and Mercy in the Old Testament: Part 2

Lesson #4 for July 23, 2016

Scriptures: [Ezekiel 37:1-14; 47:1-12; Ephesians 2:10; Matthew 5:16; Revelation 22:1-2; Isaiah 61:1-11][1].

1.    What would happen if every Christian or even every Seventh-day Adventist made it his or her challenge to reach out to the community around her/him?

A neighborhood that had flourished in the 1950s and early 1960s had become like a war zone in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The majority of the families moved away, leaving behind a trail of abandoned, run-down, and burned-out tenements. Businesses moved out and drugs and crime moved in, further making the neighborhood very undesirable.

In 1986 a Christian family left their comfortable home in suburbia and moved into this depressed urban community. A pastor from another city joined them.

They rebuilt two burned-out buildings and made them their homes. The two families spent time in the streets, meeting with community groups and mingling with those who remained in the area. These two families were the catalyst that God used to begin a church that brought healing and transformation to this dead community. Their work and impact continues today, having made a big difference in many lives there.—Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide for Saturday, July 16, 2016.

2.    What would it take for Seventh-day Adventists living in the 21st century to live as has been suggested in this story?

3.    Even if we all did that, would we be able to eliminate poverty? Jesus Himself said that will never happen. (Matthew 26:6-13)[2]

4.    There are many examples in the Old Testament of Hebrew and Jewish people abusing their neighbors and the poor for their own advantage. The laws in the countries in which most of us live make that much more difficult in our day. Does that mean that the problem has gone away? Certainly, poverty has not gone away!

5.    Read Ezekiel 37:1-14[3]. This describes an incredible vision which Ezekiel saw of a valley full of dry bones. Those bones came back to life, forming a vast army. What was the purpose of that vision? Remember that Ezekiel was in captivity, speaking to fellow countrymen who were also in captivity. They felt desperate and hopeless. But, through Ezekiel, God said that He would take them back to their homeland and make them prosperous once again. What lesson should we learn from that story or vision that might apply to us?

6.    Read Ephesians 2:10 (GNB): “God has made us what we are, and in our union with Christ Jesus he has created us for a life of good deeds, which he has already prepared for us to do.”

7.    What does it mean to be “created for a life of good deeds”?

8.    Consider these words from Ellen White.

Our acceptance with God is sure only through His beloved Son, and good works are but the result of the working of His sin-pardoning love. They are no credit to us, and we have nothing accorded to us for our good works by which we may claim a part in the salvation of our souls. Salvation is God’s free gift to the believer, given to him for Christ’s sake alone. The troubled soul may find peace through faith in Christ, and his peace will be in proportion to his faith and trust. He cannot present his good works as a plea for the salvation of his soul.

But are good works of no real value? Is the sinner who commits sin every day with impunity, regarded of God with the same favor as the one who through faith in Christ tries to work in his integrity? The Scripture answers,

“We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” [Ephesians 2:10]

In his divine arrangement, through his unmerited favor, the Lord has ordained that good works shall be rewarded. We are accepted through Christ’s merit alone; and the acts of mercy, the deeds of charity, which we perform, are the fruits of faith.—Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, book 3, 199.3-200.1. [Content in brackets is added.]

9.    There are two statements which stand out in that quotation. 1) “Salvation is God’s free gift to the believer.” This would seem to suggest that our main task should be to encourage people to be believers. (Contrast James 2:19[4].) How do we do that? 2) What does it mean to be “accepted through Christ’s merits alone”? Do we need to learn from the life and death of Jesus Christ so that our behavior becomes more and more like His? Is that not what is implied by Matthew 5:43-48[5] where it challenges us to be perfect as God is perfect?

10.    Read Ezekiel 47:1-8[6]. In the final section of Ezekiel, he had several visions. In one of those visions, he saw a river flowing out of the temple in Jerusalem towards the east. If one travels down the steep path east from Jerusalem to Jericho and continues to the south, he will encounter the Dead Sea. Ezekiel saw a stream getting bigger and wider and deeper flowing into the Dead Sea and turning it into a wonderful freshwater resource.

11.    Do you understand this river to be a symbol for God’s church? (1 Peter 2:4-5[7]) If we were a source of light and salt to the world as suggested by Matthew 5:13-16, would we not be a tremendous life-giving source to the world? So, what is the best way of doing that in 2016?

12.    One of the closest examples in our world today to the vision that Ezekiel saw is the Zambezi River in Africa. It begins as a shallow brook, springing from under a tree. But, when the heavy rains come and streams pour into it from both sides, it becomes a mighty river which cascades over Victoria Falls on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe.

13.    Could our church have that kind of an effect on our community?

Our work has been presented to me as, in its beginning, a small, very small, rivulet.—Ellen G. White, Testimonies for the Church, vol. 7, 171.4.

14.    So, how can we be more effective in reaching out to the community?

15.    Read Luke 4:18-19[8]. What did Jesus do for the poor? He brought them good news. But, it was not the type of good news they wanted! They wanted Him to help them conquer the Romans, make them all rich, eliminate poverty, and feed them and clothe them without any effort on their part. So, what did Jesus mean when He said God had sent Him to proclaim liberty to the captives, recovery of sight to the blind, to set free the oppressed, and to announce the time when the Lord will save His people? On that occasion, Jesus mentioned two examples of miracles that God performed for Gentiles. The people of Nazareth, His hometown, became so angry about it they wanted to kill Him! Hopefully, that will not be the effect of our preaching the good news to the poor in our day!

16.    Do you think that Ezekiel’s vision was intended to be a symbol for God’s church in the end time? What relationship do you see between [Ezekiel 47:12 and Revelation 22:1-2][9]? Were these two prophets-one from the Old Testament and one from the New Testament-suggesting that God’s final end-time church will provide the water of life to all around them? Certainly, there will be the river of life flowing from the throne of God in the heavenly kingdom. But, is there a symbolic river of life that needs to be flowing in our day through our efforts? How well are we doing at bringing abundant life to the poor in our day? (See John 10:10[10].)

17.    Read Amos 5:21-24[11]. What would God say if He unexpectedly came to one of our church services? Would God’s statement to us sound like these words from Amos?

18.    What could we do as a church, a Sabbath school class, or as individuals to be a “healing stream” to the communities in which we live?

19.    Read [Isaiah 61:1-11. Compare Luke 4:18][12]. Does preaching the good news of the gospel to the poor include reaching out to them in material ways? Our lesson suggests that what was being discussed in Isaiah 61[13] is really a fulfillment of what was supposed to be done in the year of jubilee. (See Leviticus 25:8-22[14].)

20.    Could the Seventh-day Adventist Church practice some kind of jubilee celebration? How could we better serve our communities? Isaiah 61 suggests that we could “delight greatly in the Lord,” “rejoice in our God,” and “stand clothed in garments of salvation and righteousness” in the midst of our community. Are these interesting cliches applicable in our day?

21.    Read [Isaiah 61:9. Compare John 13:34-35][15]. Could the time ever come when we as Seventh-day Adventists stand out and everyone recognizes that we are the real Christians?

22.    How does all of this fit with the following from Ellen White?

The law of Jehovah was burdened with needless exactions and traditions, and God was represented as severe, exacting, revengeful, and arbitrary. He was pictured as one who could take pleasure in the sufferings of his creatures. The very attributes that belonged to the character of Satan, the evil one represented as belonging to the character of God. Jesus came to teach men of the Father, to correctly represent him before the fallen children of earth. Angels could not fully portray the character of God, but Christ, who was a living impersonation of God, could not fail to accomplish the work. The only way in which he could set and keep men right was to make himself visible and familiar to their eyes....

...Christ exalted the character of God, attributing to him the praise, and giving to him the credit, of the whole purpose of his own mission on earth,-to set men right through the revelation of God. In Christ was arrayed before men the paternal grace and the matchless perfections of the Father. In his prayer just before his crucifixion, he declared, “I have manifested thy name.” “I have glorified thee on the earth; I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.” When the object of his mission was attained,-the revelation of God to the world,-the Son of God announced that his work was accomplished, and that the character of the Father was made manifest to men. The Signs of the Times, January 20, 1890, par. 6,9. [Bold type is added.]

23.    If we accept Jesus’s own words that He came to preach the gospel to the poor and also accept these words from Ellen White that His main job was to represent the Father correctly, how are these two goals associated or related?

24.    Read Micah 6[16]. Do any of us abuse the poor to get rich? Micah said that if we do so, we will lose everything. Additionally, Micah said we would be despised by others around us, in contrast to the praise mentioned in Isaiah 61:9[17].

25.    Clearly, external forms of religion will not get us to heaven. Micah 6:8[18] makes it very clear that religious formalism is useless. Real religion means to do what is right-and to do it because it is right.

True religion is practical. To be sure, it includes the rites and ceremonies of the church, but it is in the life lived before one’s fellows that the presence or absence of true religion is manifest. It is not so much a matter of abstaining from food as it is of sharing food with the hungry. Practical godliness is the only kind of religion recognized at the judgment bar of God (Matt. 25:34-46).—The SDA Bible Commentary, vol. 4, 306. (Comment on Isaiah 58:7 regarding the words deal thy bread.)

26.    What kind of practical godliness is possible in our day?

27.    One of the sins of ancient Israel was to barricade themselves away from all of the nations around them. Are we doing something similar to that in our day? How many Seventh-day Adventist communities have become a kind of ghetto where primarily Adventists live and where we do not have to deal with people from the community?

28.    Christianity always comes down to the individual. We may act as a community; but, we cannot demonstrate Christianity as a group unless we do so as individuals.

29.    Consider again the words of Micah 6:8[19]. What does it mean to do what is right? What does it mean to show constant love? And what does it mean to live in humble fellowship with our God?

30.    There are many passages in the Bible that talk about being fair in our dealings with others-especially the widows, orphans, and foreigners-and to be humble and teachable. Consider [Isaiah 1; Isaiah 58; Hosea 6:6; Amos 5:21-24; 1 Samuel 15:22; Psalm 51:16; Proverbs 21:3; Matthew 9:13; and Matthew 12:7].[20]

31.    Could we become so caught up in trying to meet peoples’ material needs that we neglect their spiritual needs? Do you personally know of any Christians who are exerting all of their efforts to deal with other people’s material needs and have neglected their spiritual needs?

32.    So far in this lesson, we have talked about reaching out to the poor and needy. Do we as a church, or as a class, or as individuals have any responsibility also to reach out to the rich and wealthy? They are often much harder to reach than the poor! How could we reach out to them through prayer, friendship, and caring?

33.    As we already know, there has been a great discussion in the Christian church and in the Seventh-day Adventist Church about the correct relationship between faith and works. After having said in Ephesians 2:8-9[21] that we are saved by faith not works, Paul said in Ephesians 2:10[22] that we were created for good works! Paul and James are often contrasted; but, how do you understand Romans 2:13[23] in comparison with James 2:18-26[24]?

34.    What kind of good works do you think would make the biggest difference in your local community?

35.    Surrounding us are many people living under the burden of depression and despair. Should dealing with despair and depression be left to medical professionals in our day? If we do have some responsibility to help them, what could the rest of us do?

36.    Isaiah 61:8[25] tells us that God loves justice. Very few of us have any role to play in the court systems in our nations. So, how can we work for greater justice in our communities? Should we be marching in the streets for causes that we believe in?

37.    Read Matthew 25:35-36[26]. Is it really true that when Jesus conducts His judgment at the end of time, the only question He will consider will be the good works that we have done for the most disadvantaged among us? How does correct theology relate to this?

38.    Does that mean that theology is not really that important? Or, does it mean that any person could give food and drink to a hungry person and that Jesus was making the message as simple as possible so no one can say that it is only the pastor who is qualified to reach out to others? How does real theology relate to that?

39.    Often issues of poverty and need become political issues. But, they are certainly not issues that involve only politicians. The Scriptures speak a great deal about these issues. So, in what political themes-if we choose to call them that-should we be involved? What about drug abuse, murder, abortions, same-sex marriages, etc. Many of us may feel that those issues do not directly affect us and are not part of our religion.

40.    A German Lutheran pastor by the name of Martin Niemoller had this to say:

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out-Because I was not a Socialist. Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out-Because I was not a T rade Unionist. Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out-Because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me-and there was no one left to speak for me.—Martin Niemoller. “First They Came...” Wikipedia. Accessed May 10, 2016.

41.    So, about what issues should Seventh-day Adventists in various parts of the world with different issues be speaking out? Wouldn’t that depend on the local situation?

42.    Does working for social issues and justice mean that we are turning away from our true calling which is to preach the gospel? Are we doing a good job of preaching the gospel? How many members of the Seventh-day Adventist Church understand the really important theological issues such as why Jesus had to die?

43. In years past, Seventh-day Adventists were discouraged from becoming involved in politics. Should we now get involved? Or, are we supposed to do our good works as an example for others rather than to get the government to change its policies about the poor?

The government under which Jesus lived was corrupt and oppressive; on every hand were crying abuses,—extortion, intolerance, and grinding cruelty.

Yet the Saviour attempted no civil reforms. He attacked no national abuses, nor condemned the national enemies. He did not interfere with the authority or administration of those in power. He who was our example kept aloof from earthly governments. Not because He was indifferent to the woes of men, but because the remedy did not lie in merely human and external measures. To be efficient, the cure must reach men individually, and must regenerate the heart.—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages 509.3.

44.    What forms of injustice do you see in your community? What could we as individuals or as a group do to deal with those injustices?

45.    The story of Jesus’s return to Nazareth as described in Luke 4[27] is a puzzling one. Did Jesus really proclaim liberty to the captives? He did heal blind people. Did He set at liberty those who were oppressed? (What about John the Baptist?) He did proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. Jesus spoke these words very early in the year of His Galilean ministry. As suggested in Leviticus 25:10-13[28], was Jesus speaking specifically about canceling debts? Setting slaves free? Returning land to its original owner?

46.    Did Jesus actually do any of that? If our job is to follow the example of Jesus who was a poor Man Himself, how are we to understand this application? He told the rich young ruler to sell all that he had and give to the poor and come and follow Him? (Matthew 19:21; Mark 10:21; Luke 18:22)[29] How does that fit into the picture? Why do you think the tide of public opinion turned against Jesus so quickly when He mentioned Naaman and the widow of Zarephath?

47.    In Ephesians 2:10 (NIV), we read: “For we are God’s poiema created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” [Bold type is added.] There is only one other occurrence of the word poiema in the New Testament; it is found in Romans 1:20[30]. In Ephesians 2:10[31], it can be translated God’s “workmanship,” and in Romans 1:20 it is often translated “what has been made.”

48.    It is possible that the English word poem derives from this Greek word poiema. A good look at nature would demonstrate that God is the Creator of beauty, of poetry, and of art.

49.    So, what kind of good works is God speaking about in this verse? Certainly, it will include more than just feeling sorry for the poor and the oppressed.

50.    What does it mean to “live lives of simplicity and modesty”?

51.    It might be easy to just sit back and say: “Soon God will destroy this world and everything evil in it; so, why should we care?”

52.    What benefits are there for those who reach out to others? In what sense is it more blessed to give than to receive? (Acts 20:35)[32]

53.    What percentage of Seventh-day Adventists in the developed world are reaching out in any way to the disadvantaged, the poor, and the needy? Could you be a Christian and not care for the poor and needy at all? Why? Or, why not?

© 2016, Kenneth Hart, MD, MA, MPH. Permission is hereby granted for any noncommercial use of these materials. Free distribution of all or of a portion of this material such as to a Bible study class is encouraged.    Info@theox. org

1-Ezekiel 37:I felt the powerful presence of the LORD, and his spirit took me and set me down in a valley where the ground was covered with bones. 2 He led me all around the valley, and I could see that there were very many bones and that they were very dry. 3 He said to me, “Mortal man, can these bones come back to life?”

I replied, “Sovereign LORD, only you can answer that!”

4 He said, “Prophesy to the bones. Tell these dry bones to listen to the word of the LORD. 5 Tell them that I, the Sovereign LORD, am saying to them: I am going to put breath into you and bring you back to life. 6 I will give you sinews and muscles, and cover you with skin. I will put breath into you and bring you back to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.”

7 So I prophesied as I had been told. While I was speaking, I heard a rattling noise, and the bones began to join together. 8 While I watched, the bones were covered with sinews and muscles, and then with skin. But there was no breath in the bodies.

9 God said to me, “Mortal man, prophesy to the wind.[a] Tell the wind that the Sovereign LORD commands it to come from every direction, to breathe into these dead bodies, and to bring them back to life.”

10 So I prophesied as I had been told. Breath entered the bodies, and they came to life and stood up. There were enough of them to form an army.

11 God said to me, “Mortal man, the people of Israel are like these bones. They say that they are dried up, without any hope and with no future. 12 So prophesy to my people Israel and tell them that I, the Sovereign LORD, am going to open their graves. I am going to take them out and bring them back to the land of Israel. 13 When I open the graves where my people are buried and bring them out, they will know that I am the LORD. 14 I will put my breath in them, bring them back to life, and let them live in their own land. Then they will know that I am the LORD. I have promised that I would do this—and I will. I, the LORD, have spoken.”

47:The man led me back to the entrance of the Temple. Water was coming out from under the entrance and flowing east, the direction the Temple faced. It was flowing down from under the south part of the Temple past the south side of the altar. 2 The man then took me out of the Temple area by way of the north gate and led me around to the gate that faces east. A small stream of water was flowing out at the south side of the gate. 3 With his measuring rod the man measured 560 yards downstream to the east and told me to wade through the stream there. The water came only to my ankles. 4 Then he measured another 560 yards, and the water came up to my knees. Another 560 yards farther down, the water was up to my waist. 5 He measured 560 yards more, and there the stream was so deep I could not wade through it. It was too deep to cross except by swimming. 6 He said to me, “Mortal man, note all this carefully.”

Then the man took me back to the riverbank, 7 and when I got there, I saw that there were very many trees on each bank. 8 He said to me, “This water flows through the land to the east and down into the Jordan Valley and to the Dead Sea. When it flows into the Dead Sea, it replaces the salt water of that sea with fresh water. 9 Wherever the stream flows, there will be all kinds of animals and fish. The stream will make the water of the Dead Sea fresh, and wherever it flows, it will bring life. 10 From the Springs of Engedi all the way to the Springs of Eneglaim, there will be fishermen on the shore of the sea, and they will spread out their nets there to dry. There will be as many different kinds of fish there as there are in the Mediterranean Sea. 11 But the water in the marshes and ponds along the shore will not be made fresh. They will remain there as a source of salt. 12 On each bank of the stream all kinds of trees will grow to provide food. Their leaves will never wither, and they will never stop bearing fruit. They will have fresh fruit every month, because they are watered by the stream that flows from the Temple. The trees will provide food, and their leaves will be used for healing people.”

Ephesians 2:10 God has made us what we are, and in our union with Christ Jesus he has created us for a life of good deeds, which he has already prepared for us to do.

Matthew 5:16 In the same way your light must shine before people, so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven.

Revelation 22:The angel also showed me the river of the water of life, sparkling like crystal, and coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 and flowing down the middle of the city's street. On each side of the river was the tree of life, which bears fruit twelve times a year, once each month; and its leaves are for the healing of the nations.

Isaiah 61:1 The Sovereign LORD has filled me with his Spirit.

He has chosen me and sent me

To bring good news to the poor,

To heal the broken-hearted,

To announce release to captives

And freedom to those in prison.

2 He has sent me to proclaim

That the time has come

When the LORD will save his people

And defeat their enemies.

He has sent me to comfort all who mourn,

3 To give to those who mourn in Zion

Joy and gladness instead of grief,

A song of praise instead of sorrow.

They will be like trees

That the LORD himself has planted.

They will all do what is right,

And God will be praised for what he has done.

4 They will rebuild cities that have long been in ruins.

5 My people, foreigners will serve you.

They will take care of your flocks

And farm your land and tend your vineyards.

6 And you will be known as the priests of the LORD,

The servants of our God.

You will enjoy the wealth of the nations

And be proud that it is yours.

7 Your shame and disgrace are ended.

You will live in your own land,

And your wealth will be doubled;

Your joy will last forever.

8 The LORD says,

“I love justice and I hate oppression and crime.

I will faithfully reward my people

And make an eternal covenant with them.

9 They will be famous among the nations;

Everyone who sees them will know

That they are a people whom I have blessed.”

10 Jerusalem rejoices because of what the LORD has done.

She is like a bride dressed for her wedding.

God has clothed her with salvation and victory.

11 As surely as seeds sprout and grow,

The Sovereign LORD will save his people,

And all the nations will praise him.

2-Matthew 26:6 Jesus was in Bethany at the house of Simon, a man who had suffered from a dreaded skin disease. 7 While Jesus was eating, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar filled with an expensive perfume, which she poured on his head. 8 The disciples saw this and became angry. “Why all this waste?” they asked. 9 “This perfume could have been sold for a large amount and the money given to the poor!”

10 Jesus knew what they were saying, and so he said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? It is a fine and beautiful thing that she has done for me. 11 You will always have poor people with you, but you will not always have me. 12 What she did was to pour this perfume on my body to get me ready for burial. 13 Now, I assure you that wherever this gospel is preached all over the world, what she has done will be told in memory of her.”

3-Ezekiel 37:1 I felt the powerful presence of the LORD, and his spirit took me and set me down in a valley where the ground was covered with bones. 2 He led me all around the valley, and I could see that there were very many bones and that they were very dry. 3 He said to me, “Mortal man, can these bones come back to life?”

I replied, “Sovereign LORD, only you can answer that!”

4 He said, “Prophesy to the bones. Tell these dry bones to listen to the word of the LORD. 5 Tell them that I, the Sovereign LORD, am saying to them: I am going to put breath into you and bring you back to life. 6 I will give you sinews and muscles, and cover you with skin. I will put breath into you and bring you back to life. Then you will know that I am the LORD.”

7 So I prophesied as I had been told. While I was speaking, I heard a rattling noise, and the bones began to join together. 8 While I watched, the bones were covered with sinews and muscles, and then with skin. But there was no breath in the bodies.

9 God said to me, “Mortal man, prophesy to the wind.[a] Tell the wind that the Sovereign LORD commands it to come from every direction, to breathe into these dead bodies, and to bring them back to life.”

10 So I prophesied as I had been told. Breath entered the bodies, and they came to life and stood up. There were enough of them to form an army.

11 God said to me, “Mortal man, the people of Israel are like these bones. They say that they are dried up, without any hope and with no future. 12 So prophesy to my people Israel and tell them that I, the Sovereign LORD, am going to open their graves. I am going to take them out and bring them back to the land of Israel. 13 When I open the graves where my people are buried and bring them out, they will know that I am the LORD. 14 I will put my breath in them, bring them back to life, and let them live in their own land. Then they will know that I am the LORD. I have promised that I would do this—and I will. I, the LORD, have spoken.”

4-James 2:19 Do you believe that there is only one God? Good! The demons also believe—and tremble with fear.

5-Matthew 5:43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your friends, hate your enemies.’ 44 But now I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may become the children of your Father in heaven. For he makes his sun to shine on bad and good people alike, and gives rain to those who do good and to those who do evil. 46 Why should God reward you if you love only the people who love you? Even the tax collectors do that! 47 And if you speak only to your friends, have you done anything out of the ordinary? Even the pagans do that! 48 You must be perfect—just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

6-Ezekiel 47:1 The man led me back to the entrance of the Temple. Water was coming out from under the entrance and flowing east, the direction the Temple faced. It was flowing down from under the south part of the Temple past the south side of the altar. 2 The man then took me out of the Temple area by way of the north gate and led me around to the gate that faces east. A small stream of water was flowing out at the south side of the gate. 3 With his measuring rod the man measured 560 yards downstream to the east and told me to wade through the stream there. The water came only to my ankles. 4 Then he measured another 560 yards, and the water came up to my knees. Another 560 yards farther down, the water was up to my waist. 5 He measured 560 yards more, and there the stream was so deep I could not wade through it. It was too deep to cross except by swimming. 6 He said to me, “Mortal man, note all this carefully.”

Then the man took me back to the riverbank, 7 and when I got there, I saw that there were very many trees on each bank. 8 He said to me, “This water flows through the land to the east and down into the Jordan Valley and to the Dead Sea. When it flows into the Dead Sea, it replaces the salt water of that sea with fresh water.

7-1 Peter 2:4 Come to the Lord, the living stone rejected by people as worthless but chosen by God as valuable. 5 Come as living stones, and let yourselves be used in building the spiritual temple, where you will serve as holy priests to offer spiritual and acceptable sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ.

8-Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has chosen me to bring good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives

and recovery of sight to the blind,

to set free the oppressed

19     and announce that the time has come

when the Lord will save his people.”

9-Ezekiel 47:12 On each bank of the stream all kinds of trees will grow to provide food. Their leaves will never wither, and they will never stop bearing fruit. They will have fresh fruit every month, because they are watered by the stream that flows from the Temple. The trees will provide food, and their leaves will be used for healing people.”

Revelation 22:1 The angel also showed me the river of the water of life, sparkling like crystal, and coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 and flowing down the middle of the city's street. On each side of the river was the tree of life, which bears fruit twelve times a year, once each month; and its leaves are for the healing of the nations.

10-John 10:10 The thief comes only in order to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come in order that you might have life—life in all its fullness.

11-Amos 5:21 The LORD says, “I hate your religious festivals; I cannot stand them! 22 When you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; I will not accept the animals you have fattened to bring me as offerings. 23 Stop your noisy songs; I do not want to listen to your harps. 24 Instead, let justice flow like a stream, and righteousness like a river that never goes dry.

12-Isaiah 61:1 The Sovereign LORD has filled me with his Spirit.

He has chosen me and sent me

To bring good news to the poor,

To heal the broken-hearted,

To announce release to captives

And freedom to those in prison.

2 He has sent me to proclaim

That the time has come

When the LORD will save his people

And defeat their enemies.

He has sent me to comfort all who mourn,

3 To give to those who mourn in Zion

Joy and gladness instead of grief,

A song of praise instead of sorrow.

They will be like trees

That the LORD himself has planted.

They will all do what is right,

And God will be praised for what he has done.

4 They will rebuild cities that have long been in ruins.

5 My people, foreigners will serve you.

They will take care of your flocks

And farm your land and tend your vineyards.

6 And you will be known as the priests of the LORD,

The servants of our God.

You will enjoy the wealth of the nations

And be proud that it is yours.

7 Your shame and disgrace are ended.

You will live in your own land,

And your wealth will be doubled;

Your joy will last forever.

8 The LORD says,

“I love justice and I hate oppression and crime.

I will faithfully reward my people

And make an eternal covenant with them.

9 They will be famous among the nations;

Everyone who sees them will know

That they are a people whom I have blessed.”

10 Jerusalem rejoices because of what the LORD has done.

She is like a bride dressed for her wedding.

God has clothed her with salvation and victory.

11 As surely as seeds sprout and grow,

The Sovereign LORD will save his people,

And all the nations will praise him.

Luke 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has chosen me to bring good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives

and recovery of sight to the blind,

to set free the oppressed

13-Isaiah 61: 1 The Sovereign LORD has filled me with his Spirit.

He has chosen me and sent me

To bring good news to the poor,

To heal the broken-hearted,

To announce release to captives

And freedom to those in prison.

2 He has sent me to proclaim

That the time has come

When the LORD will save his people

And defeat their enemies.

He has sent me to comfort all who mourn,

3 To give to those who mourn in Zion

Joy and gladness instead of grief,

A song of praise instead of sorrow.

They will be like trees

That the LORD himself has planted.

They will all do what is right,

And God will be praised for what he has done.

4 They will rebuild cities that have long been in ruins.

5 My people, foreigners will serve you.

They will take care of your flocks

And farm your land and tend your vineyards.

6 And you will be known as the priests of the LORD,

The servants of our God.

You will enjoy the wealth of the nations

And be proud that it is yours.

7 Your shame and disgrace are ended.

You will live in your own land,

And your wealth will be doubled;

Your joy will last forever.

8 The LORD says,

“I love justice and I hate oppression and crime.

I will faithfully reward my people

And make an eternal covenant with them.

9 They will be famous among the nations;

Everyone who sees them will know

That they are a people whom I have blessed.”

10 Jerusalem rejoices because of what the LORD has done.

She is like a bride dressed for her wedding.

God has clothed her with salvation and victory.

11 As surely as seeds sprout and grow,

The Sovereign LORD will save his people,

And all the nations will praise him.

14-Leviticus 25:8 Count seven times seven years, a total of forty-nine years. 9 Then, on the tenth day of the seventh month, the Day of Atonement, send someone to blow a trumpet throughout the whole land. 10 In this way you shall set the fiftieth year apart and proclaim freedom to all the inhabitants of the land. During this year all property that has been sold shall be restored to the original owner or the descendants, and any who have been sold as slaves shall return to their families. 11 You shall not plant your fields or harvest the grain that grows by itself or gather the grapes in your unpruned vineyards. 12 The whole year shall be sacred for you; you shall eat only what the fields produce of themselves.

13 In this year all property that has been sold shall be restored to its original owner. 14 So when you sell land to an Israelite or buy land, do not deal unfairly. 15 The price is to be set according to the number of years the land can produce crops before the next Year of Restoration. 16 If there are many years, the price shall be higher, but if there are only a few years, the price shall be lower, because what is being sold is the number of crops the land can produce. 17 Do not cheat an Israelite, but obey the LORD your God.

The Problem of the Seventh Year

18 Obey all the LORD's laws and commands, so that you may live in safety in the land. 19 The land will produce its crops, and you will have all you want to eat and will live in safety.

20 But someone may ask what there will be to eat during the seventh year, when no fields are planted and no crops gathered. 21 The LORD will bless the land in the sixth year so that it will produce enough food for two years. 22 When you plant your fields in the eighth year, you will still be eating what you harvested during the sixth year, and you will have enough to eat until the crops you plant that year are harvested.

15-Isaiah 61:9 They will be famous among the nations;

Everyone who sees them will know

That they are a people whom I have blessed.”

John 13:34 And now I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 If you have love for one another, then everyone will know that you are my disciples.”

16-Micah 6: 1 Listen to the LORD's case against Israel.

Arise, O LORD, and present your case; let the mountains and the hills hear what you say.

2 You mountains, you everlasting foundations of the earth, listen to the LORD's case! The LORD has a case against his people. He is going to bring an accusation against Israel.

3 The LORD says, “My people, what have I done to you? How have I been a burden to you? Answer me. 4 I brought you out of Egypt; I rescued you from slavery; I sent Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to lead you. 5 My people, remember what King Balak of Moab planned to do to you and how Balaam son of Beor answered him. Remember the things that happened on the way from the camp at Acacia to Gilgal. Remember these things and you will realize what I did in order to save you.”

What the LORD Requires

6 What shall I bring to the LORD, the God of heaven, when I come to worship him? Shall I bring the best calves to burn as offerings to him? 7 Will the LORD be pleased if I bring him thousands of sheep or endless streams of olive oil? Shall I offer him my first-born child to pay for my sins? 8 No, the LORD has told us what is good. What he requires of us is this: to do what is just, to show constant love, and to live in humble fellowship with our God.

9 It is wise to fear the LORD. He calls to the city, “Listen, you people who assemble in the city![a] 10 In the houses of evil people are treasures which they got dishonestly. They use false measures, a thing that I hate.[b] 11 How can I forgive those who use false scales and weights? 12 Your rich people exploit the poor, and all of you are liars. 13 So I have already begun[c] your ruin and destruction because of your sins. 14 You will eat, but not be satisfied—in fact you will still be hungry. You will carry things off, but you will not be able to save them; anything you do save I will destroy in war. 15 You will sow grain, but not harvest the crop. You will press oil from olives, but never get to use it. You will make wine, but never drink it. 16 This will happen because you have followed the evil practices of King Omri and of his son, King Ahab. You have continued their policies, and so I will bring you to ruin, and everyone will despise you. People[d] everywhere will treat you with contempt.”[e]

17-Isaiah 61:9 They will be famous among the nations;

Everyone who sees them will know

That they are a people whom I have blessed.”

18-Micah 6:8 No, the LORD has told us what is good. What he requires of us is this: to do what is just, to show constant love, and to live in humble fellowship with our God.

19-Micah 6:8 No, the LORD has told us what is good. What he requires of us is this: to do what is just, to show constant love, and to live in humble fellowship with our God.

20-Isaiah 1: 1 This book contains the messages about Judah and Jerusalem which God revealed to Isaiah son of Amoz during the time when Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah were kings of Judah.

God Reprimands His People

2 The LORD said, “Earth and sky, listen to what I am saying! The children I brought up have rebelled against me. 3 Cattle know who owns them, and donkeys know where their master feeds them. But that is more than my people Israel know. They don't understand at all.”

4 You are doomed, you sinful nation, you corrupt and evil people! Your sins drag you down! You have rejected the LORD, the holy God of Israel, and have turned your backs on him. 5 Why do you keep on rebelling? Do you want to be punished even more? Israel, your head is already covered with wounds, and your heart and mind are sick. 6 From head to foot there is not a healthy spot on your body. You are covered with bruises and sores and open wounds. Your wounds have not been cleaned or bandaged. No medicine has been put on them.

7 Your country has been devastated, and your cities have been burned to the ground. While you look on, foreigners take over your land and bring everything to ruin. 8 Jerusalem alone is left, a city under siege—as defenseless as a guard's hut in a vineyard or a shed in a cucumber field. 9 If the LORD Almighty had not let some of the people survive, Jerusalem would have been totally destroyed, just as Sodom and Gomorrah were.

10 Jerusalem, your rulers and your people are like those of Sodom and Gomorrah. Listen to what the LORD is saying to you. Pay attention to what our God is teaching you. 11 He says, “Do you think I want all these sacrifices you keep offering to me? I have had more than enough of the sheep you burn as sacrifices and of the fat of your fine animals. I am tired of the blood of bulls and sheep and goats. 12 Who asked you to bring me all this when you come to worship me? Who asked you to do all this tramping around in my Temple? 13 It's useless to bring your offerings. I am disgusted with the smell of the incense you burn. I cannot stand your New Moon Festivals, your Sabbaths, and your religious gatherings; they are all corrupted by your sins. 14 I hate your New Moon Festivals and holy days; they are a burden that I am tired of bearing.

15 “When you lift your hands in prayer, I will not look at you. No matter how much you pray, I will not listen, for your hands are covered with blood. 16 Wash yourselves clean. Stop all this evil that I see you doing. Yes, stop doing evil 17 and learn to do right. See that justice is done—help those who are oppressed, give orphans their rights, and defend widows.”

18 The LORD says, “Now, let's settle the matter. You are stained red with sin, but I will wash you as clean as snow.[a] Although your stains are deep red, you will be as white as wool.[b] 19 If you will only obey me, you will eat the good things the land produces. 20 But if you defy me, you are doomed to die. I, the LORD, have spoken.”

The Sinful City

21 The city that once was faithful is behaving like a whore! At one time it was filled with righteous people, but now only murderers remain. 22 Jerusalem, you were once like silver, but now you are worthless; you were like good wine, but now you are only water. 23 Your leaders are rebels and friends of thieves; they are always accepting gifts and bribes. They never defend orphans in court or listen when widows present their case.

24 So now, listen to what the LORD Almighty, Israel's powerful God, is saying: “I will take revenge on you, my enemies, and you will cause me no more trouble. 25 I will take action against you. I will purify you the way metal is refined, and will remove all your impurity. 26 I will give you rulers and advisers like those you had long ago. Then Jerusalem will be called the righteous, faithful city.”

27 Because the LORD is righteous, he will save Jerusalem and everyone there who repents. 28 But he will crush everyone who sins and rebels against him; he will kill everyone who forsakes him.

29 You will be sorry that you ever worshiped trees and planted sacred gardens.[c] 30 You will wither like a dying oak, like a garden that no one waters. 31 Just as straw is set on fire by a spark, so powerful people will be destroyed by their own evil deeds, and no one will be able to stop the destruction.

Isaiah 58: 1 The LORD says, “Shout as loud as you can! Tell my people Israel about their sins! 2 They worship me every day, claiming that they are eager to know my ways and obey my laws. They say they want me to give them just laws and that they take pleasure in worshiping me.”

3 The people ask, “Why should we fast if the LORD never notices? Why should we go without food if he pays no attention?”

The LORD says to them, “The truth is that at the same time you fast, you pursue your own interests and oppress your workers. 4 Your fasting makes you violent, and you quarrel and fight. Do you think this kind of fasting will make me listen to your prayers? 5 When you fast, you make yourselves suffer; you bow your heads low like a blade of grass and spread out sackcloth and ashes to lie on. Is that what you call fasting? Do you think I will be pleased with that?

6 “The kind of fasting I want is this: Remove the chains of oppression and the yoke of injustice, and let the oppressed go free. 7 Share your food with the hungry and open your homes to the homeless poor. Give clothes to those who have nothing to wear, and do not refuse to help your own relatives.

8 “Then my favor will shine on you like the morning sun, and your wounds will be quickly healed. I will always be with you to save you; my presence will protect you on every side. 9 When you pray, I will answer you. When you call to me, I will respond.

“If you put an end to oppression, to every gesture of contempt, and to every evil word; 10 if you give food to the hungry and satisfy those who are in need, then the darkness around you will turn to the brightness of noon. 11 And I will always guide you and satisfy you with good things. I will keep you strong and well. You will be like a garden that has plenty of water, like a spring of water that never goes dry. 12 Your people will rebuild what has long been in ruins, building again on the old foundations. You will be known as the people who rebuilt the walls, who restored the ruined houses.”

The Reward for Keeping the Sabbath

13 The LORD says, “If you treat the Sabbath as sacred and do not pursue your own interests on that day; if you value my holy day and honor it by not traveling, working, or talking idly on that day, 14 then you will find the joy that comes from serving me. I will make you honored all over the world, and you will enjoy the land I gave to your ancestor, Jacob. I, the LORD, have spoken.”

Hosea 6:6 I want your constant love, not your animal sacrifices. I would rather have my people know me than burn offerings to me.

Amos 5:21 The LORD says, “I hate your religious festivals; I cannot stand them! 22 When you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; I will not accept the animals you have fattened to bring me as offerings. 23 Stop your noisy songs; I do not want to listen to your harps. 24 Instead, let justice flow like a stream, and righteousness like a river that never goes dry.

1 Samuel 15:22 Samuel said, “Which does the LORD prefer: obedience or offerings and sacrifices? It is better to obey him than to sacrifice the best sheep to him.

Psalm 51:16 You do not want sacrifices,

or I would offer them;

you are not pleased with burnt offerings.

Proverbs 21:3 Do what is right and fair; that pleases the LORD more than bringing him sacrifices.

Matthew 9:13 Go and find out what is meant by the scripture that says: ‘It is kindness that I want, not animal sacrifices.’ I have not come to call respectable people, but outcasts.”

Matthew 12:7 The scripture says, ‘It is kindness that I want, not animal sacrifices.’ If you really knew what this means, you would not condemn people who are not guilty;

21-Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by God's grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of your own efforts, but God's gift, so that no one can boast about it.

22-Ephesians 2:10 God has made us what we are, and in our union with Christ Jesus he has created us for a life of good deeds, which he has already prepared for us to do.

23-Romans 2:13 For it is not by hearing the Law that people are put right with God, but by doing what the Law commands.

24-James 2:18 But someone will say, “One person has faith, another has actions.” My answer is, “Show me how anyone can have faith without actions. I will show you my faith by my actions.” 19 Do you believe that there is only one God? Good! The demons also believe—and tremble with fear. 20 You fool! Do you want to be shown that faith without actions is useless?[a] 21 How was our ancestor Abraham put right with God? It was through his actions, when he offered his son Isaac on the altar. 22 Can't you see? His faith and his actions worked together; his faith was made perfect through his actions. 23 And the scripture came true that said, “Abraham believed God, and because of his faith God accepted him as righteous.” And so Abraham was called God's friend. 24 You see, then, that it is by our actions that we are put right with God, and not by our faith alone.

25 It was the same with the prostitute Rahab. She was put right with God through her actions, by welcoming the Israelite spies and helping them to escape by a different road.

26 So then, as the body without the spirit is dead, also faith without actions is dead.

25-Isaiah 61:8 The LORD says,

“I love justice and I hate oppression and crime.

I will faithfully reward my people

And make an eternal covenant with them.

26-Matthew 25:35 I was hungry and you fed me, thirsty and you gave me a drink; I was a stranger and you received me in your homes, 36 naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you took care of me, in prison and you visited me.’

27-Luke 4:1 Jesus returned from the Jordan full of the Holy Spirit and was led by the Spirit into the desert, 2 where he was tempted by the Devil for forty days. In all that time he ate nothing, so that he was hungry when it was over.

3 The Devil said to him, “If you are God's Son, order this stone to turn into bread.”

4 But Jesus answered, “The scripture says, ‘Human beings cannot live on bread alone.’”

5 Then the Devil took him up and showed him in a second all the kingdoms of the world. 6 “I will give you all this power and all this wealth,” the Devil told him. “It has all been handed over to me, and I can give it to anyone I choose. 7 All this will be yours, then, if you worship me.”

8 Jesus answered, “The scripture says, ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve only him!’”

9 Then the Devil took him to Jerusalem and set him on the highest point of the Temple, and said to him, “If you are God's Son, throw yourself down from here. 10 For the scripture says, ‘God will order his angels to take good care of you.’ 11 It also says, ‘They will hold you up with their hands so that not even your feet will be hurt on the stones.’”

12 But Jesus answered, “The scripture says, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”

13 When the Devil finished tempting Jesus in every way, he left him for a while.

Jesus Begins His Work in Galilee

14 Then Jesus returned to Galilee, and the power of the Holy Spirit was with him. The news about him spread throughout all that territory. 15 He taught in the synagogues and was praised by everyone.

Jesus Is Rejected at Nazareth

16 Then Jesus went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath he went as usual to the synagogue. He stood up to read the Scriptures 17 and was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it is written,

18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has chosen me to bring good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives

and recovery of sight to the blind,

to set free the oppressed

19     and announce that the time has come

when the Lord will save his people.”

20 Jesus rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. All the people in the synagogue had their eyes fixed on him, 21 as he said to them, “This passage of scripture has come true today, as you heard it being read.”

22 They were all well impressed with him and marveled at the eloquent words that he spoke. They said, “Isn't he the son of Joseph?”

23 He said to them, “I am sure that you will quote this proverb to me, ‘Doctor, heal yourself.’ You will also tell me to do here in my hometown the same things you heard were done in Capernaum. 24 I tell you this,” Jesus added, “prophets are never welcomed in their hometown. 25 Listen to me: it is true that there were many widows in Israel during the time of Elijah, when there was no rain for three and a half years and a severe famine spread throughout the whole land. 26 Yet Elijah was not sent to anyone in Israel, but only to a widow living in Zarephath in the territory of Sidon. 27 And there were many people suffering from a dreaded skin disease who lived in Israel during the time of the prophet Elisha; yet not one of them was healed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”

28 When the people in the synagogue heard this, they were filled with anger. 29 They rose up, dragged Jesus out of town, and took him to the top of the hill on which their town was built. They meant to throw him over the cliff, 30 but he walked through the middle of the crowd and went his way.

A Man with an Evil Spirit

31 Then Jesus went to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, where he taught the people on the Sabbath. 32 They were all amazed at the way he taught, because he spoke with authority. 33 In the synagogue was a man who had the spirit of an evil demon in him; he screamed out in a loud voice, 34 “Ah! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Are you here to destroy us? I know who you are: you are God's holy messenger!”

35 Jesus ordered the spirit, “Be quiet and come out of the man!” The demon threw the man down in front of them and went out of him without doing him any harm.

36 The people were all amazed and said to one another, “What kind of words are these? With authority and power this man gives orders to the evil spirits, and they come out!” 37 And the report about Jesus spread everywhere in that region.

Jesus Heals Many People

38 Jesus left the synagogue and went to Simon's home. Simon's mother-in-law was sick with a high fever, and they spoke to Jesus about her. 39 He went and stood at her bedside and ordered the fever to leave her. The fever left her, and she got up at once and began to wait on them.

40 After sunset all who had friends who were sick with various diseases brought them to Jesus; he placed his hands on every one of them and healed them all. 41 Demons also went out from many people, screaming, “You are the Son of God!”

Jesus gave the demons an order and would not let them speak, because they knew he was the Messiah.

Jesus Preaches in the Synagogues

42 At daybreak Jesus left the town and went off to a lonely place. The people started looking for him, and when they found him, they tried to keep him from leaving. 43 But he said to them, “I must preach the Good News about the Kingdom of God in other towns also, because that is what God sent me to do.”

44 So he preached in the synagogues throughout the country.

28-Leviticus 25:10 In this way you shall set the fiftieth year apart and proclaim freedom to all the inhabitants of the land. During this year all property that has been sold shall be restored to the original owner or the descendants, and any who have been sold as slaves shall return to their families. 11 You shall not plant your fields or harvest the grain that grows by itself or gather the grapes in your unpruned vineyards. 12 The whole year shall be sacred for you; you shall eat only what the fields produce of themselves.

13 In this year all property that has been sold shall be restored to its original owner.

29-Matthew 19:21 Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven; then come and follow me.”

Mark 10:21 Jesus looked straight at him with love and said, “You need only one thing. Go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven; then come and follow me.”

Luke 18:22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “There is still one more thing you need to do. Sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven; then come and follow me.”

30-Romans 1:20 Ever since God created the world, his invisible qualities, both his eternal power and his divine nature, have been clearly seen; they are perceived in the things that God has made. So those people have no excuse at all!

31-Ephesians 2:10 God has made us what we are, and in our union with Christ Jesus he has created us for a life of good deeds, which he has already prepared for us to do.

32-Acts 20:35 I have shown you in all things that by working hard in this way we must help the weak, remembering the words that the Lord Jesus himself said, ‘There is more happiness in giving than in receiving.’”

Table of Contents

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

32

1-

2-

3-

4-

5-

6-

7-

8-

9-

10-

11-

12-

13-

14-

15-

16-

17-

18-