If you do not oppress the alien, the orphan, and the widow … then I will dwell with you in this place…. — Jeremiah 7:6.
This verse exposes the timeless human tendency to marginalize the vulnerable: the refugee seeking sanctuary, the child deprived of security, and the widow left desolate. Even in the context of Jeremiah’s era, marked by its own challenges, such injustices were a direct affront to God’s covenant.
Imagine, then, the gravity of these transgressions in our present age, a time of unprecedented abundance and technological advancement. The sheer contradiction is staggering. How can societies, boasting of their progress and prosperity, continue to perpetuate the very same patterns of neglect and oppression that provoked divine rebuke a long time ago?
Through Jeremiah, God’s priorities are unequivocally clear: justice, compassion, and the unwavering defense of the marginalized. This divine imperative transcends temporal boundaries, demanding our unwavering adherence. Yet, a persistent question lingers: why does our collective conscience so often diverge from this divine mandate?
The call to “get right with our neighbors” is not a mere suggestion; it is a fundamental prerequisite for a just and harmonious society. It demands active resistance against oppression and a steadfast commitment to supporting “the least of these.” To ignore this sacred duty is to sever the very lifeline of our connection with the divine. We cannot, in good faith, lament God’s perceived absence when our own actions have driven him/her away. For as Jeremiah’s prophecy implies, if we fail to uphold justice and compassion, God will “dwell with another,” leaving us to face the consequences of our indifference.
Leave a Reply +