Isaiah 56:1-2

Thus saith the LORD, Keep ye judgment, and do justice: for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed. 2  Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that layeth hold on it; that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.

 

Keeps judgment – observe justice and divine law

 

Judgment is a practical application of God’s will toward people – especially toward the less fortunate.  God cares how we help and treat them.  We become blessed when we make good things happen for others. 

 

Isaiah 1:17  Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.

 

We are to speak the truth (God’s Word) in love, make the truth a reality in their lives and help them find peace.  The gates are the areas in which He has given us authority – our homes, jobs, etc.  Our goal is to bring godly change in the areas He has assigned us.

 

Zechariah 8:16  These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates:

 

We are to bring God’s will and the right way of doing things into the world. Also, we are to help people who have wrongly been taken advantage of. We are not to mistreat or oppress others, do no violence to strangers, and not allow the innocent to be killed. We are to take care of orphans and widows.

 

Jeremiah 22:3  Thus saith the LORD; Execute ye judgment and righteousness, and deliver the spoiled out of the hand of the oppressor: and do no wrong, do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, nor the widow, neither shed innocent blood in this place.

 

Do justice – do / bring forth / follow / maintain right or righteousness

 

Abraham’s faith was counted as righteousness before God.  It is important that we grow in faith.  Our faith will cause us to walk in obedience to what God says.

 

Genesis 15:6  And he believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.

 

The Lord will bless us for doing what is right before Him and toward other people.  Clean hands are hands that bring the will of God in the earth and do not hurt others.

 

2 Samuel 22:21  The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness: according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me.

 

Psalms 11:7  For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright.  

 

We are to stand up for the poor and orphans – making sure that their needs are met.  Also, we are to bring His kingdom to the afflicted.  Jesus commanded us to take care of people who are considered to be the least in the world.  As we do we are doing it unto Him.

 

Psalms 82:3  Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.

 

Bringing God’s will on the earth through practical actions is more acceptable than only spiritual activities.  We must have a balance between prayer and meeting the needs of others.  

 

Proverbs 21:3  To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

 

Keeps the Sabbath – keeps the day of rest and worship

 

The Sabbath is a day of rest that God commands in His Word.  It is a time in which we focus on Him. The first sabbath was observed by God Himself on the Seventh day of the week after creation.

 

Genesis 2:3  And God blessed the seventh day, and sanctified it: because that in it he had rested from all his work which God created and made.

 

Jesus observed the Sabbath as a day of worship in the house of God.  We are to make it our custom to go to church on a regular basis.

 

Luke 6:6  And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered.

 

The Sabbath is a time when we focus on God and honor Him.

 

Isaiah 58:13  If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words:

 

God wants us to rest in Him so that He can fill us while we are still.

 

Hebrews 4:4  For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.

 

The first day of the week was also used as a time to gather in worship in the early church.  It is important that we gather with other Christians on a consistent basis.

 

1 Corinthians 16:2  Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

 

Acts 20:7  And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

 

Keeps his hands from doing evil – keep our hands from what causes adversity/bad/hurt

 

God wants us to keep from evil and to do what is beneficial towards others. We are to bring peace to our surroundings.

 

Psalms 34:14  Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

 

We are to remain on the path of righteousness that the Lord has set before us.

 

Proverbs 4:27  Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil.

 

We are to love sincerely and without hypocrisy. We are to hate evil and hang on to what is good.

 

Romans 12:9  Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

 

Questions

What are some practical things that we can do to help the less fortunate?

How can helping people lead us to the blessings of God?

How can keeping and worship a day of rest align us to receive spiritual and physical blessings?

How can we avoid doing evil?

What are some good things that we can do?