social justice scripture study

8/9/2019 Social Justice Scripture Study

1/25

S oc i al Just ic e in th e Old Te s tame n t

I. The Poor Laws, Deuteronomy 24:10- 22

When you make your neighbor a oan o! any kin" , you sha not go into the

house to t ake the #e"ge . $11% &ou sha wai t ou t si"e , whie the #erson to whom you

are making the oan br ings the #e"ge out to you. $12% I ! the #erson is #oor, you

sha not s ee# in the garment gi'en you as the #e"ge . $1(% &ou sha g i'e the

#e"ge ba )k by su nse t , so th at your ne ig hbor may see# in th e )o ak an" bess you*

an" i t wi be to your )re"it be!ore the L+D your o".

$14% &ou sha not withho" the wages o! #oor an" nee"y aborers , whether o ther

Israei tes or aiens who resi"e in your an" in one o! your towns. $1% &ou sha #ay

them the ir wages "aiy be!ore sunse t , be)ause they are #oor an" the ir i'eihoo"

"e#en"s on them* o therwise they might ) ry to the L+D agains t you, an" you

wou" in)ur guit .

$1/% Parents sha not be #ut to "eath !or their )hi"ren, nor sha )hi"ren be #ut to"eath !or thei r #aren t s * ony !or thei r own )rimes may #ersons be #ut to "eath .

$1% &ou sha not "e#ri'e a resi"ent aien or an or#han o! us ti)e* you sha not

t ak e a wi" ow s g armen t in # e" g e. $13 % ememb er th at yo u w ere a s a' e in

gy#t an" the L+D your o" re"eeme " you !rom there * there!ore I )omman"

you to "o this .

$15% When you rea# your har'est in your !ie" an" !orget a shea! in the !ie",

you sha not go ba)k to get it * it sha be e! t !or the aien, the or#han, an" the

wi"ow, so that the L+D your o" may bess you in a your un"ertakings . $20%

When you beat your oi'e t rees , "o not s tr i# what i s e!t * i t sha be !or the aien,

the or#han , an" the wi"ow.

$21% When you gather the gra#es o! your 'ineyar", "o not gean what is e! t* i t sha

be !or th e aie n, th e or#han, an" th e wi"o w. $22% e me mb e r th at you we re a sa'e

in the an" o! gy#t * there!ore I am )omman"ing you to "o thi s.

1 . Why were ea)h o! these aws ma"e6 Whom "o they # ro te) t6 7ow6

2. What wou" be the im#i)at ions !or to"ay, !or our own so)iety6

7ow )ou" the a## i)at ion o! these aws be #ra)t i)a to"ay6


2/25

II. 8on)ern !or kin

Le' 2:(- 42 I! any o! your kin !a in to "i!!i)u ty an" be)ome "e#en"en t on you,

you sha su##ort them* they sha i'e with you as though resi"ent aiens. $(/% Do

not t ake in te res t in a"'an)e or o therwise make a # ro!i t !rom them, but !ear your

o"* e t them i'e with you. $(% &ou sha not en" them your money at in teres t

taken in a"'an)e, or #ro'i"e them !oo" at a #ro!it . $(3% I am the L+D your o",who brought you out o! the an" o! gy#t , to g i'e you the an" o! 8anaan , to be

your o". $(5% I! any who are "e#en"en t on you be)ome so im#o'er ishe" tha t they

se themse'es to you, you sha no t make them ser'e as s a'es . $40% They sha

remain with you as hire" or boun" aborers . They sha ser'e wi th you unt i the year

o! the ubi ee. $41% Then they an" thei r )hi "ren wi th them sha be !ree !rom your

authori ty* they sha go ba)k to thei r own !amiy an" retu rn to thei r an)es t ra

#ro#erty. $42% 9or th ey ar e my se r'ant s , whom I brought ou t o! th e an" o! gy#t*

they sha not be so" as s a'es a re so".

1. W hy w ere th e se aw s ma" e6

2. 7ow "oes our own so)iety routiney !ai in this way6

(. 7ow )ou" the a## i)at ion o! these aws be #ra)t i)a to"ay6


3/25

III. The +##res sion o! the Poor

Psa 10:2, - 13

In ar ro g an )e t he wi)k e" # er s e)u t e th e #o or - - et t hem b e )au gh t in t he s )h emes

they ha'e "e' ise" . $% Thei r mouths a re !ie" with )urs ing an" "e)e it an"

o##ress ion* un"er thei r tongues are mis)hie! an" iniuity. $3% They s it in ambush in

the 'iages* in hi"ing #a)es they mur"er the inno)ent . Their eyes s tea thiy wat)h!or the he#ess * $5% they urk in se)ret ike a ion in it s )o'ert * they urk that they

may sei;e the #oor* they sei;e the #oor an" "rag them o!! in the ir net . $10% They

stoo#, they )rou)h, an" the he#ess !a by thei r might . $11% They think in their

hear t , In"ee" you note troube an" g ri e! , tha t you may t ake it in to your

h an " s* t he h e # es s )o mmi t t hems e 'es to y ou * yo u h a' e b een t he h e #e r o! t he

or#han . $1% =reak the a rm o! the wi)ke" an" e'i"oers* seek out the ir wi)ke"ness

unti you !in" none. $1/% The L+D is king !ore'er an" e'er* the nations sha #erish

!rom his an". $1% + L+D, you wi hear the "esire o! the meek* you wi

s trengthen thei r heart , you wi in)ine your ear $13% to "o ust i)e !or the or#han an"

t he o# #res s e" , so t ha t t ho se !ro m ear t h may s tri ke te rror n o more .

Psa ( :14


4/25

I@. 8ause s o! Po'erty

Pro' 10:4 A sa)k han" )auses #o'er ty , but the han" o! the "iigent makes

ri)h.

Pro' 1( :4 The a##et it e o! the a;y ) ra'es , an" ge t s nothing, whie the a##et it e

o! the "iigent is ri)hy su##ie".

Pro' 20:1( Do not o'e s ee#, or ese you wi )ome to #o'erty* o#en your eyes ,

an" you wi ha'e #enty o! brea".

Pro' 2( :21 !or the " runkar" an" the gut ton wi )ome to #o'er ty, an"

"rowsiness wi )othe them with rags .

1 . What a re some o! the )auses o! #o'er ty6

2 . Is thi s the ony way a #erson be)omes #oor6

Pro' 1(:2( The !ie" o! the #oor may yie" mu)h !oo", but i t is swe#t away through

inusti)e.

( . What "oes this im#y6

Pro' 23:21 To show #art ia ity i s not goo"-- yet !or a #ie)e o! brea" a #erson may

"o wrong.

Pro' 1( :3 Wea th is a ransom !or a #erson s i!e, bu t the #oor ge t no threa t s .

Pro' 14:20- 21 The #oor are "is ike" e'en by thei r neighbors , but the r i)h ha'e

many !ri en"s. $21% Those who "es# ise the ir neighbors a re sinners , but ha##y are

those who are kin" to the #oor.

Pro' 15:4 Weath brings many !rien"s , but the #oor are e! t !rien"ess .

Pro' 15: I! the #oor a re ha te" e'en by thei r kin, how mu)h more a re they

shunne" by the ir !ri en"s > When they )a a !t e r them, they are not there .

4 . What ha##ens when #eo# e a re in #o'er ty6 7ow "oes the ir )on"i tion t en"

to o)k them into a )y)e o! #o'erty6

. Are =ibi)a inun)tions "ire)te" ony to the


5/25

@. Those Who 8are !or the Poor

Psa 41:1- ( 7a##y are those who )ons i"er the #oor* the L+D "e i'ers them in

the "ay o! t roube . $2% The L+D #rote) t s them an" kee#s them a i'e* they are

)a e" ha##y in the an". &ou "o not gi'e them u# to the wi o! thei r enemies . $(%

The L+D sustains them on thei r si)kbe"* in their iness you hea a their

in!irmities.

Psa 112:- 5 It i s we wi th those who "ea generousy an" en", who )on"u)t thei r

a!!ai rs wi th ust i)e. $/% 9or the righteous wi ne'er be mo'e"* they wi be

rememb er e" !ore'er. $% They are not a!rai" o! e'i ti"ings* thei r hearts are !irm,

se)ure in the L+D. $3% Their hearts are s tea"y, they wi not be a!rai"* in the en"

they wi ook in tr ium#h on their !oes . $5% They ha'e "ist ribute" !reey, they ha'e

gi'en to the #oor* the ir righteousness en"ures !ore'er * the ir horn is eBa t e" in

honor.

Pro' 15:1 Whoe'er i s kin" to the #oor en"s to the L+D, an" wi be re#ai" in

!u.

Pro' 25 : The righteous know the right s o! the #oor* the wi)ke" ha'e no su)h

un"ers tan" ing.

Pro' 23:2 Whoe'er gi'es to the #oor wi a)k nothing, but one who turns a bin"

eye wi ge t many a )urse .

Pro' 22:5 Those who are generous a re besse" , !or they share the ir b rea" wi th

the #oor.

1 . What are the res#onsibi it ies o! the righteous to the #oor6

2. 7ow "oes o" 'iew those who are kin" to the #oor6

Psa 2:1- 4,12- 14

i'e the king your usti)e, + o",

an" your righteousness to a k ing s son .

$2% Cay he u"ge your #eo# e wi th righteousness ,

an" your #oor wi th ust i)e.

$(% Cay the mountains yie" #ros#erity !or the #eo#e,

an" the hi s, in righteousne ss .

$4% Cay he "e!en" the )ause o! the #oor o! the #eo# e ,

gi'e "ei'eran)e to the nee"y , an" )rush the o##ressor . . .$12% 9or he "ei'ers the nee"y when they )a,

t he # oo r an " t ho se wh o h a'e no h e #e r .

$1 (% 7e h as #it y o n t h e w eak an" th e n ee" y,

an" sa'es the i'es o! the nee"y .

$14% 9rom o##ression an" 'ioen)e he re"eems the ir i!e *

an" #re)ious is thei r boo" in his s ight.

( . What is the go'ernmen t s res#onsibii ty to the #oor6


6/25

4. 7ow wou" your t ransate this into a mo"ern set ting6


7/25

o)ia ?usti)e in the +" Testame nt Pro#hets

I. ins against the Poor

These a re a #ar t o! o" s )ase agains t the #eo# e o! Israe an" ?u"ah , es#e) ia y

the ea"ers , whi)h resu t e" in o" s u"gment u#on them.

;ek 22:,12 ,15 9ather an" mother a re trea te" with )ontem#t in you* the ai enresi"ing wi thin you su!!ers eBtortion* the or#han an" the wi"ow are wronge" in you.

$12% In you, they t ake br ibes to she" boo" * you t ake both a"'an)e inte rest an"

a))rue" inte res t , an" make gain o ! your neighbors by eBtort ion * an" you ha'e

!orgot ten me, says the Lor" +D. $15% There!ore thus says the Lor" +D: =e)ause

you ha'e a be)ome "ross , I wi gather you into the mi"st o! ?erusaem.

Amos 2:/-3 Thus says the L+D: 9or three t ransgress ions o! Israe, an" !or !our, I

wi no t re'oke the #un ishment * be)ause they se the righ teous !or s i'er , an" the

nee"y !or a #ai r o ! san"a s- - $% they who tram#e the hea" o! the #oor into the "us t

o! the earth , an" #ush the a !!i) te" out o! the way* !ather an" son go in to the same

gi r, so tha t my hoy name is #ro!ane" * $3% they ay themse'es "own bes i"e e'ery

a t a r on garments t aken in #e"ge* an" in the house o! the ir o" they " rink wine

bo ught wit h !ines th ey im#ose".

Amos 4 :1 7ear thi s wor" , you )ows o! =ashan who are on Count amar ia, who

o##ress the #oor, who )rush the nee"y , who say to thei r husban"s ,


8/25

Ci)ah 2:1-2 Aas !or those who "e'ise wi)ke"ness an" e'i "ee"s on their be"s>

When the morn ing "awns , they #er !o rm it, be)ause it is in thei r #ower . $2% They

)o' et !ie" s, an" s ei ;e t hem* h ou s es, an" t ak e th em away* t hey o# #res s

househo "er an" house , #eo# e an" the ir inheri t an)e .

( . What kin"s o! eB#oi tat ion are out ine" here6

4 . What wou" be mo"ern eu i'a en t s o! these # ra) ti )es6

Isa (2:/- 9or !oos s#eak !oy, an" their min"s #ot iniuity: to #ra)ti)e

ungo"iness , to utter error )on)erning the L+D, to ea'e the )ra'ing o! the hungry

unsatis!ie", an" to "e#ri'e the thirsty o! "rink. $% The 'i ainies o! 'i ains are e'i*

they "e' ise wi)ke" "e' i)es to ruin the #oor wi th ying wor"s, e'en when the #ea o!

the nee"y is righ t.

. What is o" s in"i)tment here6 A##aren ty sin "oes not ha'e to be a)t i'e to )a

!orth o"s u"gment .

Isa (:1(- 1 The L+D rises to argue hi s )ase * he s t an"s to u"ge the #eo#es . $14%

The L+D enters in to u"gment wi th the e"ers an" #rin)es o! his #eo#e: It is you

who ha'e "e'oure" the 'ineyar" * the s#o i o ! the #oor is in your houses . $1% What

"o you mean by )rush ing my #eo#e , by grin" ing the !a)e o! the #oor6 says the

Lor" +D o! hosts.

Isa 10:1- 2 Ah, you who make iniui tous "e)rees , who wri te o##ressi'e s ta tu tes ,

$2% to tu rn asi"e the nee"y !rom ust i)e an" to rob the #oor o! my #eo# e o! the ir

right , tha t wi"ows may be your s#o i , an" tha t you may make the or#hans your

#r ey>

/ . What "o these 'erses a"" to our un"ers tan" ing o! the natu re o! sin aga ins t the

#o or 6


9/25

II. Bhortations to ighteousn es

;ek 13:-1( I! a man is righteous an" "oes what is aw!u an" right-- $/% i! he

"oes not ea t u#on the mounta ins or i!t u# h is eyes to the i"o s o ! the house o!

Israe , "oes not "e! i e hi s neighbor s wi!e o r a##roa)h a woman "ur ing her

mens t rua #er io" , $% "oes not o##ress anyone, but res tores to the "eb tor hi s

#e"ge, )o mmit s no robbery, gi'e s his br ea" to th e hu ngry an" )o'ers th e nake"wi th a garment , $3% "oes no t t ake a"'an)e or a))rue" in te res t , wi thho"s hi s han"

!rom iniuity, eBe)utes t rue us ti)e between )onten"ing #art ies , $5% !oows my

statutes , an" is )are!u to obser'e my or"inan)es , a)ting !ai th!uy- -su)h a one is

righteous* he sha surey i'e, says the Lor" +D. $10% I! he has a son who is

'ioen t , a she""er o! b oo" , $11% who "oes any o! these things $though hi s !ather

"oes none o! them% , who ea t s u#on the mounta ins, "e! i es hi s neighbor s wi!e, $12%

o##resses the #oor an" nee"y , )ommi t s robbery , "oes not res tore the #e"ge , i!t s

u# h is eyes to the i"o s, )ommit s abomination , $1(% t akes a"'an)e or a))rue"

interes t * sha he then i'e6 7e sha not . 7e has "one a these abominabe things *

he sha surey "ie* his b oo" sha be u#on himse! .

1 . 7ow "oes thi s )on t ras t between the righ tous an" the wi)ke" #erson bear on

our own e)onomi) i'es6

Isa 1:1 earn to "o goo"* seek us ti )e , res)ue the o##resse" , "e!en" the or#han ,

#ea" !or th e wi" ow .

Isa 1/:(-


10/25

They sha not ament !or him, saying, < or < They

sha not ament !or him, saying,


11/25

III. The Cessiah an" a @ision o! ?usti)e

Isa 11:1- A shoo t sha )ome out !rom the stum# o! ?esse, an" a b ran)h sha

grow out o! his roots. $2% The s#iri t o! the L+D sha rest on him, the s#irit o!

wis"om an" un"ers tan" ing, the s#i ri t o ! )ounse an" might , the s#i ri t o ! knowe"ge

an" the !ear o! the L+D. $(% 7is "eight sha be in the !ear o! the L+D. 7e sha

not u"ge by what hi s eyes see, or "e)i"e by what hi s ears hear * $4% bu t withrighteousness he sha u"ge the #oor, an" "e) i"e with eu ity !or the meek o! the

earth * he sha s t rike the earth wi th the ro" o! hi s mouth , an" wi th the b rea th o! hi s

i#s he sha k i the wi)ke". $% ighteousne ss sha be the be t aroun" his wais t,

an" !ai th!uness the be t aroun" his oins .

1 . What wi )hara)ter i;e the rue o! the Cessiah6

Isa 42:1- 4 7ere is my ser'an t, whom I u#ho", my )hosen , in whom my sou

"e ights * I ha'e #ut my s#iri t u#on him* he wi br ing !orth us ti)e to the nations . $2%

7e wi not )ry or i!t u# his 'oi)e, or make it hear" in the s treet * $(% a bruise" ree"

he wi not break, an" a "imy burning wi)k he wi not uen)h* he wi !ai th!uy

brin g !or th ust i) e. $4% 7e wi no t grow !ain t or be )rushe" un ti he ha s estabi she"

usti )e in th e earth* an" th e )o ast an"s wait !or his tea)hi ng.

Isa /1:1- 4 The s#ir it o! the Lor" +D is u#on me, be)ause the L+D has anointe"

me* h e h as s en t me to b ri ng go o" n ew s to t h e o ## res s e" , to b in " u # t h e

brok enh e a r t e " , to #ro) ai m iber ty to th e )a #ti'es, an" re e as e to th e #ris oners * $2%

to # ro)aim the year o! the Lor" s !a'or, an" the "ay o ! 'engean)e o! our o"* to

)om!ort a who mourn* $(% to #ro'i"e !or those who mourn in Eion-- to gi'e them a

gar an" instea" o! ashes , the oi o! ga"ness instea" o! mourning , the mante o!

#r ai se inst ea" o! a !ain t s#ir it . They wi be )a e" oaks o! rig hteousn es s , th e

#anti ng o! th e L+D, to "is# ay his gory. $4% They sh a bui" u# th e an)i ent ruin s,they sha rai se u# the !ormer "e'as ta t ions * they sha re#a ir the ruine" )iti es , the

"e'as ta t ions o! many genera t ions .

2 . What are some o! the obe)ti'es o! the Cessiah6

(. To whom is the gos#e rea y goo" news6 Why6

Ci)ah 4:/- In that "ay, says the L+D, I wi assembe the ame an" gather those

who ha'e been "ri'en away, an" those whom I ha'e a!! i) te". $% The ame I wi

make the remnant , an" those who were )as t o!! , a s t rong nat ion * an" the L+D wireign o'er them in Count Eion now an" !ore'ermore .

Isa /:21- 22 They sha bui" houses an" inhabit them* they sha # ant ' ineyar"s

an" eat thei r !rui t. $22% They sha not bui " an" another inhabit * they sha not # ant

an" ano ther ea t* !or ike the "ays o! a t ree sha the "ays o! my #eo# e be, an" my

)hosen sha ong enoy the work o! their han"s .


12/25

Ci)ah 4:4 but they sha a s it un"er thei r own 'ines an" un"er thei r own !ig t rees ,

an" no one sha make them a! ra i" * !or the mouth o! the L+D o! hos t s has s#oken.

4. What is the #ro#hets 'ision o! euity an" ust i)e6

. 7ow wi i t )ome about6


13/25

Tem#tation

Cark 1 :5- 1( In those "ays ?esus )ame !rom Ga;are th o! ai ee an" was ba# t i;e"

by ?ohn in th e ?or"an. $10% An" ust as he wa s )o mi ng u# ou t o! th e wa ter, he sa w

the hea'ens torn a#ar t an" the #i ri t "es)en" ing ike a "o'e on h im. $11% An" a

'oi)e )ame !rom hea'en,


14/25

?usti)e an" 8ommunit y

Cark 10:1- (1 As he was se t ting out on a ourney, a man ran u# an" knet be!ore

him, an" aske" him,


15/25

Luke 1/:1- 5 Then ?esus sai" to the "i s) i#es,


16/25

an" no one )an )ross !rom there to us. $2% 7e sa i" , Then , !ather , I beg you to

sen" him to my !ather s house- - $23% !or I ha'e !i'e brothers- - tha t he may warn

them, so that they wi no t a so )ome into thi s #a)e o! torment . $25% Abraham

re# i e", They ha'e Coses an" the #ro#het s * they shou" ist en to them. $(0% 7e

sai", Go , !ather Abraham* but i! someone goes to them !rom the "ea" , they wi

re#en t . $(1% 7e sai" to him, I! they "o no t ist en to Coses an" the #ro#het s ,

nei ther wi they be )on'in)e" e'en i! someone ri ses !rom the "ea".

social justice scripture study

Documents