16 “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil,
17 Learn to do good; seek justice, reprove the ruthless, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.
17 Learn to do good; seek justice, reprove the ruthless, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.
18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord, “Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool.
19 “If you consent and obey, you will eat the best of the land;
20 “But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” Truly, the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
19 “If you consent and obey, you will eat the best of the land;
20 “But if you refuse and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” Truly, the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
21 How the faithful city has become a harlot, she who was full of justice! Righteousness once lodged in her, but now murderers.
22 Your silver has become dross, your drink diluted with water.
23 Your rulers are rebels and companions of thieves; everyone loves a bribe and chases after rewards. They do not defend the orphan, nor does the widow’s plea come before them.
22 Your silver has become dross, your drink diluted with water.
23 Your rulers are rebels and companions of thieves; everyone loves a bribe and chases after rewards. They do not defend the orphan, nor does the widow’s plea come before them.
24 Therefore the Lord God of hosts, the Mighty One of Israel, declares, “Ah, I will be relieved of My adversaries and avenge Myself on My foes.
25 “I will also turn My hand against you, and will smelt away your dross as with lye and will remove all your alloy.
26 “Then I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning; after that you will be called the city of righteousness, a faithful city.”
25 “I will also turn My hand against you, and will smelt away your dross as with lye and will remove all your alloy.
26 “Then I will restore your judges as at the first, and your counselors as at the beginning; after that you will be called the city of righteousness, a faithful city.”
27 Zion will be redeemed with justice and her repentant ones with righteousness.
28 But transgressors and sinners will be crushed together, and those who forsake the Lord will come to an end.
29 Surely you will be ashamed of the oaks which you have desired, and you will be embarrassed at the gardens which you have chosen.
30 For you will be like an oak whose leaf fades away or as a garden that has no water.
31 The strong man will become tinder, his work also a spark. Thus they shall both burn together and there will be none to quench them.
28 But transgressors and sinners will be crushed together, and those who forsake the Lord will come to an end.
29 Surely you will be ashamed of the oaks which you have desired, and you will be embarrassed at the gardens which you have chosen.
30 For you will be like an oak whose leaf fades away or as a garden that has no water.
31 The strong man will become tinder, his work also a spark. Thus they shall both burn together and there will be none to quench them.
Reminder: "praying effectively" involves knowing God's will. When we pray in His will (in His name), He may choose to not answer those prayers in the time period that we would like, or HOW we would like - but He will answer those prayers!
It is God's will:
- that the Lord wants us to have conversations with Him and understand that He is very reasonable (1:18)
- that we should become believers and be obedient (1:16)
- that we should confess our sins and stop practicing evil (1:16)
- that we learn to do good (1:17)
- that we seek justice (1:17)
- that we protect the orphans and the widows (the aged) (1:17)
- that we reprove the ruthless (1:17)
Today's prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for being reasonable! MORE than reasonable. You make salvation simple - - - because You do it for us. And You invite us to converse with You. More than that, You desire to have a close relationship with each one of us.
Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for being reasonable! MORE than reasonable. You make salvation simple - - - because You do it for us. And You invite us to converse with You. More than that, You desire to have a close relationship with each one of us.
And thank You for being just. I am so very thankful that You will ultimately take care of all evil and bring perfect justice to this earth one day. Yet as the almighty Lord and Savior, You remain faithful and involved with our lives right now, and answer prayers. Please give us insight and wisdom into situations where justice needs to be applied. Help us to trust in You. Amen.
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