As I started writing this post this morning it took a slight turn from my original writing. ”Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails” (Proverbs 19:21).
Many prophetic words are being released regarding the restoration of righteousness in the earth. As I mentioned in Part 1, tsedakah (tsedek) is rendered as “righteousness.” Another term I didn’t mention is the Hebrew word mishpat which in its most basic meaning is to treat people equitably or fair. It also means judgment, justice, ordinance, right, privilege, due (legal). Acquitting or punishing every person on the merit of the case, regardless of race or social status. It also means giving people their rights, what they are due, whether punishment, protection or care.
For the word of the Lord is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. The Lord loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love (Psalm 33:4-5).
God is the source of right. He is the judge of all the earth. He shows no partiality in judging (Deut. 1:17). Justice is His measuring line, righteousness His plumb line (Isa. 28:17). It is inconceivable that He will not do what is right or pervert justice (Job 8:3). Amos and the other prophets stressed the primacy of morality and that the primary way of serving God is through love, justice, and righteousness.
Men cannot drown the cries of the oppressed with the noise of hymns, nor buy off the Lord with increased offerings. —Abraham Heschel, The Prophet pg. 250
In other word, our Sunday praise and worship, and offerings cannot become a substitute for righteousness (Isa. 1:13-15). James says, “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world (Jas. 1:27).
When I read the above scripture my thoughts are directed towards the many migrant children that are currently being detained in U. S. custody due to new detainment processes. It takes months to release children from detention facilities. Experts have said that long term detention can cause deep-seated trauma, especially for unaccompanied minors who are away from their family and living in a foreign country. These policies and processes are impacting their life for good or bad.
The Bible tells us that children are a blessing and gift to parents. “Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him” (Ps. 127:3).
I do believe that separating a child from their mother, father or family is a horrible experience. I recall having dream as a young child of a car pulling up to my family’s home, a man getting out of the car and telling my father and grandmother that I he’d come to get me because he was my father. I was terrified!
Just today, Senator Lindsay Graham introduced a new bill to stop the flow of immigrants and regain control of the border by extending the detention of migrant children from 20 to 100 days. The goal is to help stop the flow of immigrants from Central America and “regain control of our border.”
Also, the Administration is contemplating detaining more parents with their children while they wait to go before an immigration judge possibly for months or even years. Is this the right solution? I don’t know. What I believe is that the wisdom of God is needed to discern what should be done at the border and how to deal with the influx of immigrants.
These children and families, as with all of humankind were created in the image of God and should be treated equitably while being detained U.S. custody. God certainly has a lot to say about how refugees and foreigners are treated when they live in your land. God’s Word provides insight on how to treat “the stranger,” “the foreigner,” or “the alien” living in this country (Lev. 19:33-34; Jer. 22:3; Isa. 21:14; Matt. 25:35-40).
You are righteous, Lord, and your laws are right (Psalm 119:137).
As Christians we must stand for what is true, standing firm in faith while showing grace to the least of these, and hold our leaders accountable while praying that God will grant them wisdom in their decision-making. I urge you to pray for our nation’s leaders and all who are in authority that they will make wise godly decisions (1 Timothy 2:1-2).
For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers (Prov. 11:14).
Shalom,
BEYOND CHURCH WALLS 