Restart: Compassion and JusticeSample

IMMIGRANTS

The court in Jerusalem during Jeremiah’s time was a place of oppression and inequality. Desperate to meet the demands of King Neco of Egypt, King Jehoiakim forced the people to pay higher taxes (2 Kings 23:35). The burden fell heavily on the most oppressed and marginalized members of society—widows, orphans and the foreigners living in the land.

But God had given rules on the fair treatment of refugees and immigrants. They were to be treated with kindness (Leviticus 19:33,34); they were to benefit from the same law (Leviticus 24:22); they were to be helped and supported if necessary (Leviticus 25:35-37); and they were even allowed to participate in the national religious celebrations (Numbers 9:14).

Now, conveniently, the king and his court were forgetting God’s commands, forgetting that their ancestors had once been an exploited immigrant labor force in Egypt. Does that sound familiar? Such behavior is not unheard of today.

As a result of Jehoiakim’s oppression, how did God respond? How do you think God responds to oppression today?

Pray for groups in your community who welcome and support widows, orphans, immigrants, refugees and victims of violence. Find out where in your community special services are offered to immigrants (such as learning English, becoming acclimated to the community, etc.) and befriend someone new to your neighborhood. Pray: Lord, you see and hear everything; you instruct the nations and give knowledge to help us all. Correct us, teach us, bless us.