Seeking Justice

Seeking Justice
By Steve Bradbury

Questions Analysing the Passage Read Isaiah 59:1-9 •

The prophet is explaining the reasons for God’s anger towards His people.

• In many respects verse 8 is a summary of the preceding verses in this chapter.

• What evidence is there in verses 1-7 for the absence of peace?

• What evidence is there for the absence of justice?

• What do you think is the significance of the use of terms such as “the way”, “paths”,
“roads”, etc. in verse 8?

• What impact does the violence and injustice have on the people’s relationship to God?
Read Isaiah 59:1-9 again.

• What does God require of His people? Note the negatives and the positives. • Which groups in society are specifically mentioned?

• What do they have in common? (Compare with verse 23.)
Questions for Further Discussion

• Which groups in our society today would God pick out for special consideration?

• To what extent does your Church/fellowship embody God’s concern for these people?

• Which sections of the wider world community would God select for special consideration?

• To what extent does your Church/fellowship embody God’s concern for these people?

• Isaiah 1:17 instructs us to do certain things.
–  How can we do them? –  How can be help one another shoulder these God-given responsibilities?
• What does it mean to follow the ‘way of peace’ (Isaiah 59.8) and be a peacemaker?

Reflection

“There are those in this world for whom the bonds of oppression are so tight they cannot
themselves work for a better society. Their lot falls on the shoulders of you and me. … the Word of the Lord and the cries of the people join in calling us to do more than shape our inwardness, more than reform our thoughts. They call us to struggle for a new society in the hope and expectation that the goal of our struggle will ultimately be granted to us.”
Nicholas Wolterstorff, Until Justice and Peace Embrace
As a preparation for group and/or private prayer reflect upon the following: • What have we learned about the character of God from this study? • What is your experience of God’s peace? (Compare with Galatians 1:3-5.)

• What does God require from you by way of seeking good, doing justice and making
peace? If you have not asked Him, ask Him now.

• God’s tasks for us are not easy – how does He help us fulfil them? (Compare with Galatians 5:16-24.)

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