The Responsibility of the Nation and Its Government to “the Least of These”

Scripture sets a very high bar for public morality as well as for private behavior. Although we can easily rationalize why alternatives to the commands of Scripture might be more “sensible” and “realistic,” if people are going to insist on applying scripture to the bedroom, they must be willing to apply it to the boardroom as well.

(Part 2 of “The Primer on Scripture and the Budget for 2009“)

The first chapter of the Book of Isaiah begins with the prophet cataloguing the decline of the city of Jerusalem into injustice, where its former greatness is besmirched by its obsession with materialism and wealth.  It is important to remember that the prophets are speaking against the government “rulers” and the nation as a whole.  The prophets in scripture are not calling for individual piety and charity but for systemic societal/governmental reform.  And they specifically challenge government leaders to remember that the nation’s leaders are called to help the powerless and those in greatest need, not those with the most power and money.   

Isaiah clearly states what God expects of leaders: “Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow” (Isaiah 1:16-17). [note: he does not say, “cut federal funding for state child services”]

Here is what a true “Justice Sunday” should focus on from Jeremiah’s exhortation of the king about his responsibility as head of government:  “Did not your father eat and drink and do justice and righteousness? Then it was well with him.  16He defended the cause of the poor and needy, and so all went well.  Is that not what it means to know me?” declares the Lord.  17″But your eyes and your heart are set only on dishonest gain, on shedding innocent blood and on oppression and extortion” (Jeremiah 22:15-17).  

Taken together with Micah 6:8, this forms the core of the prophetic message: To know God as a nation means to take care of the poor and ensure that justice is done on behalf of the needy:  “He has showed you, O man, what is good.  And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8).

There are obvious parallels between ancient Jerusalem and the role that big donors and lobbyist played in setting government priorities in Washington that contributed to the ouster of the GOP from Congress and the White House in the 2006 & 2008 elections respectively: “Everyone loves a bribe and runs after gifts.  They do not defend the cause of the fatherless.  The widow’s cause does not come before them.”(Isaiah 1:23)

“The Lord takes his place in court and rises to judge his people.  He enters into judgment against the elders and leaders of his people saying, “It is you who have ruined my vineyard; the plunder from the poor is in your houses” (Isaiah 3:14).

“You seem eager for God to come near you.  Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers.  Yet is not this the kind of fasting I, your Lord, have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice…to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them?” (Isaiah 58: 2-7).

“He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God” (Proverbs 14:31).

“If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, 10and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.  11 The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs” (Isaiah 58: 9-11).

Nehemiah (who rebuilt Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile) enforces social justice through the power of the state and addresses an insidious problem that sadly still plagues us to this day (predatory lending):  “Still others were saying, “We have had to borrow money to pay the king’s tax on our fields and vineyards. 5 Although we are of the same flesh and blood as our countrymen and though our sons are as good as theirs, yet we have to subject our sons and daughters to slavery…we are powerless, because our fields and our vineyards belong to others.”  6 When I heard their outcry and these charges, I was very angry. 7 I told the [nobles and government officials], “You are exacting usury from your own countrymen!” So I called together a large meeting to deal with them 8 and said… “What you are doing is not right…let the exacting of usury stop! 11 Give back to them immediately their fields, vineyards, olive groves and houses, and also the usury you are charging them—the hundredth part of the money, grain, new wine and oil.” 12 “We will … do as you say,” they replied.  Then I summoned the priests and made the nobles and officials take an oath to do what they had promised.” (Nehemiah 5:1-13)

From the New Testament:  “Mercy triumphs over judgment! What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food.  16If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? 17In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead“(James 2: 14-17).

Scripture sets a very high bar for public morality as well as for private behavior.  Although we can easily rationalize why alternatives to the commands of Scripture might be more “sensible” and “realistic,” if people are going to insist on applying scripture to the bedroom, they must be willing to apply it to the boardroom as well.  The Bible leaves no room for trickle-down economics.  Jesus and the Prophets do not say, “Help the widow and orphan by supporting businesses in an effort to prop up the stagnant economy”! On the contrary, when a rich young man asks Jesus what he must do to inherit the Kingdom of God (“go to heaven” in today’s terminology), “Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.  Then come, follow me” (Matthew 19:21—note Jesus says this is what the man must do before he can follow Christ).  The Bible’s call repeated throughout the Old and New Testament is for direct action by government leaders on behalf of the least of these…nothing less.