Justice, Righteousness, and Mercy

Jeremiah 22:1-10

1 Thus says the LORD: "Go down to the house of the king of Judah, and there speak this word, 2 and say, 'Hear the word of the LORD, O king of Judah, you who sit on the throne of David, you and your servants and your people who enter these gates! 3 Thus says the LORD: "Execute judgment and righteousness, and deliver the plundered out of the hand of the oppressor. Do no wrong and do no violence to the stranger, the fatherless, or the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place. 4 For if you indeed do this thing, then shall enter the gates of this house, riding on horses and in chariots, accompanied by servants and people, kings who sit on the throne of David. 5 But if you will not hear these words, I swear by Myself," says the LORD, "that this house shall become a desolation."'"

6 For thus says the LORD to the house of the king of Judah:
"You are Gilead to Me,
The head of Lebanon;
Yet I surely will make you a wilderness,
Cities which are not inhabited.

7 I will prepare destroyers against you,
Everyone with his weapons;
They shall cut down your choice cedars
And cast them into the fire.

8 And many nations will pass by this city; and everyone will say to his neighbor, 'Why has the LORD done so to this great city?' 9 Then they will answer, Because they have forsaken the covenant of the LORD their God, and worshiped other gods and served them.'"

10 Weep not for the dead, nor bemoan him;
Weep bitterly for him who goes away,
For he shall return no more,
Nor see his native country.

Here Jeremiah gave Judah the word of the LORD to the king who was on the throne of David as well as to all high and low who entered the gates of the city.  He told them to do justly and righteously as they showed mercy to deliver the helpless from their oppressors.  This calls to mind Micah 6:8 which also adds to live in humility before our God as He has shown us what is good throughout His scriptures.  They had heard His word also and knew what to do, even though they refused to do so.  If they so served Him by serving others, they would find success (Joshua 1:8) but if not then they would become desolate as He took all away what they had (Matthew 13:12, Luke 8:18).  The judgment was to be made a desert place without growth or civilization.  Their cities would be made empty and their crops would dry up in their unfaithfulness of unfruitfulness in the things of God according to His word.  God would send armies to destroy them for that rejection of His word and will.  The passers by would shake their heads in pity and wonder at their ruin and consider the consequences of turning from this great omnipotent God, and perhaps they would cease their own idolatry which the people of Judah had taken for themselves and suffered the loss of all things for.  Jeremiah, the weeping prophet, was told not to sorrow for these who willingly were cast out for such sin.  We can learn much about holiness and faithfulness in following Christ according to His word from such examples and instead pursue justice, righteousness, and mercy among ourselves.