What actions in Jeremiah 5:28 show neglect of justice for the needy? “They have grown fat and sleek. They surpass the deeds of the wicked; they do not plead the cause of the fatherless to prosper, nor do they defend the rights of the needy.” Tracing the Neglect of Justice • Self-Indulgent Living – “They have grown fat and sleek.” – The people luxuriate in abundance while the vulnerable languish. Compare Ezekiel 34:2 – 4, where shepherds feed themselves and not the flock. • Exceeding Wickedness – “They surpass the deeds of the wicked.” – Their moral numbness is so deep that even pagan nations would blush (cf. 1 Corinthians 5:1). • Silence toward Orphans – “They do not plead the cause of the fatherless to prosper.” – God’s law commands active advocacy (Exodus 22:22; Deuteronomy 24:17), yet they refuse even to speak up. • Withholding Legal Protection from the Poor – “Nor do they defend the rights of the needy.” – Courts, elders, and leaders ignore the poor rather than “open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the rights of the poor and needy” (Proverbs 31:9). Underlying Heart Issues • Greed eclipses compassion (Micah 2:1-2). • Complacency dulls spiritual perception (Amos 6:1-6). • Rejection of God’s character—He is “a father to the fatherless, a defender of widows” (Psalm 68:5). New-Covenant Echoes • True religion “to visit orphans and widows in their distress” (James 1:27). • Genuine love “does not withhold compassion” (1 John 3:17). Takeaway Neglecting justice for the needy is expressed by luxuriating in personal gain, surpassing ordinary wickedness, refusing to advocate for orphans, and withholding legal defense from the impoverished. God’s consistent call—Old Testament and New—is clear: seek justice, defend the oppressed, care for those who cannot repay. |
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