How does Jeremiah 22:16 define knowing God through justice and righteousness? Setting the Scene Jeremiah speaks to Judah’s king about his father Josiah, reminding him how true devotion to the LORD was displayed. The Spirit, through Jeremiah, ties genuine relationship with God to how we treat the vulnerable. Reading the Verse “He pled the cause of the poor and needy, and in this way all was well. Is this not what it means to know Me?” declares the LORD. Justice and Righteousness: Two Sides of Knowing God • “He pled the cause” — proactive advocacy, not mere sympathy. • “poor and needy” — people without power, resources, or voice. • “all was well” — God’s blessing rests on societies shaped by His character. • “Is this not what it means to know Me?” — the LORD equates knowing Him with living out justice (mishpat) and righteousness (tsedaqah). What Knowing God Looks Like in Daily Life • Personal integrity: paying fair wages, keeping promises (Leviticus 19:13). • Generous sharing: opening hand to the poor (Deuteronomy 15:7-8). • Advocacy: speaking for the voiceless (Proverbs 31:8-9). • Compassionate judgment: refusing partiality or bribes (Deuteronomy 16:19-20). Contrasting Empty Religion • Ritual without justice is condemned (Isaiah 1:11-17). • Fasting without righteousness is hypocrisy (Isaiah 58:3-10). • Claiming to know God while neglecting the needy denies Him (1 John 3:17). Echoes Across Scripture • Micah 6:8 — “He has shown you… what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God?” • Matthew 25:40 — Christ identifies Himself with “the least of these My brothers.” • James 1:27 — “Pure and undefiled religion… to visit orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” Key Takeaways • Knowing God is inseparable from practicing justice and righteousness. • Caring for the vulnerable is not optional charity; it is covenant faithfulness. • True piety radiates outward: when we defend the poor, we demonstrate we truly know the LORD. |
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