What are the "justice" and "righteousness" God seeks in Isaiah 5:7? The Vineyard and Its Owner “For the vineyard of the LORD of Hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are His pleasant planting. And He looked for justice, but saw bloodshed; for righteousness, but heard a cry of distress.” Key Word Snapshot • Justice (Hebrew miṣpāṭ): right judgments, equitable decisions, protection of the weak, fair treatment in courts and daily life (cf. Deuteronomy 16:18–20; Isaiah 1:17). • Righteousness (Hebrew ṭsedāqâ): right living, covenant faithfulness, integrity in relationships with God and neighbor (cf. Genesis 15:6; Psalm 106:3). What Justice Looks Like • Honest courts that refuse bribes (Exodus 23:6–8). • Defending orphans, widows, foreigners, and the poor (Isaiah 1:17; Deuteronomy 24:17–22). • Business dealings free of fraud or oppression (Leviticus 19:35–36). • Swift correction of wrongs, ensuring restoration for the victim (Exodus 22:1–14). • Leaders who shepherd rather than exploit (Ezekiel 34:2–4). What Righteousness Looks Like • Personal holiness—clean hands and pure heart (Psalm 24:3–4). • Faithful obedience to God’s commands (Deuteronomy 6:4–6). • Love that seeks a neighbor’s good, not harm (Leviticus 19:18; Romans 13:10). • Generosity toward the needy as stewardship of God’s gifts (Proverbs 14:31; 2 Corinthians 9:9). • Consistent truthfulness—“no deceit in his mouth” (Psalm 15:2). How Judah Failed • “Bloodshed” replaced justice—violent oppression, land-grabs, and bribery (Isaiah 5:8, 23). • A “cry of distress” replaced righteousness—victims’ pleas ignored while leaders indulged in revelry (Isaiah 5:11–12). • God’s vineyard, meant to be fruitful, produced “wild grapes” of sin (Isaiah 5:2). Echoes Across Scripture • Micah 6:8—“What does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” • Amos 5:24—“But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.” • Matthew 23:23—Jesus rebukes neglect of “justice, mercy, and faithfulness.” • James 1:27—Pure religion cares for “orphans and widows in their distress” and keeps unstained by the world. Living the Passage Today • Practice equity wherever you influence decisions—home, workplace, community. • Stand with the vulnerable; silence in the face of their cry repeats Judah’s sin. • Let integrity mark private and public life; righteousness is not compartmentalized. • Remember that true fruit grows from a heart rooted in the gospel (John 15:5; 2 Corinthians 5:21). |
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