阅读经文 

贫穷往往是由不公引起的。“正常”的关系带来公平，破碎的关系则引致不公。不公平包括滥用权力、剥削弱势人士、剥夺基本权益、看重钱财过于人的价值、以及看到别人受苦但仍然逍遥恣肆，自我放纵。不公平有很多种形式，它可以体现为个人的或社会上的现象。

我们肯定知道一件事，就是神憎恶不公平，因为不公平伤害祂所爱的儿女。神藉着先知以赛亚晓谕，假如我们行事不公平，即使我们献上最诚心的敬拜，祂也会厌恶。行事不公平导致我们的宗教活动不蒙神悦纳。祈祷、歌颂、铺张的敬拜——假如我们行事不公平，这些活动都没有任何意义。

先知的职责是呼召百姓恢复信心的生活、为他们不公平的行为悔过、并采取公平的生活方式。以赛亚提到了寻求公平、解救受欺压的、为孤儿寡妇伸冤辨屈；他又在五十八章中补充说，我们要把食物分给饥饿的人、将飘流的穷人接到家中等等。先知弥迦说，我们要“行公义”，“好怜悯”，“存谦卑的心，与神同行”。（参弥6:8）

我们的好消息是，神会接纳我们的悔改并改变我们，叫我们喜乐地行公义侍奉祂。

Poverty is often caused by injustice. While justice occurs where relationships are “just right,” injustice happens when relationships are broken. Injustice includes the misuse of power, exploitation of the weak, denial of basic rights, valuing money more than people, and self-indulgence in the face of human suffering. It can take many forms. It can be personal or societal.

One thing we know for sure is that God hates injustice because it harms his children, whom he loves. Through the prophet Isaiah, God shows that even our best worship can be distasteful to him if we do not practice justice. Injustice makes our religious practices unacceptable to God. Prayers, songs, lavish worship services—they are all meaningless if we do not do justice.

The role of prophets was to call people back to faithful living, to repent of their unjust practices, to embrace justice as a lifestyle. Isaiah talks about seeking justice, defending the oppressed, and speaking up for the fatherless and the widow, and in chapter 58 he adds that we should share our food with the hungry, provide shelter to the poor wanderer, and more. The prophet Micah says we should “act justly,” “love mercy,” and “walk humbly” with God (Micah 6:8).

The good news is that God accepts our repentance and transforms us to do justice out of joyful service to him.