Education of Righteousness

" . . . Cease to do evil, learn to do good . . . " (Isaiah 1:16-17).


Is doing well a natural kind of knowledge? I mean, do we automatically know what to do when doing well is required? Does the suspension of evil always result in the commencement of good? For Israel there was a need to at least re-learn what they should have already known. Their nation was in shambles economically, politically, judicially and religiously. The people already had experienced the judgment of God. Their crying need was to first turn from their sin. But just repenting of their rebellious ways would not be enough. God expected Israel to proactively pursue righteousness. Specifically, God instructed them to "seek justice, reprove the ruthless, defend the orphan, plead for the widow" (v. 17).

It is possible to lose justice, to become so estranged from the proper function of the court that it is necessary to struggle to find the way back. What was lost was not just an understanding of justice, but a basic understanding of the character and nature of God. It is possible to become so complacent with ruthlessness that we have no word for the ruthless. Like children reared in a home with violence, we find ourselves condoning it, using it. To forget kindness is to forget that we must show to others kindness like that which God has shown to us. Defending the orphan, pleading for the widow can only come from those who value the least fortunate and least able to contribute to our common cause. But to neglect to do so is to forget what God has said He values and to fail to value it ourselves.

Not only can we come to a time where we must relearn goodness, but we can only do so by proactively seeking to do the things God calls to do. Like Christ, our obedience must be learned (Hebrews 5:8).