Blood or Justice?
Blood or Justice?
Author: Brian J. Walsh, J. Richard Middleton & Mark Vander Vennen
Source: The Advent of Justice: A Book of Meditations, ed. Sylvia Keesmaat (Dordt College Press, 1994)
Advent placement: 2025-12-01 (paired with [[01-redemption-straight-rye-whiskey]])
Theme: On Isaiah 1 - worship without justice; “seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.”
Verbatim source text
Reproduced from calendar/2025-12-01.qmd (Whisk(e)y Advent 2025).
Blood or justice? 1
There was no identity problem in Jerusalem. These people knew who they were and what they were to do. They were Yahweh’s covenant people, and they knew that the way to maintain the security of covenantal life was by obeying the law. The law was clear about their responsibility to keep Sabbath and to offer sacrifices for sin, guilt, and thanksgiving.
We know what it means to be God’s people today, too. We go to church, pay our tithe, and support the work of a variety of Christian organizations. This is what it means to follow Christ today.
But now comes this prophet, supposedly speaking for God, questioning us: “Who asked this from your hands?” Who asked this? Why, God did, that’s who! Offering such sacrifices is what obedience is all about. It is precisely because we are obedient in these matters that our security is established and our prosperity flourishes. Anyway, on what authority does this Isaiah question these divinely sanctioned practices?
Isaiah’s word from the Lord leaves no doubt. “I’ve had enough of this burnt offering business! I can’t endure anymore of your hymn sings and worship services! I hate it all! This stuff is no more than a burden to me. It’s all wearing me out! In fact, you can stop your incessant prayers—I’m not listening anymore!” Why? Why have you changed your mind about what you want from us? “Because your hands are full of blood.”
Yes, the Temple is an architectural wonder. Yes, we are building air-conditioned churches with large parking lots full of the latest in automobile technology. Yes, the Christian community has airtime on television and radio. Yes, we can amass thousands to march for Jesus. But into this “Christian” reality Isaiah interjects these disturbing words: “Your hands are full of blood.” Could it be that in this short, penetrating phrase the prophet uncovers the reality of our world, which all of our religious activities so desperately try to cover up?
Well, God, if renewed enthusiasm in our worship life and church growth isn’t meeting the bill, then what is it that you really want?
Cease to do evil, learn to do good.
But what does that really mean?
Seek justice. Rescue the oppressed. Defend the orphan. Plead for the widow.
It is in such activities that covenantal people renew and maintain their identity. Indeed, the true health of a community that would live in covenant with God is gauged precisely by the way in which that community cares for those who are the weakest and most powerless. Seeking justice is not merely an interesting pastime for the politically-minded among us. It is a central and indispensable sign of covenantal vitality and fidelity.
Sabbath feasts, solemn assemblies, church services, and hymn-sings cannot wash the blood off our hands. Only getting our hands dirty and bloody in the seeking of justice for the oppressed can do that.
Footnotes
Walsh, Brian J., J. Richard Middleton, and Mark Vander Vennen. The Advent of Justice: A Book of Meditations. Edited by Sylvia Keesmaat. Illustrated by Willem Hart. Sioux Center, Iowa. Dordt College Press, 1994.↩︎