Helpless

Your leaders are rebels, the companions of thieves. All of them love bribes and demand payoffs, but they refuse to defend the cause of orphans or fight for the rights of widows. [Isaiah 1.23]

At least in Isaiah's prophecies, we can see a theme of what it is that displeases the LORD: rebellion, thievery, corruption and ignoring the plight of orphans and widows.

In a bedroom in my father's house hangs an old picture on the wall of one who is portrayed to be Jesus surrounded by little children. While it seems simplistic to reduce Christianity to to such a depiction, it also seems consistent with both Isaiah (who ironically offered significant Messianic prophecy) and Jesus during His tenure on earth that true religion, in God's sight, is, in fact, simplistic and involves child-likeness.

I don't intend to ignore the full list of things that Isaiah pointed out as wrong, but I do wish to highlight the fact that Isiah included the treatment of helpless orphans and widows as a specific indicator of right or wrong doing.

Father, help me to be mindful of the things that move Your heart. Help me to extend Your heart to those around me. Help me to see the helpless and help them!