LEARN to do good.
SEEK justice.
HELP the oppressed.
DEFEND the cause of orphans.
FIGHT for the rights of widows. Isaiah 1:17
There’s no ambiguity in this verse. It comes from the first chapter of Isaiah where God is telling the nation of Israel that He is sick of their meaningless offerings and sacrifices because they are not obeying him with the way they live their lives. He’s disgusted with their celebrations and their ceremony when they are rebellious, evil and sinful in their hearts. Their worship is a sham for show only. That’s when He says that instead of their offerings, He wants them to learn to do good; seek justice; help the oppressed; defend the cause of orphans and fight for the rights of widows. Learn, seek, help, defend and fight. Five things — all verbs — that require action.
We often live as if we are not sure what God expects of us. There is no doubt about that here. But I can hear some Bible aficionados say, “God was talking to the nation of Israel here. He wasn’t necessarily talking to us.” Well, regardless of who He’s talking to, if this is what He wants of His people, that’s all we should need to know. At least we know these concerns are near to the heart of God. If justice for the oppressed and care for the orphans and the widows is important to God — that He would have His chosen people care about these things over worshiping Him — don’t you think we would want to make these things important to us? Tony Campolo used to always say, “I want to be moved by the things that move the heart of God.” These are five things that move the heart of God.
LEARN to do good.
SEEK justice.
HELP the oppressed.
DEFEND the cause of orphans.
FIGHT for the rights of widows. Isaiah 1:17
For more on this topic, join us on “Between the Answers” with John & Marti by clicking below.
John Fischer The Catch 
Just yesterday I read an interview of Leonard Cohen, who, when asked his favorite parts of the Bible, mentioned Isaiah, especially the first chapters. From the interview:
I ask him if he has a favorite book of the Bible ” I like Isaiah” he says, “especially the first chapters . I love the Psalms” Cohen explains that one of his new songs ” By the rivers Dark” was inspired by Psalm 137,the one that begins ” By the rivers of Babylon” Suddenly , the poet of pleasure is quoting the scriptures of exile ” If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, may my right arm forget its cunning and my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth if I set not Jerusalem above my deepest joy”. But I say the opposite , he continues.” Be the truth unsaid and the blessings gone, if I forget my Babylon. Its all very heritical. Can you be a good Jew and love Babylon? “Well, he says” the Talmud was written in Babylon. A lot of good Jews lived and wrote and thought and prayed there. And that’s where we are- we are on Boogie Street. We are in Babylon. I think its appropriate to live completely where you are and not reserve some mythical or spiritual refuge as an alternative. That can produce a kind of dangerous spiritual schizophrenia. We have to make it here, we have to make Jerusalem in Babylon”