Isaiah 1:17, “Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.” [KJV]
The ISV states the passage slightly differently:
1. Learn to practice what is good
2. Seek justice
3. Alleviate oppression
4. Defend orphans in court
5. Plead the widow’s case.
Nature abhors a vacuum so for the first exhortation, learn to practice what is good, I work at keeping my mind focused on God and immersing myself in His Word.
As for seeking justice, decades ago I had hoped to become a lawyer and become an advocate for abused children. Although this dream was never fulfilled, I supported the American Center for Law and Justice for several years. The ACLJ is located in Washington DC and protects the rights of Christians and the unborn.
As for alleviating oppression, I will unpack that shortly.
In Isaiah's day a widow might have Levirate marriage. If not she could glean or prostitute herself. Today in America many widow either have their own work history or can draw on their late husband's benefits. Orphans are more or less cared for in this country by the Child Protection Agency. That said, I support programs that help women and children in third world countries start cottage businesses.
As for the third exhortation, alleviate oppression, where was compassion last year for Iraq's Yazidis who were trapped and hiding from ISIS in the mountains.
Today more than a year “After Massacre, Iraq’s Yazidis a Broken People.”
And today, there are thousands of people wandering through Europe as refugees, the greatest number since World War Two. Saudi Arabia is rumored to have a tent city that could hold up to 3 million refugees but the tents are empty.
http://100percentfedup.com/saudi-tent-city-could-hold-up-to-3-million-refugees-but-sits-empty/#
Western governments including the US are under pressure to take in refugees. Rather than widows and orphans many of the refugees are men without family. Either the men are single or they left their wives and children undefended.
Bible passages such as the following are used to convince Christians to welcome refugees who have not had a through security evaluation. Matthew 25:40, “And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.” [KJV] Often overlooked is that brethren refers to Jews.
From an interesting article Published by: Dan Calabrese on Friday November 20th, 2015, "Politics: What does the Bible really say about taking in Syrian refugees?"
"It's always problematic when you look to the mainstream media and other left-wingers for an understanding of what Scripture says. To listen to them, you'd think Jesus was concerned with little more than sending checks to the poor, installing solar panels on roofs and surrendering to any and all foreign enemies."
http://www.caintv.com/what-does-the-bible-really-say
As for application, 1 Chronicles 12:32 “And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment.” [KJV]
From an article "Invasion U.S.A." By Jim Torres “Towers”
"They have the resources and abundant land, not to mention the same ideals and faith. There is a word in the Muslim faith, it is Al Hijra, which means taking over another country by means of infiltration, proliferation and subversion. Could this be some kind of sinister game plan to topple our country?"
https://www.raptureready.com/soap2/torres39.html
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