The Bible as a Community Book (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1920 Excerpt: ...Until justice has been denned, one is never sure of its implications. Justice may be something which we practice in very closely denned groups; it may be something which the strong render unto the strong. For the prophets the definition of justice came down from the old tribal life where every member of the tribe had a share and part in the life of the tribe. For the prophets justice meant justice for the poor and needy, for the widows and orphans of the tribe as well as for the strong. Is not this the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thy healing shall spring forth speedily; and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of Jehovah shall be thy rearward. Then shalt thou call, and Jehovah will answer; thou shalt cry, and he will say, Here I am.1 -Isaiah 58:6-10. Just because the prophets refused to accept the boundaries of the nation as the limitation of God's righteousness, they were able to rise to something of an international conception of the will and purpose of God. Their statement of an international order based on righteousness antedates that of any other of the great world thinkers. They conceive of a world order based on the righteousness which shall emanate from Jehovah's house. It shall come to pass in the latter days, that the mountain of Jehovah's house shall be established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall...