OBSERVE MERCY AND JUSTICE IN YOUR BUSINESS
“So, you, by the help of your God, return; Observe mercy and justice and wait on your God continually. 7 “A cunning Canaanite! Deceitful scales are in his hand; He loves to oppress. 8 And Ephraim said, ‘Surely I have become rich, I have found wealth for myself; In all my labours They shall find in me no iniquity that is sin.’ 9 “But I am the Lord your God, Ever since the land of Egypt; I will again make you dwell in tents,
As in the days of the appointed feast. 10 I have also spoken by the prophets And have multiplied visions; I have given symbols through the witness of the prophets” (Hos 12:6-10). Isreal was backsliding. He has become as corrupt as the Canaanites!! He covets, deceives others and loves to exploit people to make money. The traders were cheating their customers excusing their sin. God exposed the fraud, showing that economic sin is spiritual sin. Ephraim “loves to oppress”. Oppression or persecution is using authority or power in an unjust, cruel way preventing some people to exercise their freedom or opportunities. This oppression is a settled practice not just an occasional mistake. His heart is set on profit and not on pleasing God. Lessons: God sees everything, not only what happens in church but also in the marketplace. It is not enough to be “a successful businessman”. Your testimony as Christian businessman matter to God more than the amount of money you have. Christians are called to conduct business with honesty and integrity, reflecting God’s character in all dealings. These are examples of oppression in business practiced these days: manipulating prices to cheat customers; false adverts deceiving costumers about product’s quality; hiding defects of products, delay in paying your workers, discriminating workers based on gender, race, religion, disability, age…
Deception in business grieves the Holy Spirit. That leads to loss of fellowship with God and damages reputation and testimony. “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favour rather than silver and gold” (PV 22:1). Disobeying God, ignoring conscience for a long time, produces hardness of heart. The person becomes unable to repent. God judges and punishes the deceiver. His business will collapse. “God cannot be mocked” (Gal 6:7). God judges rich oppressors! “Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming upon you! 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth-eaten. 3 Your gold and silver are corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have heaped up treasure in the last days. 4 Indeed the wages of the labourers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. 5 You have lived on the earth in pleasure and luxury; you have fattened your hearts as in a day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned; you have murdered the just; he does not resist you” (Jam 5:1-6). Being faithful and honest in all your business dealings makes you content with the wealth you have. You have peace of mind and a calm conscience. That frees you from inferiority complexes. “The righteous are bold as a lion” (PV 28:1). God’s favour is upon the man who is just in his business. “Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely, who conduct their affairs with justice” (Ps 112:5; NIV). Your good name and reputation attract costumers, and your business steadily prospers. Best of all, God will reward you eternally. Selah!
Why does integrity in our business matter? As children of God, we represent God in everything we do. God’s character is righteous; our work must reflect His nature. Having integrity in business is another way of preaching the Gospel before clients, suppliers and employees. Jesus said: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt 5:16). Submitting every invoice, contract, and handshake to God transforms your business into evangelism and worshipping God!
The name Ephraim means “Fruitful”. “And Ephraim said, ‘surely I have become rich, I have found wealth for myself; In all my labours They shall find in me no iniquity that is sin”. Ephraim had grown prosperous while abandoning covenant faithfulness. Israel’s confidence was in political strength, financial success, and worship of idols rather than in the Lord. The people assumed that prosperity proves innocence; material gain was interpreted as divine approval. But Hosea has exposed Isreal’s dishonest trade. Pride blinded the nation to the judgment already approaching through Assyria. The Bible never equates material Wealth with Righteousness. Isreal counts his silver and gold but ignores violence, deception, and idolatry. It is God who judges us. We cannot judge ourselves and declare ourselves innocent before God. Isreal credited its gain to personal skill and effort, refusing to acknowledge the Lord as the Giver of strength and provision. Israel forgot the warning that wealth can lead the heart away from God when gratitude is replaced by pride. Human effort cannot cleanse sin or establish righteousness before God. The Lord requires truth, justice, mercy, and humble dependence on Him. Such self-deception rejected the Lord’s judgement and removed any need for repentance. The resurrected Christ said about the church at Laodicea: “Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked” (Rev 3:17). Only Jesus Christ is truly without sin, and only His righteousness can cover those who confess their sin and turn to God. True success is found in God alone. Spiritual wealth is of far greater value than material wealth. Investing in a relationship with God and in His kingdom yields eternal rewards. Humble yourself before God! Only God defines sin, and only His grace can cure it. Selah!
GOD SEARCHES FOR INTERCESSORS
“Roam back and forth through the streets of Jerusalem and look now and take note. And look in her open squares To see if you can find a man [as Abraham sought in Sodom], One who is just, who [has integrity and moral courage and] seeks truth (faithfulness); Then I will pardon Jerusalem— [for the sake of one uncompromisingly righteous person]” (Jer 5:1; AMP). “I searched for a man among them who would build up the wall and stand in the gap before Me for [the sake of] the land, that I would not destroy it, but I found no one [not even one]” (Eze 22:30; AMP). The Lord’s challenge reveals the severity of Judah’s corruption. God looks for a man who is Just and who seeks Truth. Justice is more than worship at the temple. God demands honest business dealings, being kind and generous to the needy, integrity in judgment, and obeying His Word. Truth means faithfulness toward God and integrity toward men. It means lack of hypocrisy. Jerusalem practices deception and idolatry. There was no evidence among men of a heart sincerely devoted to the Lord. Judgment was deserved, yet God declared His readiness to pardon. His mercy toward a guilty city anticipates the greater salvation secured by Jesus Christ, the One perfectly righteous Man, through whom forgiveness is offered to all who repent and believe. God values righteousness and truth so highly that He is willing to spare an entire city for the sake of one righteous person. The Lord wants to show Mercy to His people. His bar drops from 50 people (at Sodom) to one righteous person in Jerusalem! “The righteous man cares for the rights of the poor, But the wicked man has no interest in such knowledge” (PV 29:7; AMP). This shows the profound impact of living a life of integrity!!! Selah!
The phrase “stand in the gap” is a wartime picture, like a breach in the wall. The enemy can use it to enter the city. God was searching for a faithful and courageous soul who will step forward to protect the city and plead for mercy. God still looks for men and women who would intercede, confront evil, and hold fast to His Word. God’s search occurred amid Jerusalem’s widespread corruption among princes, priests, prophets, rulers and people. God sought a faithful leader or intercessor willing to represent the nation before Him, as Moses pleaded for Israel after the golden calf and Abraham interceded for Sodom. National ruin was not inevitable if genuine righteousness and repentance remained in a remnant.
The broken wall portrayed the nation’s ruined moral and spiritual defences. Sin, idolatry, violence, and injustice had opened breaches through which judgment would come. As Nehemiah later led the rebuilding of Jerusalem’s physical walls, God’s people needed someone to call the people back to covenant faithfulness and restore what rebellion had destroyed. Intercession required a person to stand between a holy God and a guilty people, pleading for mercy while confronting sin. Priests and rulers had failed in their responsibilities, leaving no one to bear this burden for the land. God’s announced judgment revealed both His holiness and His readiness to show mercy when people repent. He takes no pleasure in destruction, yet He will not ignore persistent rebellion. Jerusalem’s coming fall was the just consequence of a people who rejected repeated warnings. No righteous intercessor could be found who would turn the nation from its settled rebellion. The absence exposed the depth of Judah’s spiritual collapse and left the people without human refuge from judgment. Just as physical walls protect a city, spiritual leaders are needed to uphold moral standards within a community. It is not meant that there was not a single godly man, but God did not find any person of pure, strong, and commanding character that his intercessions might avert the threatened doom. The failure points to man’s need for the perfect Savior, whose righteousness and intercession alone can reconcile sinners to God.
The following are qualities necessary for an intercessor with God:
*A clean conscience and a faithful walk with God. “The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail” (Jam 5:16).
*An intercessor’s heart; love God and people and hate sin. Moses “stood in the breach before Him to turn His wrath away” (Ps 106:23).
*Godly courage. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous…for the LORD your God is with you” (Josh 1:9).
*Steadfast faithfulness. “Now it is required of stewards that they be found faithful” (1 Cor 4:2).
*Humility before God. “If My people…humble themselves and pray…then I will hear” (2 Chr 7:14).
*Sacrificial agape love for people. “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends” (Jn 15:13).
Paul desires to be “cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers” (Rom 9:3). This shows the depth of burden-bearing, grief over lost souls and a love like Christ’s own sacrificial love. We must have passionate zeal for sharing the gospel, even at great personal cost!
Intercessors are leaders. God looks for people willing to intervene so that judgment is averted. The “wall” represents moral and spiritual protection; leaders are called to maintain it and repair it. Failure to find such leaders results in discipline on the entire community. Family conflicts, racism, tribalism, cultural confusion, spiritual apathy create fresh breaches in our generation’s wall. Ezekiel’s unanswered search magnifies the necessity of the One Man who forever stands in the gap for all who trust Him. Jesus Christ ultimately fulfills the work no human leader could accomplish, living as the righteous Mediator and continually interceding for His people. In Christ, believers can be intercessors. “And your people will rebuild the ancient ruins; You will raise up and restore the age-old foundations [of buildings that have been laid waste]; You will be called Repairer of the Breach, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings” (Isa 58:12; AMP). Today, the Lord still asks, “Who will stand before Me in the gap?” May we answer with Isaiah, “Here am I. Send me!” for His glory and our neighbour’s good. Amen!
DAVID AND GOLIATH LESSONS:
1-A Heart for God Prepares Us to Be Used by God
David is chosen to be king because he had a heart for God. The Lord “sought out a man after His own heart” (1Sam 13:14) to be king. Being “a man after God’s own heart” does not mean being a sinless or flawless person. Instead, it describes someone like David who always depends on God; who refuses to grieve the Holy Spirit; when he falls, turns back to God in deep repentance rather than running away. Saul simply was not this man. His heart was not for God. When Samuel goes to anoint the new king of Israel, he assumes David’s strong and noble oldest brother must be the chosen one. But God tells Samuel not to focus on the physical. “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have I rejected him. For the LORD sees not as man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart” (1 Sam 16:7). We learn from David’s life the importance of cultivating a heart for God above all else!
2- You must be filled with the Holy Spirit!
“Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came (rushed) upon David from that day forward. So, Samuel arose and went to Ramah. 14 But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a distressing spirit from the Lord troubled him” (1 Sam 16:13, 14). The Spirit empowered David for the calling that lay ahead, preparing him through years of service, suffering, danger, exile, and warfare before he became king. David’s future victories and faithfulness do not depend on his natural ability alone but on the Lord’s presence and power. Saul’s rejection and David’s anointing mark a decisive transfer of divine favour from one king to another. Immediately David is anointed by Samuel, things happen to David to confirm God’s stamp on him. He immediately moves from being an ordinary shepherd boy to his divine appointment. The Holy Spirit gives him musical skills to compose Psalms and to worship God. He receives supernatural courage to defeat Goliath, for the honor of God (1 Samuel 17). God’s choice becomes men’s choice. Selah!
The lives of David and Saul make it clear that if we want to do God’s will, we must be filled with the Spirit. Although Saul is filled with the Spirit and even prophesies, his disobedience causes the Spirit to depart from him and “rush upon David” (1 Sam 10:10; 16:13-14). Saul remained on the throne for years, yet he no longer enjoyed the sustaining presence and guidance of the Holy Spirit for his royal calling. A troubling spirit allowed by God afflicted Saul. This is God’s judgment; a reminder of God is the ultimate authority. This evil spirit magnifies jealousy, fear, violence and erratic behaviour that were already present in Saul. It isolates him from his friends and family members. Saul becomes spiritually blind and extremely stubborn. Rather than repent, he seeks relief through music, not obedience. Obedience guards the soul; rebellion invites torment. External relief (music, distractions) can’t replace internal repentance. Without the Spirit, we are powerless to fulfill the role to which God has called us. If we “walk by the Spirit”, we won’t “gratify the desires of the flesh” (Gal 5:16). The Spirit’s presence in us results in fruit which makes us effective in ministry: “love, joy, peace, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Gal 5:22-23). That is why we must pray to be filled with the Spirit (Eph 5:18).
3-FEAR GOD AND TRUST HIS WORD!
David feared God and trusted His Word more than he feared Goliath. That is why he was not intimidated by this nine-foot giant before him. The Lord had promised the Israelites that they would conquer the Philistines, and David trusted Him. Lesson: If we fear God more than anyone or anything else, we will be able to obey and please Him in powerful ways. David is a picture of the Greater Champion Jesus Christ. David defeated the enemy and delivered a nation—in one battle for a short time. Jesus Christ defeated the enemy—the devil, sin, and death—and delivered His people for all time. Glory to God!
4- SIN IS TERRIBLE BUT GOD’S MERCY IS AVAILABLE Sin is a reproach and has terrible consequences. Repentance invites God’s mercy. May we never take God’s mercy for granted! Let us pray and intercede for this Land! Worship the Lord!
