Contemplative Bible Reading

Malachi 3:5 (New Living Translation)

“At that time I will put you on trial. I am eager to witness against all sorcerers and adulterers and liars. I will speak against those who cheat employees of their wages, who oppress widows and orphans, or who deprive the foreigners living among you of justice, for these people do not fear me,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.

The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is speaking to the prophet to speak to the people. The Lord lists sinners who will go on trial for their sins. This is an interesting mix.

Sorcerers: they seek the demons to speak instead of listening to God.

Adulterers: they cheat their spouses on their sacred vows.

These two are really bad.

Then there are the rest of them. Liars are those who lie. Me? Cheaters of money. Me? Taking advantage of the powerless. Me? And then God summarizes with the concept of Justice.

What is just? Am I just in my life? Can I wiggle around this one with some technicalities about what constitutes a foreigner and what “living among you” means in a court of law? Yes I can, but that is wiggling and doesn’t seem to be justice upon further consideration.