THE ISSUE OF SOCIAL JUSTICE IN THE BIBLE
No doubt the Bible is the strong theme of social justice. In the Old Testament it comes to attitudes towards the disadvantaged: the poor, widows, orphans and foreigners at harvest time, the Israelites were to leave them a little (Dt.24 :19-21). Interest loans are prohibited (Ex.22: 25). All persons, including slaves and immigrants have the right to rest on the Sabbath (Ex.23: 12). Slaves should not be treated with rigor (Lv.25 :39-43). There is a clear relationship between poverty and oppression, God exhorts the Hebrews to remember that one day they were slaves (Dt.26 :5-8). The God of Exodus intervenes in favor of the poor and oppressed, who are his people. The message of the Prophets was quite explicit: "Seek justice, Fulfil the oppression" (Is.1: 17). The Prophets cried out against the rich and powerful who oppressed the poor, and most strongly against indgnaram a separate religion of justice (Os.8: 13), (Am.5: 15, 21:25), (Mq.6: 6) (Is.58:1-11; ...) God a