2026 Pentecost Devotions III
Monday, October 19
Leviticus 19:1-2, 15-18
1 The Lord spoke to Moses, saying:
2 “Speak to all the congregation of the Israelites and say to them: You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.
15 “You shall not render an unjust judgment; you shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great: with justice you shall judge your neighbor. 16 You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand idly by when the blood of your neighbor is at stake: I am the Lord.
17 “You shall not hate in your heart anyone of your kin; you shall reprove your neighbor, or you will incur guilt yourself. 18 You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.”
“… and you shall not stand idly by when the blood of your neighbor is at stake …”
As you’ve probably already guessed, back in my younger days, I was a hippie. It was during the Vietnam war era, and like others my age, I protested against the war. Attending rallies was part of the “scene” back then; and I was active. I saw friends and classmates drafted and sent to Indochina (some of whom would not return). My only recourse was to stand up and speak out against what I felt was an unjust conflict.
Standing up for your neighbor has been a hallmark of our society for centuries. From the wars of the eighteenth century to the conflicts in the twenty-first century, neighbors standing up and defending neighbors continues. That it is also a biblical imperative only emphasizes its importance.
Jesus reminds us that caring for the poor, outcast, and marginalized is part of our call as his followers. He also demands that we identify and work to root our injustice, persecution, and oppression – especially for those in society who have little or no voice. It’s part of God’s overall concern for those who lives and livelihoods are threatened by powers and authorities who have little regard for the “least of these”.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, you call us to care for the least of these in our society and our world. Give me the courage to stand against oppression, injustice, and abuse and stand up with those who cannot stand by themselves. Amen.