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Kneeler Five

Isaiah 3:14

The Lord enters into judgement with the elders and princes of his people:
It is you who have devoured the vineyard;
the spoil of the poor is in your houses.

15 What do you mean by crushing my people,
by grinding the face of the poor? says the Lord God of hosts.



Brueggemann (1) page 36-7 writes:
'The theme of social loss and dislocation is continued throughout four small poetic units, all of which address the same issues of loss and deprivation. …

In language that is clearly parallel to that of Amos, (4:1) the poet observes social differentiations that have contributed to the crisis. In verse 15, the first line concerns "my people"; the second line has, in parallel, "the poor." In this particular case, it is "the poor" who are said to be "my people." This is a strong example of God's preferential option for the poor, for the God of Hosts is peculiarly allied with the poor as their legal advocate against the leadership class.'