Daily Devotions
Jeremiah
"Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness"
Text: Jeremiah 22:13
EXAMPLES OF EXPLOITATION
The problem of exploitation of workers is not a new one. It was done in the days of Jeremiah!
“Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness
And his chambers by injustice,
Who uses his neighbour’s service without wages
And gives him nothing for his work,
Who says, ‘I will build myself a wide house with spacious chambers,
And cut out windows for it,
Panelling it with cedar
And painting it with vermilion.'”
Jeremiah 22:13-14
1. “Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness and his chambers by injustice”
a) Building houses/ chambers
i) Houses need to be built.
ii) Workers are needed to build them.
b) Building the wrong way:
i) By unrighteousness.
ii) By injustice.
2. “Who uses his neighbour’s service without wages and gives him nothing for his work”
a) What is the reference to “unrighteousness and injustice?”
b) The worker is not given his wages.
c) He is given nothing for his work.
i) This could be a reference to under-paying.
ii) Or cheating of the worker in some ways.
3. “Who says, ‘I will build myself a wide house with spacious chambers,
and cut out windows for it, panelling it with cedar and painting it with vermilion.'”
a) This is a description of the plans of the house owner.
b) He wants to build:
i) A wide house.
ii) With spacious chambers (rooms).
iii) He plans windows in detail.
iv) He wants cedar panelling too.
v) He also plans to paint his house (vermillion is red).
c) Obviously, he is a person with some means.
i) But he plans to cheat his workers.
ii) This is unrighteousness in God’s sight.