Sunday: Love and Justice
Daily Lesson for Sunday 2nd of February 2025
Throughout Scripture, love and justice go together. True love requires justice, and true justice can be governed by and meted out only in love. We are not used to thinking of these two concepts together, but that is only because both love and justice have been greatly perverted by humanity.
Read Psalms 33:5, Isaiah 61:8, Jeremiah 9:24, Psalms 85:10, and Psalms 89:14. How do these texts shed light on God’s concern for justice?
Image © Lars Justinen at Goodsalt.com
These texts explicitly declare that God loves justice (Psalms 33:5, Isaiah 61:8). In Scripture, the ideas of love and justice are inextricably linked. God’s love and God’s righteousness go together, and He is deeply concerned that righteousness and justice be done in this world.
For good reason, then, the prophets consistently decry all kinds of injustice, including unjust laws, false scales, and injustice and oppression of the poor and the widows or anyone vulnerable. Though people perpetrate many evils and injustices, God is the one constantly “ ‘exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth’ ” (Jeremiah 9:24, NKJV). Accordingly, throughout Scripture, those faithful to God greatly anticipate divine judgment as a very good thing because it brings punishment against evildoers and oppressors, and it brings justice and deliverance for the victims of injustice and oppression.
In fact, righteousness and justice are the foundation of God’s government. God’s moral government of love is just and righteous, quite different from the corrupt governments of this world, which often perpetuate injustice for personal gain and personal power. In God, “mercy and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed” (Psalms 85:10, NKJV).
And God makes it clear what He expects of us. “He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8, NKJV). If there is anything that we should reflect of God’s character, love—and the justice and mercy that stems from it—would be central.
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What are examples, even now, of perverted human justice? How, then, can we not cry out for God’s perfect justice to come one day? |
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C S Lewis, in his book, Reflections on the Psalms", devotes a whole chapter to the "Judgments". It is worth reading because it gives a sense to the Pslamists perception of judgement that is pertinent to the study this week.
Judgement is about setting things right. Sin has tilted the playing field and we we are playing in a game we cannot win, break even, or even quit successfully. God's sense of justice is about putting things back to level.
You can get a free copy of "Reflections on the Psalms" here.
In the Bible, injustice manifests in ways. For instance, unfair treatment of the poor and the vulnerable (Amos 5:11), unfair justice systems (Isaiah 10:1-2), slavery and human exploitation (Exodus 1:13-14), unfair business methods (Micah 6:11), cruelty and murder (Genesis 4:8), racial and nationality discrimination (Leviticus 19:34), religious exploitation (Matthew 23:23), gender inequality (John 8:1-11 – woman caught in adultery), and many more. It is very evident that wherever there are two or more people, there is a propensity for injustice to arise. The first recorded act of injustice in the Bible is when Cain unjustly killed his brother, Abel (Genesis 4:8).
In my proposition, the most unfortunate injustice is family injustice. By the way, all forms of injustice are unfortunate and evil. However, I want to throw some light on the unfortunate and heinous nature of family injustice. It is probable to be treated unjustly by strangers Exodus 1:11-14), enemies (1 Samuel 18:10-11), the wealthy (1 Kings 21), corrupt leaders (Luke 23:13-24), religious leaders (Matthew 23:23), employers (Jacob was mistreated by his employer, Laban) and many more. In normal circumstances, one expects to be treated fairly by family members (blood-related). Unfortunately, this might not be the norm. The whole world might not care to treat one fairly but family members, I suppose, are morally obligated. In all normal circumstances, justice ought to start at home. When injustices are perpetuated at home, that is more unfortunate and more heinous.
One of the most unfortunate and heinous recorded injustices in the Bible is the story of Joseph. Parental favouritism (Genesis 37:3-4) (discrimination) is a very unfortunate and terrible form of injustice that produces a series of injustices within the family (home). The injustice committed outside the family can be fairly understood but when committed by a parent(s) it becomes more painful. The moment Isaac openly showed favouritism towards Joseph, a deadly seed was planted whose outcome was devasting. Injustice only breeds injustice. Joseph was treated unjustly by his brothers as a ripple effect of their father's injustice. It is a warning to parents to treat their children with the same love to avoid the perpetuation of family injustices.
God loves justice. As we strive to treat all human beings justly, may we begin from our families (homes).
"Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly" - Leviticus 19:15