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
People are confused with the terms liberty, freedom, and human rights. These three have been applied to the concept of morality, which became such a relative concept because society has abolished the faith in God.
God desires justice in our families, communities, and nations. Justice is not about revenge but about fairness, truth, and standing up for the oppressed. When we see corruption, oppression, or inequality, we must not remain silent. True faith is demonstrated by defending the weak and ensuring that righteousness prevails.
I would like to get more information, about the Bible.
Greetings Thami.
There are two books I am reading about the Bible right now. They are filled with information about the Bible. One is titled 'To Know God, A 5 Day Plan. The other is titled 'Righteousness by Faith and the Three Angels Message, both by Morris Vendon. They may be purchased for pennies on the dollar through Amazon and read on a app called Kindle.
Good reading, and do enjoy learning more about the Bible.
If you go to the menu on this website (three lines in the top left corner), there is a link titled "resources". One of the tabs under resources is "Bible studies". I pray you will be blessed and enlightened as you learn more about the precious messages written in the Bible.
On the last question here: "...can we not cry out for God's perfect justice to come one day?" My response to this is that God's "Perfect Justice" has already come via what happened at Calvary 2,000 plus or minus years ago and also before Calvary through God's perfectly righteous and just Son, Jesus Christ. And it is still already here via God's Holy Spirit and through those who love God and their fellow men even now in spite of the wickedness and the evil and unrighteousness of the wicked now too. Jesus is coming soon to eradicate forever the unrighteous, the wicked, the evil, and sin, and death. And His final work for this will happen during the 1,000 year millenium after He comes the second time to save those who have truly and fully believed and helped to save others during their lives here and now.
Twins Esau and Jacob were born to Rebekkah and Isaac. Why did God hate Esau but love Jacob? We know God is love!
The quick answer is that hate in the Bible does not quite mean what we see it as today. Jesus told us to hate our family in relation to Him (Luke 14:26), so that suggests it means "love less".
God did not hate Esau in the sense of human hate, but Esau and his descendants chose to live apart from God and that meant that Jacob became the bearer of God's love, that is His special purpose. Esau was hated, but more in a relative sense.
Thank you, Christina, for providing a biblical answer.
I'd like to expand on that a bit:
I believe God loves everyone equally (Matthew 5:44-46), but we experience love according to our ability and willingness to receive.
As you pointed out, "Esau and his descendants chose to live apart from God." They shut themselves off from God's love and thus did not experience it. As far as they were concerned, they experienced less of God's love - or His "hate."
The father of the Edomites was Esau. The father of the Israelites was Jacob. God hated the ways of the Edomites but loved the ways of the Israelites (when obedient). The individual's name was used to refer to the nation that they represented.
The first paragraph on Christina's post is part of the answer as well.
Alfred, and as you put it so well, God hated their ways, He did not hate them.
One connection I see between love and justice is a connection between having an identity of being loved and then, out of that state, being able to share that love with others. John the apostle always identified himself as "the disciple whom Jesus loved (John 21:20)" and he is the one who wrote so much about God's love in his three inspired biblical letters to the churches. He understood the depth of God's love. He had been changed by Christ's love for him. Whereas at one time in prejudice he had wanted to call down fire upon a city of Samaritans (Luke 9:54), he grew into a heart of God's justice by reveling in the love lavished on him as a child of God (1 John 3:1). John wrote, "Hereby we perceive the love of God, because He laid down His life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren" (1 John 3:16). See here the connection between being loved and then showing that love and justice for others? John mentions the chronological order of first being loved and then loving, again, in 1 John 4:10-11, 19-21. He goes on to say that love is action, not just talk (1 John 3:17-18).
God's love is healing because it is poured out equally upon us all, and so we can build no beliefs of superiority from being loved by God. He loves the gifted, gorgeous, powerful person no more than He loves me. He loves the challenged person who lacks the resources I have no less than He loves me. We are not ever in a competition for God's love. And there are no limits to how much He loves us.
If I don't soak myself in this truth, I am bound to show prejudice and injustice in some area. For example, those who struggle with lack of a loved identity and insecurity may seek cliquish group membership where non-members are alienated. This is front and center in politics and in the news of today.... warring sides are forming all over the place as hurting, frightened, confused people project their self-loathing onto others. Alienated groups labelled "those other people" quickly become scapegoats. One group fears the other group, seeking social support from others with similar fears, perpetuating the cycle. This can even happen within churches! When people who haven't let Christ rule in their hearts have power and resources, they tend to become entitled, feeling and acting as though they deserve better outcomes than others.
I'm thinking of one story that shows a connection between God's love and justice. Mephibosheth, a descendant of King Saul, was called to David’s table to a permanent place of honor, belonging, and protection within the royal family. He was the grandson of the one who wanted to kill David; he certainly did not deserve a place at David's table! And not only that but his twisted crippled feet made him feel unpresentable and unworthy. He said, “What is your servant, that you should show regard for a dead dog such as I?” (2 Sam. 9:8). But he was worthy because the love was a gift from the king and all Mephibosheth had to do was receive it.
Through Jesus, we are entitled to receiving love from God, and that changes our ideas of worthiness and entitlement and justice (Acts 5:41; 1 Thess. 2:12; 2 Thess. 1:4-5; Col. 1:10 NIV). We are not entitled to receiving more love from other people. We are entitled to walking with our Savior in His love.
To properly understand Love and Justice within the character of God, it is essential to also consider His Grace. Grace completes the divine equation through which God expresses Himself by/in Love and Justice.
I see perfect Harmony in Love describing the very identity of I AM — with Grace and Justice as intrinsic elements of this perfection. These qualities have always existed and will remain as the time comes when God no longer holds back the 'Winds of destruction' - Rev.7:1-3; 14. (See “Why God Holds the Winds,” Journal of the Adventist Theological Society, 11/1-2 (2000): 287-294, Herbert Douglas.)
If we believe that God is perfect and to be worshiped in Spirit and Truth, then debating the 'mechanics of destruction' is of little value. What truly matters is understanding Truth — both intellectually and in heart-felt commitment.
“The Truth that seals is grasped by both the intellect and the heart commitment. Too often, spiritual commitment lacks one or the other, settling for either cold reason or hot feeling. The Truth that seals is understood first by the mind, which then generates a heart appreciation of and commitment to the Author of Truth.” (Ellen G. White, Last Day Events, 219; Ms.173, 1902)
Now is not a time for inactivity - idle probation. Instead, it is a time for affirmation — to grow in faith and love toward our heavenly Father, earnestly seeking His protection as evidenced by His Seal upon our foreheads - Rev.14:12; 2 Peter 3:11-14.
“Let us not be distracted as to where the real battle of the gospel is to be fought in these last days. Listen to Jesus whisper: ‘Limit not the Holy One of Israel.’ There is no limit to the creative power of the Holy Spirit that once brought order and beauty out of chaos in the Beginning.” (Herbert Douglas, “Why God Holds the Winds”)