For many years we have witnessed a corrupt and perverted justice system that has been a discouragement to us. We ask the question: “Is there any justice?” To achieve justice for the world, we must better understand how God views it. God is our perfect example for true justice. In the Song of Moses in Deuteronomy 32: 4 we read that God is just: “The Rock—blameless is His work. Indeed, all His ways are just. God of faithfulness without iniquity, righteous and upright is He.” All God’s ways are just! God’s rule over the universe is grounded in justice and righteousness. Psalm 89: 14-15 says: “Your arm is mighty, Your hand is strong, exalted is Your right hand. Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne. Lovingkindness and truth go before You.” There is never a time when God has been unjust; it is against His unchanging nature to be anything but perfectly just. God sees the hearts and minds of men and will judge all men. I believe that God is calling us to examine scripture so that we can have peace knowing that God’s will prevails and evil will be dealt with. Romans 12:19 tells us that vengeance belongs to God and He will repay.
Adam and Eve saw the justice of God when they were punished for their sin in the Garden. Even in that judgment, they experienced mercy as “The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.” (Gen. 3: 21) God’s justice requires Him to deal with sin. Scripture records many instances of God’s justice in response to mankind’s rebellion; the flood of Noah’s day, the plagues in Egypt, the destruction of Ahab and Jezebel’s house, and the Babylonian Captivity, just to name a few. The effects of the fall extend to human relationships and thus in a fallen world one suffers outright injustice and wickedness at the hand of other human beings. What makes this sad reality tolerable is the certainty that God will judge the righteous and the wicked—ultimately justice will be done. The words of Ecclesiastes 3: 16-17 gives us this assurance: “Moreover, I saw under the sun that in the place of justice, even there was wickedness, and in the place of righteousness, even there was wickedness. I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time for every matter and for every work.”
Justice is a major theme in Scripture, which contains many calls for justice and commands to worship God for His justice. Because God is just, He demands that mankind, created in His image, also display justice and gives us a mandate for justice. In Micah 6:8 we read: “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God.” Justice has to do with conduct in relation to others. Just behavior aligns with what is morally right and fair. Justice is the quality of doing what is right. Before Israel had a king, God ensured that His people had justice, as the whole book of Judges attests. Deborah the prophetess set up court beneath a palm tree (Judges 4:5), and Samuel presided over a circuit court, traveling from place to place to hear cases and administer justice (1 Samuel 7:16). Later, the king became the nation’s chief justice.
Scripture is full of commands that humans act justly. Justice is linked to a right relationship with God, and those who know God will act justly. As Christians, we should stand up against injustice and love others with our words and actions.
Here are some of those scriptures:
“Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause” (Isaiah 1: 17, ESV). “Thus says the Lord: Do justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place” (Jeremiah 22: 3, ESV). “Defend the weak and the fatherless; uphold the cause of the poor and the oppressed. Rescue the weak and the needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked” (Psalm 82: 3-4) “Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand it completely” (Proverbs 28: 5, ESV). “Blessed are they who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times?” (Psalm 106:3, ESV).
God places a special responsibility on judges and other authorities to provide justice, warning them in Psalm 82 that they will themselves face judgment. As the world drifts further from God, justice becomes a rarer commodity. When sin is redefined as a virtue, and righteousness becomes offensive, then justice is twisted, the wicked go unpunished, and innocent people are victimized. Isaiah describes it: “Justice is far from us. . . . We look for justice, but find none. . . . Justice is driven back, and righteousness stands at a distance. . . . The Lord looked and was displeased that there was no justice” (Isaiah 59:9, 11, 14–15). Every human tribunal is under God’s order to do what is right:
“You shall do no injustice in court. You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great, but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbor? (Leviticus 19: 14, ESV). “Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another” (Zechariah 7:9, ESV). “Do not show partiality in judging; hear both small and great alike. Do not be afraid of anyone, for judgment belongs to God” (Deuteronomy 1: 17). “In a lawsuit, you must not deny justice to the poor” (Exodus 23: 6, NLT). “Justice, and only justice, you shall follow” (Deuteronomy 16: 20). “The wicked accept bribes in secret to pervert the course of justice. (Proverbs 17: 23).
The justice of God was demonstrated at the Cross. As Jesus was crucified, the sins of the world were laid on Him, and Jesus’ death became the propitiation, or the satisfaction, of God’s justice. God could not just ignore sin; justice requires a penalty. To our eternal benefit, that penalty for sin fell on Jesus Christ: “It was to show His righteousness at the present time, so that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” (Romans 3: 26) The Cross is the intersection of God’s justice and mercy; God’s justice was satisfied by the righteous blood of His own Son and God’s mercy was extended in full to all who believe and trust in Him. He is truly “a just God and a Savior.” (Isaiah 45: 21) Jesus loved us and gave Himself for us. He desires His love to be expressed in these forms—justice (do justice), mercy (loving kindness), and faithfulness (walk humbly)—as the expressed response of His people to His redemptive acts. (Matthew 23: 23) Jesus promised never to leave or forsake us and that He will come again to take us to be with Him in heaven according to God’s plan. However, God continues to remind us that He is not finished with the Church—He still has souls to be saved and we as the Bride still have spots and wrinkles to be removed! Yes, God is completing and purifying His Son’s Bride!
God Will Bring Justice
Believers look forward to the day when the Lord returns and establishes true justice on the earth. Whatever the injustice in this world, God has promised, “I will repay” (Romans 12:19). A world crying for justice will finally see it administered when the King of Righteousness comes:
“The Son of Man is going to come in His Father’s glory with His angels, and then He will reward each person according to what they have done” (Matthew 16: 27; Psalm 62: 12). “With righteousness He will judge the needy, with justice He will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth; with the breath of His lips He will slay the wicked” (Isiah 11: 4). “Let all creation rejoice before the LORD, for He comes, He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in His faithfulness” (Psalm 96: 13). “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice He judges and wages war” (Revelation 19:11). “Your eyes are open to the ways of all mankind; you reward each person according to their conduct and as their deeds deserve” (Jeremiah 32: 19).
The Lord has promised to return and set things right. Truth will win in the end. Jesus the Messiah will bring not only individual spiritual forgiveness and health (Isa. 1: 18) but also the establishment of perfect justice throughout all earthly governments. In the meantime, we wait, and we do not lose hope: “The Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him” (Isaiah 30:18, ESV). And we praise Him for His justice: “I will thank the LORD because he is just; I will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High” (Psalm 7:17, NLT).
God reminds us through the inspiration of many of His prophets saying: “I am a just God, and I will rain down justice. I will make sure justice prevails. Vengeance is Mine, and you are about to see My vengeance poured out worldwide, scattering and destroying your enemies trying to rule and reign in this Nation.” God is bringing the hammer of justice. He directed me to the words of David in Psalm 27 that encourages us to “Let Your Heart Take Courage.” We need not fear—the Lord is our light and our salvation. He is our stronghold when evildoers approach us and will cause them to stumble and fall. He in the day of trouble will hide us in His shelter. Our head will be above our enemies around us. Seek the Lord’s face and be our help and do not abandon us. Teach us Your way and lead us on a level path. Do not turn us over to the desire of our foes and their false witnesses that breathe violence. God is calling us to hold on to verses 13-14 at such a time as this: “Surely I trust that I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD. Be strong, let Your heart take courage, and wait for the LORD.” True justice will be served by God!
Dr. Charles Stanley: “The LORD wants all the people of the earth to know Him—His power, glory, love, grace and justice. And He wants to show the world who He is through what He does in our lives.”
God, let us see Your power, love, grace and justice that all will know You are God—the God of Justice! Especially, let us see Your justice for children!