This is what the Lord says: Be fair-minded and just. Do what is right! Help those who have been robbed; rescue them from their oppressors. Quit your evil deeds! Do not mistreat foreigners, orphans, and widows. Stop murdering the innocent! If you obey me, there will always be a descendant of David sitting on the throne here in Jerusalem. The king will ride through the palace gates in chariots and on horses, with his parade of attendants and subjects.
Jeremiah 23:3-4
When we picture justice, the image of a black robed man or woman with a gavel springs to mind. We see a person in handcuffs sitting in the defendant’s chair as the hammer falls and a voice erupts with the appropriate sentence. We consider this to justice.
So often, we limit justice to be nothing more than punishment for wrongdoing. From these two verses, we get a glimpse into what God thinks of justice. He sees justice as doing good for and give to those who cannot make it on their own. Justice is serving others and being there for the broken, the needy.
God demonstrated this justice by sending His son to be the salvation of the world. He expects us to do the same thing.
Yet, I know that I continue to turn a blind eye to the hurting and the hungry. This world is full of them. The neighborhood next door is full of hurting people for crying out loud ,and still I continue to forget this flood of justice.
God desires a flood of justice in more ways than simply punishing those who deserve it. He also longs to lift and raise those who need it; He expects us to extend a hand to the hurting. He wants us to be there for everyone who needs it. Our families, our friends, our neighbors all need the helping hand of the love of God.
I can only think of all the times that I’ve failed to do just this, but I pray that, through Christ, this justice extends in ways that I do not see. I want Him to enact this justice to me when I fail to see.
Cross Section 