God of Justice

Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore, he will rise up to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! Isaiah 30:18-19

What do you give someone who has everything? I’m sure that was the question organizers of this year’s Golden Globes awards were thinking as they were putting together the gift bags for the presenters and winners this year. What’s in the 83 bags? “All of the night’s presenters and winners will receive multiple travel experiences, including a five-day luxury yacht charter in Indonesia aboard the Celestia Phinisi Yacht valued at $50,000, and a five-day “luxury experience” at the Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman, valued at $20,000. If they want, they can receive a $2,500 tattoo from Atelier Eva.” (article by Gina Vivinetto)

The awards were given out, the speeches given and the participants left with their goody bags containing more than 35 luxury products, valued at $500,000! I don’t have anything against gift bags but I usually got coffee mugs, cookies, pens, and occasionally t-shirts, never received a Golden Globe-type gift bag. The dollar number is what got me, not the bags. You can do the math on 83 bags at $500,000 each!

I’m sure the folks who received these bags will enjoy them but would a refugee enjoy the Rose Gold Radiance Face Mask? Would a poor family prefer a Tomato Filling Serum or a bunch of tomatoes in their bag? What would the widows and orphans want?

“Jose is a successful college graduate who has to work for a full month in Venezuela, his home country, to be able to afford a single can of beans from the grocery store…Unable to afford the food, medicine, and other essentials needed to survive, Jose was losing hope when a Send Relief partner gave him some emergency food boxes to last him through the month.” (Send Relief Agency) The same $35 that bought a Rose Gold Radiance Face Mask for the gift bag would give Jose food for the month.

Embrace Relief Organization reports that 1 out of every 9 people in the world face chronic hunger with 148 million children under the age of 5 who are malnourished worldwide. In addition, more than 3 million children die each year worldwide from hunger.

Today marks the observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day honoring the legacy of this Baptist pastor who sought to eliminate racial division and promote justice within the United States. “We need leaders not in love with money but in love with justice. Not in love with publicity but in love with humanity.” (MLK, Jr)

Unfortunately, justice has often been overshadowed by political and cultural division, opinions, and selfishness, creating rifts, anger, and greater injustice. Dr. King challenged people that “True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice.”

Justice is a message that didn’t start with Martin Luther King, Jr but has been at the heart of God from the beginning. Tim Keller wrote in a series of lectures on justice, “Biblical justice is not first of all a set of bullet points or a set of rules and guidelines. It is rooted in the very character of God and it is the outworking of that character, which is never less than just.” As I looked up verses related to justice in my Strong’s Concordance, I was reminded of God’s heart for treating others justly and with respect.

“Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great but judge your neighbor fairly.” Leviticus 19:15
“Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.” Isaiah 1:17
“This is what the LORD Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.’ Zechariah 7:9-10
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” Proverbs 31:8-9

Martin Luther King, Jr Day will be marked by various speeches made by politicians, stories retold of his legacy and mission and many churches will gather to commemorate the day. The day can also be a good day to personally reflect upon what justice looks like and could look like from God’s perspective.

What would justice look like for the hungry without adequate food or means to obtain it?
What would justice look like for those who are discriminated against because of race or color of skin?
What would justice look like for the refugees who have been forced out of their homes because of war?
What would justice look like for the brokenhearted, the homeless, the orphans, the widows?
What would justice look like for the voiceless and vulnerable in society?
What would justice look like if we the church felt the same passion for others that God does?

“The gospel shows us a Savior who does indeed exercise authority over us, but who uses that authority and power only to serve us, and who was willing to lose it and suffer in order to save us. Christians have intellectual and heart resources to use power in a way that does not exploit. We must never stop struggling to walk in our Savior’s steps.” (Tim Keller)

“The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love. Psalm 33:5

LORD, the world needs us to be your voice and heart today. Amid confusion, help us to be the voice of clarity. Amid violence, help us to be the bearers of peace. Amid hatred, help us to be reconcilers. Amid lostness, help us be the messengers of hope.

God is great!