What "Justice" Are We Looking For?
“The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.”
Deuteronomy 32:4 (ESV)
In scripture, one of God’s greatest characteristics is his justice. In our time, this concept is commonly considered a synonym for fairness. However, God's justice does not equate to what is fair but what is right. This justice may be expressed as punishment or wrath for wrongdoing. But it also takes the form of mercy and redemption (see Isa. 1:27; 51:4-5). Consequently, as believers we have confidence that whatever action he takes will be the appropriate and morally correct one. It also means, that we know on whom we should call when we seek justice and righteousness in our lives. As the wise man said, “Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand it completely” (Pro. 28:5).
The thing about God’s justice, though, is that it is not dictated by our timelines. When we see something amiss, we like the idea of “swift justice.” We want to see the recompense happen while WE can enjoy it. Yet, in scripture, aside from some special circumstances, God’s timing is rarely equal to our sense of “swift justice.” More frequently, God connects the righting of all wrongs to the end of time. Take Jesus’ parable of the weeds as an example (Matthew 13:24-30). The farmer’s enemy sows weeds all through the good wheat, but the farmer refrains from pulling them up immediately for fear that it might do unnecessary damage to the wheat. Instead, he says, “Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, ‘Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn’” (Mat. 13:30). In the parable, the farmer’s patience is paralleled to God’s now. There is evil (the weeds) that we (the wheat) must endure until the judgment (harvest). Yet, having to endure it does not mean God will not make it right. It means justice will come in the proper timing of the one who knows all things.
As a Christians, the last few months have been tough. We see headlines everywhere regarding invasions, arguments on teaching children about sexual orientation, and increased protections for abortions. Honestly, it has felt like the walls are closing in and we keep waiting for God to intervene with his justice. Like the prophet Habakkuk, we cry out, “O LORD, how long shall [we] cry for help, and you will not hear” (1:2)? It is times like these in which we must take heart. We don’t know how, when, or if God will intervene in our lifetimes. It is probable that, like Habakkuk’s day, he is working in ways we cannot comprehend. Regardless, what we do know is that God’s justice will prevail in the last day. When Jesus returns, all will be made right! Why? Because our God is a just God…end of story.