JUSTICE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS

God’s passionate concern for justice and righteousness is as much part of his character as his love is. Thus the psalmist declares, “The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love” (Ps 33:5).

To describe someone as “righteous” is to imply that they are loyal, reliable and trustworthy. They will always act fairly and always keep their promises. Thus when we say that God is righteous, we are saying that he can be trusted.

To describe someone as “just” means far more than that they judge on the basis of a set of absolute legal standards. It implies that they reach out to those who have fallen through the social net and try to help them reintegrate into society (Jer 22:3). God’s zeal for justice is part of his moral perfection and his desire for the best for his creatures. It is apparent in all his dealings with his people in redemption and salvation (Isa 51:5; 56:1; 62:1). He is frequently described as the defender of the oppressed, the one who liberates captives and feeds the hungry (Ps 146:7-8).

As God’s covenant people, we are required to be like him, which means that we too must be righteous and just in relation to him and to our neighbours (Mic 6:6-8). Our religious observances are of little value if they are not accompanied by a concern for social justice. Like God, we must demonstrate equality, integrity, truthfulness and honesty in all our attitudes and behaviour.

The OT makes it very clear that concern for the oppressed and the poor is at the heart of the calling of the people of God. The laws regarding the Jubilee Year, for example, were intended to teach his people that hoarding resources at the expense of others is a sin against God (Lev 25). He required his people to redistribute resources – but not just in the form of charity or handouts. Rather, those who controlled resources were to release them to those who had no means to take care of themselves. Justice is not served by maintaining dependency but by equipping the poor with the skills required for them to participate in the economic life of the community.

Through civil law God seeks to redirect fallen humanity’s inclination for greed, power and privilege, and provide a safe and creative environment. Of course, human justice is not perfect. Jesus illustrates this in his parable about a harassed widow fighting a corrupt judicial process (Luke 18:1-8). When the judge finally responds to the desperate woman’s plight, he is motivated not by the high priority of justice but by his own self-interest. But Jesus reminds his followers that God is not negligent like earthly judges. He is the supreme and heavenly trustee of justice and will make sure that it will ultimately triumph – even if the injustice we see around us sometimes tempts us to despair.

Justice brings the possibility of peace. This is evident in Isaiah’s description of the Lord’s reign as a time when “the LORD’s justice will dwell in the desert, his righteousness live in the fertile field. The fruit of that righteousness will be peace; its effect will be quietness and confidence forever” (Isa 32:16-17).

Human rights are important not only in human eyes but also in God’s eyes. He has instituted civil government as a framework to preserve justice and restrain disorder (Rom 13:1). Thus Christians  should be involved in their communities, obey the Ten Commandments, and fulfil God’s law of love under whatever government they find themselves (Rom 13:10). They should be known for their kindness to all.

It takes courage to give voice to the demands of justice and law. We may well have to suffer for doing so. This was what happened to the OT prophets (Heb 11:32-38) and to Christ (1 Pet 3:18). The NT predicts it will also happen to those who follow Christ (1 Pet 3:9, 14- 17; 4:12-19). We can cite many examples of campaigners for justice who have been abused and murdered. The Christian will endure this kind of suffering not because he or she is “a murderer or thief, or any other kind of criminal, or even … a meddler” (1 Pet 4:15), but out of a desire to take love for God into the world.

Richard Howell