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Justice – Session One
In this session of Walking in the Light study the characteristic of Justice and the role it plays in our Christian Life.
“Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties.
Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”
The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. So God said to him,
“Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be.
Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for – both wealth and honour – so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings.”
1 Kings 3:7–13
Away with the noise of your songs!
I will not listen to the music of your harps.
But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!
Amos 5:23–24
But about the Son he says,
“Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a sceptre of justice will be the sceptre of your kingdom.
You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.”
Hebrews 1:8–9
… Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.
“He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”
When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.
1 Peter 2:21–23
The teaching of Jesus and the apostles in the New Testament is built squarely on the Old Testament vision of the history of the people of God, the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Wisdom literature. All these include justice as a non-negotiable essential feature of what pleases God and what he requires of his people.
What “justice” means in the Bible is giving a voice to the poor and marginalized (Proverbs 31:8–9), ensuring a place at the family table for the lowliest and least of God’s people. The prophets speak up urgently for economic justice, and the Law makes provision for “sheltering the shorn lamb from the wind”.
Since the ordering of society is the theme of the Law and the Prophets, it
is hard to see how Christianity can ever realistically be expressed apolitically.
Citizenship and social responsibility are integral to faithful discipleship, the big picture outworking of Christ’s command that we should love one another.
O God of justice, Father of the poor, defender of the helpless and oppressed, show us how to live in faithfulness to your word in Scripture and in ways that bring honour to your name. Give us the humility to listen well and observe closely, the discernment to understand the implications of emerging social trends, the courage to stand up for what is right when necessary, and peaceful hearts that never seek a battle when gentleness will suffice to bring about change. This we ask in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace; Amen.
