God’s Heart for Justice
This segment is inspired by materials produced by International Justice Mission, an international human rights organisation established to help the Christian community “seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphan and plead for the widow.” Isaiah 1:17) For more information on International Justice Mission please visit their website at www.ijm.org
The God of the Bible is a God who loves justice, and hates injustice. Scripture consistently demonstrates God’s passionate concern for the poor, oppressed and marginalised. God sees the suffering of the oppressed, God hears their cries for relief, and God cares for them. Here are two passages that speak to God’s nature concerning justice.
“But you, O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand. The victim commits himself to You; You are the helper of the fatherless.” (Psalm 10:14)
“For I, the Lord, love justice.” (Isaiah 61:8)
As we come to a deeper understanding of God’s love for justice, we will get to know Him and His character better as a result. And that knowledge will lead us to desire to join with Him in pleading the case of the oppressed.
“Let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight.” (Jeremiah 22:15-16)
“The evil do not understand justice, but those who seek the Lord understand it completely” (Proverbs 28:5)
One Book in the Bible that speaks passionately about God’s heart for justice is Amos. The Book of Amos was written at a time of imbalanced prosperity. The land of peasant farmers devastated by drought was being bought up by rich landowners. In response to the growing social and economic injustice God called Amos, an obscure goat herder, to speak against the abuse of the poor. The indictment of injustice in Amos is direct and powerful.
“You trample on the poor and force him to give you grain. Therefore, though you have built stone mansions, you will not live in them; though you have planted lush vineyards, you will not drink their wine. For I know how many are your offences and how great your sins. You oppress the righteous and take bribes and you deprive the poor of justice in the courts. Therefore the prudent man keeps quiet in such times of the times are evil. Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is. Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts. Perhaps the Lord God Almighty will have mercy on the remnant of Joseph.” (Amos 5:11-15)
Amos goes on to speak of God’s rejection of the sacrifices of the wealthy and asserts “but let justice roll on like a river and righteousness like a never-failing stream.”
God’s strong and passionate words in the Book of Amos should serve as both an encouragement and a warning for current and future legal advocates. In our materialistic world a wealthy or powerful client has a lot to offer. Advocates will be tempted to do whatever it takes to satisfy the wants and desires of wealthy clients. Advocates must be ever-mindful of God’s unflinching passion for justice. Advocates should heed the wisdom of the writer of Proverbs and give special attention to the poor. Examples of just legal practice includes providing free legal services to the poor and exercising discretion and fairness when dealing with opposing parties who are unable to afford to engage counsel.
God’s passion for justice can be intimidating for future advocates. Sometimes it can be difficult to imagine a legal practice that meets the standard of God’s prophetic call for justice. However, the difficulty of the challenge must not result in a defeatist attitude or apathy. Christian lawyers must ask God for his gifts of strength, wisdom and boldness to meet the challenge of injustice in this fallen world.
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