Justice

As we have seen recently, justice is imperfect in our system. Some people get more justice than others. The figure that represents justice is a blindfolded woman, holding a balance scale. Sadly, many have found that rather than being "blind", modern justice is very much influenced by an individual's outward appearance and circumstances. Our current system of laws has a long history. Many say that our present laws go back to Roman law, and then later the Code of Justinian. Our laws certainly have their roots in English Common Law. However, there is a system of justice which is much older than that. It dates back to the time of Moses, and it was given to the children of Israel, whom God redeemed out of slavery from Egypt and its Pharaoh. This Law was given in a time in history when nations were ruled by kings, and the law was whatever the king decreed it to be. The Law given by God was very different in nature and purpose from the law systems of the world. Jesus said that it is based upon two tenets: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind". This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (Mt. 22:37-40). Our present justice system is supposedly based upon doing equity, which is sometimes successful to an extent, and sometimes not. "Equity" can be very subjective. God's system of laws, on the other hand, is based upon doing and being love, according to Jesus. This week's Sabbath reading from the Torah, and the haftarah, is titled "Mishpatim", which means judgments or ordinances. The Torah readings come from Ex. 21-24. Overall, we can see reflected in these ordinances of God, His demand for truth, justice, mercy, kindness and liberation from servitude: LOVE. It requires not equity, as our law does, but beyond what would be considered equity. Some examples: Those who have become your servant because of a debt owed, must go out free after six years owing you nothing more (The seventh year is the Jubilee year of freedom from all debt) (Ex. 21:2). If a thief steals an animal, he must restore four or five times the number of animals stolen (Ex. 22:1). If someone allows his animal to graze in another man's field, he must make restitution from the very best of his own field, and from the very best of his own vineyard (Ex. 22:5). We can see in this that we are not to harm a neighbor in any way. God's law also says that we are not to circulate a false report for any reason or advantage to us, or to pervert justice (Ex. 23:1-2). He equates the spreading of falsehoods to the killing of the innocent and the righteous, and He will not excuse that, or justify it, in any way. (Ex. 23:7). These ordinances also say that if you see an ox or a donkey of even your enemy, that has gone astry, you must rescue it and restore it to him, and if you see your enemy struggling with a heavy burden on his animal, you must help him with it (Ex. 23:4-5). It's not about animals, it is about kindness even to one you consider to be an enemy. Not only is kindness to be extended to your neighbor, but even to a stranger (Ex. 23:9). This kindness to a stranger or foreigner is to come from the same place in your heart that knew what it was like to be a stranger yourself, alone and unaccepted by others. The following is an interesting first mention in scripture. The LORD provides the office of judges to determine what shall be done if there is a failure to arrive at an agreement between parties. The judge is mentioned in Ex. 21:6 for the first time, and also Ex. 22:8-9. The word written in these verses as "judges" is the Hebrew word elohim. The judges are called by the very name of God. What is required of them in that name is to judge by the Spirit of God, by the wisdom of God, by the Word of God. We have already heard that the basis of all of these things is love. How does this apply to the present, and to the Church today? Paul wrote, "Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more things that pertain to this life?...do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren? But brother goes to law against brother, and that before unbelievers!" (1 Cor. 6:1-6). Paul is asking for one who has wisdom to be placed in the position of elohim judging. It sounds like wisdom was a rare commodity in the Church of Corinth. It is even more rare today. Paul said it is better to accept the wrong, to allow yourself to be cheated, than to go to (secular) law against one another. Are many of us willing to do that? Capricious "equity" sought in secular law is not justice. Justice is superior to equity in every way: "Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Mercy and truth go before Your face." (Ps. 89:14). God is not equity. He is sacrificial love. If He were equity, none of us would be here anymore. However, before we go running to fulfill the office of the elohim, or judges, we had better read the fine print first. Let us remember the nature and the purpose of the law of God fulfilled in Christ, and taught by Him. Jesus told us, "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you." (Mt. 7:1-2). The word translated in these verses as the verb "judge" has a wide variety of meanings in the Greek word used, krino. It can mean "condemn, esteem, to be of an opinion, to deem, to determine, to decree, to judge, to pronounce an opinion concerning right and wrong, to rule". The word "judgment" or krima, means "the decision which one passes as being the faults of others". Is our criteria for judging others different from how we would want to be judged ourselves? We would hope for a heavy dose of mercy and longsuffering for ourselves and loved ones, but do we extend it to others not so dear to us? Paul added this thought: "For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged." (1 Cor. 11:31). Being "elohim" requires having a deep understanding of God's view of justice, rather than man's. In the haftarah portion of this week's Sabbath reading, which is read with joy in this month before Passover, the prophet Isaiah includes the verses: "Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest? For all those things My hand has made. And all those things exist. But on this one will I look: On him who is poor (meaning poor, humble, lowly, wretched, pious) and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at My word...Hear the word of the LORD, you who tremble at His word: Your brethren who hated you, who cast you out for My name's sake, said, "Let the LORD be glorified, that we may see Your joy." But they shall be ashamed." (Isa. 66:1-2,5). When we think we have judged rightly, have we in fact cast out those whom God considers "brethren? Make no mistake, God will not justify the wicked (Ex. 23:7). Sin is the exact opposite of the two main tenets of the Law fulfilled by Christ. However, elohim are required to remove the planks from their own eyes before they attempt to remove the specks from their brothers' eyes. Elohim judge as if they were the ones being judged, and they judge themselves first. This is the spirit of justice. May we be the elohim of the earth, not as man views justice, but in the wisdom and guidance of the Holy Spirit, and the Living Word of God, Jesus Christ. Our Father is enthroned upon righteousness and justice. If you would like to have knowledge of God through His Son, and His Spirit, you can pray: "Heavenly Father, I come to You in the name of Your only begotten Son, Jesus, who fulfilled the Law for me, dying on the cross for my sins, so I would not be condemned. I believe that He rose again from the dead to deliver me from the sentence of death. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit, so I can understand and live Your righteousness and justice. Quicken to me any continuing sin in my life, and wash me in the blood of the Lsmb, and the water of the Spirit, so I can speak Your justice in the earth. I give thanks to You for Your continuing mercy in my life. Amen."