Be Wise About Justice Series

A. The story is told about a police officer in a small town who stopped a driver who was speeding down Main Street.

1. “But officer,” the man said, “I can explain.”

2. “Just be quiet!!!” snapped the officer. “Or I'm going to let you cool off in jail until the chief gets back.”

3. “But officer,” the man pleaded, “I just wanted to say....”

4. The officer interrupted, “And I said KEEP QUIET! Now you’re definitely going to jail.”

5. A few hours later, the officer checked up on his prisoner and said, “Lucky for you that the chief is at his daughter's wedding and so he’ll be in a good mood when he gets back.”

6. “Don’t count on it,” said the man in the cell. “I’m the groom!”

B. That humorous little story sheds some light on different aspects of justice.

1. What should justice have looked like for the speeding driver?

2. What should justice have looked like for the arresting officer?

3. What kind of justice was the police chief going to bring about for the driver and the officer?

C. A dictionary definition of justice is: moral rightness, equity, honor, fair play, due reward and due punishment.

1. And so, justice has many parts or applications.

2. Justice involves the important aspect of the administration of what is just by law as by judicial or other proceedings.

3. Justice includes the personal quality of being righteous and moral.

4. Justice also includes the sense of equity and fairness towards all people regardless of race, nationality, income, relationship or anything else.

D. So let’s ask this question, even though I think we all know the answer: Is God concerned about justice?

1. When God looks down and sees what’s happening or not happening in the world with regard to justice, does God care?

2. When God looks at His people, the church, and sees what’s happening or not happening with regard to justice, does God care?

3. When we look into the Bible, it becomes very obvious that God is very concerned about justice.

4. We notice that biblical justice is not first and foremost a set of rules and guidelines, but is rooted in the very character of God and then the outworking of God’s character, which is never less than just.

a. Isaiah 30:18b says: “For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are those who wait for him!”

b. Deuteronomy 32:4 says: “He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.”

4. We also notice that the Bible is crammed with texts and stories where God expresses his concern for human justice.

5. It’s a major theme of the Bible, especially a major theme of the Old Testament.

E. Look at how God expressed His concern for justice in these instructions given to the Israelites in Deuteronomy 24: 14 “Do not oppress a hired worker who is poor and needy, whether one of your Israelite brothers or one of the resident aliens in a town in your land. 15 You are to pay him his wages each day before the sun sets, because he is poor and depends on them. Otherwise he will cry out to the Lord against you, and you will be held guilty… 17 Do not deny justice to a resident alien or fatherless child, and do not take a widow’s garment as security… 19 When you reap the harvest in your field, and you forget a sheaf in the field, do not go back to get it. It is to be left for the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow, so that the Lord your God may bless you in all the work of your hands. 20 When you knock down the fruit from your olive tree, do not go over the branches again. What remains will be for the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow. 21 When you gather the grapes of your vineyard, do not glean what is left. What remains will be for the resident alien, the fatherless, and the widow. 22 Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt. Therefore I am commanding you to do this. (Dt. 24:14-22)

1. Did you notice the specific individuals for whom God was especially concerned about receiving justice? (Hired workers, poor, resident aliens [foreigners], orphans, and widows)

2. These are the individuals in any society that are often overlooked and exploited.

3. In our minds, we might add to or modify that list of vulnerable people to include: single parents, latch-key kids, the homeless, the unemployed, illegal immigrants, refugees, and LGBTQ+ individuals.

4. God cares about them and God wants His people to care about them as well.