How does understanding God's "just" works influence our view of justice today? Setting the Scene: Psalm 111:7 “The works of His hands are truth and justice; all His precepts are trustworthy.” The Verse at a Glance • God’s “works” are active, historical demonstrations of who He is. • They are marked by “truth and justice,” never one without the other. • Because His “precepts are trustworthy,” His standards never wobble or change with culture. What God’s Just Works Teach Us About Him • His character is the benchmark of justice—He never acts arbitrarily (Deuteronomy 32:4). • Justice flows from His holiness; wrong must be dealt with, right must be upheld (Isaiah 30:18). • Mercy and justice are not rivals in God; the cross proves both can be perfectly satisfied (Romans 3:25-26). Translating God’s Justice Into Our Daily Outlook 1. Trust the Standard, Not the Crowd • Because God’s works are “truth,” we refuse to anchor justice to opinion polls or social media trends. • We measure every claim of “justice” by Scripture’s fixed moral lines (Psalm 19:7-9). 2. Pursue Impartiality • God shows no partiality (Acts 10:34). • Therefore, skin color, status, or power must never tilt the scales in our homes, churches, or courts (Leviticus 19:15; James 2:1-4). 3. Defend the Vulnerable • God repeatedly acts for widows, orphans, and the oppressed (Psalm 103:6). • We mirror Him by intervening for the voiceless—preborn children, persecuted believers, the poor—rather than watching from the sidelines (Proverbs 31:8-9). 4. Submit to God-Ordained Authority While Calling It Higher • Civil government is “God’s servant … an avenger who brings wrath on the wrongdoer” (Romans 13:4). • Respecting authority does not silence prophetic correction; we appeal to rulers to align with God’s just standard, as John the Baptist did with Herod (Luke 3:19-20). 5. Balance Justice With Mercy • Micah 6:8 pairs “doing justice” with “loving kindness.” • We seek fair consequences for wrongdoing yet hold out restoration through Christ; discipline without gospel hope hardens hearts. 6. Refuse Vengeance, Seek Righteous Redress • God reserves personal vengeance for Himself (Romans 12:19). • We pursue lawful, righteous means to address wrongs, entrusting final judgment to Him (2 Thessalonians 1:6-8). Living It Out Together • In the church: practice church discipline biblically and redemptively (Matthew 18:15-17). • In the workplace: treat employees and coworkers with equity, paying fair wages and honoring commitments (Colossians 4:1). • In the public square: vote and advocate for laws that protect life, safeguard religious liberty, and punish actual evil while rewarding good (1 Peter 2:13-15). Why This Matters Eternally • God’s coming kingdom is founded on justice (Psalm 89:14). Aligning now readies us for then. • Our pursuit of justice showcases the gospel, pointing a broken world to the One whose hands still work only “truth and justice.” |
    |