And Justice For All

And Justice For All

26  Many seek the ruler's favor, But justice for man comes from the Lord.
Prov 29:26 (NASB)

I was watching the news this week and it seemed to me that there were calls for justice ringing from almost every corner of the globe. Rebels in Syria, and once again uprisings in Egypt desiring redress against the government. Here in our own country people outraged by IRS scandals, Bengazi, in Florida, a murder trial with both sides pleading for justice. Everyone wants justice. I went to the dictionary to find out just what justice is. What I found was somewhat interesting. The original meaning of our word justice means "what is right" doing the right thing if you will. But, over the years it has taken on a different meaning from the original. When we speak of justice today it is usually in a negative connotation most often associated with "the execution of a sentence, or punishment" (Vine's Dictionary) The New Oxford Dictionary traces a similar path for the word. Originally it meant "just behavior or treatment" but now, more often than not, it associates the word with "bringing someone to justice by arrest for a crime..." It seems the word is more closely associated with vengeance these days than with doing the right thing.

I went to see what the Word Of God had to say about it and was surprised to find that the word is not found in the New Testament of the KJV and it is listed only three times in my NASB concordance in the back of my Bible. There are numerous references in the Old Testament but very few in the New Testament. O.K. Ronnie what's your point. Just this. Sometimes seeking justice can be detrimental to our spiritual and even our physical health. Let me try and explain.

Has anyone ever done you wrong? You know, taken unfair advantage, or unjustly accused you, or gossiped about you behind your back? Don't worry you don't have to answer. We already know the answer don't we? Of course they have. On a million different occasions.If you are anything like me(I hope you aren't) you will sit around and stew about it. You'll play and replay the incident over and over in your mind, getting a little more upset each time. Finally, you'll do one of two things(if you are like me, which I hope you aren't! smile) You will stir the pot and stir the pot until it boils over and you lash out in a fit of anger OR you will let that pot just sit there and simmer while you carry the hurt and anger around with you. Now you may not be like that. You may be confrontational and address the matter immediately. That's not me. But, the Bible has a few things to say on these matters. 

19 For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a person bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.
1 Peter 2:19-20 (NASB)

Here's another one.
43 " You have heard that it was said, ' YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.' 44 But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Matt 5:43-48 (NASB)

HMMM....Maybe we can just tear those two pages out. I should just go back and delete them from the message.

Yeah, I hear ya. That is much easier said than done especially when someone has just stabbed you in the back and broken the handle off. If somehow, and I'm preaching loud and hard to ME right now, we can just humble ourselves before God Almighty and let Him deal with our hurt and give us strength to endure we will be way ahead of the game. Just try and remember this old cliche because it is right on. When you carry a grudge around, the only one it's killing is YOU!

Listen, that is what God is trying to get across to you and me in that verse above. Look again.

26  Many seek the ruler's favor, But justice for man comes from the Lord.
Prov 29:26 (NASB)

You see the natural reaction when we are done wrong is to seek the ruler's favor. BUT. That word but means to erase everything you have just read. It wipes out everything preceding it. BUT justice for man comes from the Lord. You see God is telling us to forget the human agents involved and to take your case before the Righteous Judge. He is the one who dispenses true justice. When we are done wrong anger is unavoidable and yes it takes some time to get over it. But, instead of carrying it around and letting it make you miserable;(are you listening Ronnie?) or worse yet allowing it to reach the boiling point causing you to "lose it" in a fit of rage,(Ronnie, are you hearing this?smile) why not take it to God in prayer and let Him work it out all the while healing you in the process. Because this is the bottom line. Most times we are not seeking "justice" no, most of the time we are seeking that other word, you know, the"V"word. Amen?? We don't really want to ask God for justice do we? God help us if we ask for and receive justice outside of the cross. You feelin' me?  I'll tell you what. You pray for me and I'll pray for you that next time we encounter a wrong, instead of taking matters into our own hands we give it over to God. O.K.? O.K.! (smile)

2 For they have opened the wicked and deceitful mouth against me; They have spoken against me with a lying tongue. 3 They have also surrounded me with words of hatred, And fought against me without cause. 4 In return for my love they act as my accusers; But I am in prayer.
Psalms 109:2-4 (NASB)

God Bless