The God of Justice
18 Jan 2021
Isaiah 42:1-7
Injustice. The world around us reels and reeks with injustice. So was the world during the time of Isaiah the prophet. So has the world been from the time of Cain killing his brother Abel. The very first chapter of Isaiah has these words. Your rulers are rebels, companions of thieves; they all love bribes and chase after gifts. They do not defend the cause of the fatherless; the widow’s case does not come before them. Injustice occurs every time a person with power exploits to his own advantage, a person who is weak. Thus children, women, widows, orphans, the poor, the sick, the marginalized, the minorities, the uneducated, the ignorant, the unemployed and every such vulnerable person is a suitable candidate for exploitation. A student who bullies his fellow student and a Hitler who terrorized millions of people have both committed the same crime – the crime of injustice. The religious leaders who fool the ignorant laity to part with their money and the multinational company that cheats the poor tribal to part with their land have both committed the same crime – the crime of injustice. The Bible consistently states that the God of the Bible is the defender of the oppressed and the exploited. Yet we turn around and point our finger at God and accuse that God is unfair, God is unjust and blame God for every evil, crime, sickness and suffering.
O! What form of justice does such an evil mankind deserve from God? Certainly not to be loved, by a God of justice, who sent His own Son, His Son whom He dearly loved , to bear the consequence of His justice – for on the cross He poured His just wrath on Jesus, even as His Son bore our sins of injustice on Himself. Jesus on the cross met the full requirement of God’s justice in order to justify all who believe on His Name, and those who believe, to be declared righteous before a Holy God.
O for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer’s praise
The glories of my God and King
The triumphs of His Grace
Almost 700 years before Jesus came into this world, God revealed through His prophet Isaiah that “In faithfulness he (Jesus) will bring forth justice; he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth.” As we despair at the injustice prevailing in the world we need not be discouraged. For Jesus who was born as a vulnerable baby 2000 years ago to bear the justice of God will come again as an invincible King of Kings to establish a kingdom of Justice on the earth.
When Christ shall come with shouts of acclamation
To take me home what joy shall fill my heart
Then I shall bow down in humble adoration
And there proclaim my God how Great Thou art.
Even so , come Lord Jesus . Amen