A 108-year-old Maharashtra man dies just before the Supreme Court of India admits a case he had been pursuing since 1968. For 53 long years he has been knocking the doors of courts and died before he got justice. (India Today, 22 July 2021) The man’s hope of justice eluded him. God is righteous and he loves justice. However, the judicial system failed this pathetic man. People of God are expected to facilitate justice in the fallen world. God’s sceptre is righteousness; His righteousness and justice are the foundation of His throne. (Psalms 45:6; 89:14; 97:2) Prophet Amos accused the Nation of Israel of making Justice as wormwood.
King Jehoshaphat instructed his judicial officers with five important principles: “Consider what you do, for you judge not for man but for the Lord. He is with you in giving judgment. Now then, let the fear of the Lord be upon you. Be careful what you do, for there is no injustice with the Lord our God, or partiality or taking bribes.” (II Chronicles 19:6,7)
1) Judge for the Lord: Judges represent God to bring forth justice. They should not defame God by approving injustice and let go wicked unpunished.
2) God is with you: God provides His wisdom, counsel and presence of mind to judges who depend on him. Judges who depend on their intellectual ability or analytical skills could be cheated by deceptive witnesses and lawyers.
3) No injustice: Judges should discern and should not allow unjust unpunishment which will make the society flourish with injustice.
4) No partiality: God does not show any partiality. (Romans 2:11) God hates partiality based on class, clan, caste, blood relations, language, race, colour or any other. Judges are expected to be impartial.
5) No bribes: Bribe corrupts a judge. Bribe can subvert justice or twist what is righteousness. “And you shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the clear-sighted and subverts the cause of those who are in the right.” (Exodus 23:8) Bribe could be money or gifts or favours.
Do I facilitate justice in all areas of life?