“In love a throne will be established; in faithfulness a man will sit on it — one from the house of David — one who in judging seeks justice and speeds the cause of righteousness.” Isaiah 16:5
"Justice — that’s all I ask — justice." The line from the movie, The Hurricane, spoken by Denzel Washington, resonates with the human spirit. We were created to want the right thing to happen, and we feel everything from discomfort to downright outrage when justice is thwarted.
So what does justice look like? Isaiah tells us the God, whose throne is established in love, seeks justice in his judging. The combination of love and judgment equals justice. Judgment without love does not result in justice; nor does love without judgment. Therein lies the rub.
The challenge for Christians today comes in integrating both factors. We have to fight the cultural pressure to cave when accused of being judgmental every time we take a moral stand. But every stand we take must originate from a throne of love. We confront because we care deeply: not only because it’s the right thing to do, but also because we love people.
As children of the one who “sits on David’s throne,” justice is what we should be about. But before we throw a Bible verse at offenders, we should take the time to look at them through the lens of love. And then we should garner the courage to speak the truth. It’s important. It shows the world what God looks like, and it meets a basic longing that’s inside all of us…
Justice — that’s what we’re all looking for — justice.
Father, grant us the moral courage to speak the truth and the heart of compassion to do it in love. May we become beacons of justice and righteousness in this dark world.
Take Action
The next time you are called to confront someone with the truth, examine your heart. Are you speaking the truth with love?