Justice
Introduction
Jean ValJean was a manual laborer, cutting wood and caring for trees in revolution era France. His sister, a widow, could not feed her seven children. The protagonist of French author Victor Hugo’s Les Miserbales, Val Jean did all that he could with his meager wages to help, but it was not enough. France was feeling the economic effects of revolutions and wars. As his family neared starvation, with no other apparent option, Valjean stole a loaf of bread to keep them from death. For this crime, he was imprisoned for 5 years. 5 years for one loaf of bread to feed starving children! And after multiple escape attempts, all told, he spent 19 years in prison. And we, the readers, are meant to react, “THAT’S NOT FAIR!”
This is a feeling we all have felt. We hate to see injustice. We can’t stand to see innocent people punished or guilty people go free. We hate inequity. There is nothing that gets us fired up quite like injustice. Add to that the societal confusion of our time, and we have a recipe for complex problems. Everyone has their own sense of justice that is violated so often, and it is so easy to vent that frustration so quickly and so anonymously.
Even if we have a good handle on what it means to actively love justice in a productive way, how do we operate in a community with people who have their personal sense of what is fair and right violated all the time? How do I respond as a Christian, who claims to love what is good and true, when both people on opposing sides of an argument claim that it is un-Christlike or heartless to disagree with them?
What about when I am on the receiving end of injustice? Let’s look at a biblical example of a man who experienced injustice. This morning, I want to try to explain a biblical view of justice by briefly looking at a Psalm of David.
Unjust things happen.
Despite the stark betrayal we know that David experienced, we actually don’t know who this Cushite was and how he related to the wrongs David describes here. This is yet one more time for David to process the feelings of hurt and rejection that come in this kind of situation.
I’d be surprised if there was any adult in this room who has not felt some deep sense of being wronged, even by a trusted friend. And even more, the wrong is never righted in the slightest. This person is never exposed for who they really are, punished for what they’ve done, and certainly, has not apologized. There may be some of us that think of a particular person or situation.
Injustice is like a tankless water heater. Instantly boiling hot. Why is this? Why does David care so much about the wickedness of the wicked? Because God made us to desire justice. God did not make us for a world of violence and hatred. We are moral beings who can tell when something is as it should be and when it is not. And when I see an innocent person suffer, especially a helpless one, I know that should not be. When someone who should be loyal intentionally hurts me, I know that is not right.
Though our hearts long for things to be as they should, for the innocent to be safe and people to be faithful, it does not happen. In fact, the Bible tells us that this is a part of life, for now.
Romans 8 tells us that all creation “groans” because we look forward to a time when injustice and suffering of the innocent will be eradicated, but that time has not yet come. What are we to do? Should we just accept that things aren’t the way that they should be and move on? Christians are to have joy, right? So we can just ignore the feelings of disappointment and heartache and focus on the happy ones?
While there is something to be said for a person who rejoices in whatever state God gives them, the Bible is also full of dealing with injustice and deep disappointments as a Christian. We normally call this biblical process lamenting or lamentation, in fact there is a whole book named after that. Christians, we need to learn how to be sad in a godly, faithful way. This could be a whole sermon on its own, but the Psalms, the prophets, and the Gospels are full of lamenting. Yes, even Jesus had a habit of lamentation.
If you are a Christian, I would challenge you to start learning to practice what the Bible says about lamenting. If you had a major loss in your life, a close friend’s or church family member’s, how would you respond? Christians don’t just move on from deep sadness or pain. They bring it to God in a special way, asking for his help, and trusting in him. I would read some Psalms of lament. Psalms 10, 13, 22, and 77. They are good model prayers to use in those situations. Journal through those Psalms and try to find the key concepts in those Psalms.
“Many a time has this bitter complaint been heard in the dungeons of the Inquisition, at the whipping posts of slavery, and in the prisons of oppression. In due time God will publish his reply, but the full end is not yet.” - Charles Spurgeon
Christians do not disregard the unjust things that happen. Sometimes innocent people are hurt. Sometimes the guilty go unpunished. Those are real things that happen and must not be ignored. We must do what we can, bring those things to God, and leave them there. Why to God? Because…
God is the rightful Judge over all that happens, including evil.
Listen to how David entrusts his fate to God in Psalm 7:
O Lord my God, if I have done this: If there is iniquity in my hands, If I have repaid evil to him who was at peace with me, Or have plundered my enemy without cause, Let the enemy pursue me and overtake me; Yes, let him trample my life to the earth, And lay my honor in the dust. Selah Psalm 7:3–5
If you had perfect memory and have been here every week for the past several Sundays, then this point would need no further explanation. But we don’t have perfect memories so I guess I have to do my job and explain why I say this and what this means for us. Why am I talking about the past several Sundays in regard to God’s being the rightful Judge?
Because if God really is all that we have said he is over the past couple months, then it only makes sense that God would be the best and only choice to be the ultimate judge. Think about it. God knows and sees everything. He has all wisdom and knowledge. He can see everything in the past and the future because he is already there. Not only does he know everything, and is present anywhere, but he can do anything! His power is unlimited and he has all authority to control everything! Whatever needs to be done to exact perfect justice, God can do it! And last week, we learned of God’s goodness. It is not that he aligns with an external goodness outside himself so that we can call him good. He is the standard. He is the rubric for goodness, so that we compare everything to him to see if its good. Should not a judge know as much as possible? Should he not have all the evidence? Should a judge not have all the power and authority possible? Should the judge not be as good of a person as possible?
As Abraham said,
Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” Genesis 18:25
What is your attitude toward God’s justice? I think maybe some Christians struggle with modern justice, in part, because we don’t realize that the rules that we’re playing by matter.
Are you a rule follower? I am a rule follower. Firstborn-type personality. When I play a game, a big part of the fun is actually playing the game as it was meant to be played. Some people have a lot of fun taking a game and making their own version. They like to ignore some rules or add their own. I haven’t figured out why, but it seems like pastor’s kids are really good at this so I’m probably in for it as the girls get older. At a basic level, the game is the rules. Two or more people must agree to play by the same rules if you want to play the game. If you have no idea what the rules are, sorry, you’re probably not playing by the rules.
Now I am not claiming this is a proof for God’s rules being the true ones, the Bible proves itself in this regard. I just want Christians to think about the rules that you choose to play by. When it comes to justice, you will “play” by certain “rules.” Someone is determining the standard for what is right and what is wrong. What is just and what is unjust. David acknowledged God as the Judge, the One who gets to set the rules and enforce them. When we interact with the world, we must not cede the rule-making to people who do not worship God. Justice is what God says it is, so go to the Bible to hear what God says about it.
Jean ValJean was a manual laborer, cutting wood and caring for trees in revolution era France. His sister, a widow, could not feed her seven children. The protagonist of French author Victor Hugo’s Les Miserbales, Val Jean did all that he could with his meager wages to help, but it was not enough. France was feeling the economic effects of revolutions and wars. As his family neared starvation, with no other apparent option, Valjean stole a loaf of bread to keep them from death. For this crime, he was imprisoned for 5 years. 5 years for one loaf of bread to feed starving children! And after multiple escape attempts, all told, he spent 19 years in prison. And we, the readers, are meant to react, “THAT’S NOT FAIR!”
This is a feeling we all have felt. We hate to see injustice. We can’t stand to see innocent people punished or guilty people go free. We hate inequity. There is nothing that gets us fired up quite like injustice. Add to that the societal confusion of our time, and we have a recipe for complex problems. Everyone has their own sense of justice that is violated so often, and it is so easy to vent that frustration so quickly and so anonymously.
Even if we have a good handle on what it means to actively love justice in a productive way, how do we operate in a community with people who have their personal sense of what is fair and right violated all the time? How do I respond as a Christian, who claims to love what is good and true, when both people on opposing sides of an argument claim that it is un-Christlike or heartless to disagree with them?
What about when I am on the receiving end of injustice? Let’s look at a biblical example of a man who experienced injustice. This morning, I want to try to explain a biblical view of justice by briefly looking at a Psalm of David.
Unjust things happen.
Despite the stark betrayal we know that David experienced, we actually don’t know who this Cushite was and how he related to the wrongs David describes here. This is yet one more time for David to process the feelings of hurt and rejection that come in this kind of situation.
I’d be surprised if there was any adult in this room who has not felt some deep sense of being wronged, even by a trusted friend. And even more, the wrong is never righted in the slightest. This person is never exposed for who they really are, punished for what they’ve done, and certainly, has not apologized. There may be some of us that think of a particular person or situation.
Injustice is like a tankless water heater. Instantly boiling hot. Why is this? Why does David care so much about the wickedness of the wicked? Because God made us to desire justice. God did not make us for a world of violence and hatred. We are moral beings who can tell when something is as it should be and when it is not. And when I see an innocent person suffer, especially a helpless one, I know that should not be. When someone who should be loyal intentionally hurts me, I know that is not right.
Though our hearts long for things to be as they should, for the innocent to be safe and people to be faithful, it does not happen. In fact, the Bible tells us that this is a part of life, for now.
Romans 8 tells us that all creation “groans” because we look forward to a time when injustice and suffering of the innocent will be eradicated, but that time has not yet come. What are we to do? Should we just accept that things aren’t the way that they should be and move on? Christians are to have joy, right? So we can just ignore the feelings of disappointment and heartache and focus on the happy ones?
While there is something to be said for a person who rejoices in whatever state God gives them, the Bible is also full of dealing with injustice and deep disappointments as a Christian. We normally call this biblical process lamenting or lamentation, in fact there is a whole book named after that. Christians, we need to learn how to be sad in a godly, faithful way. This could be a whole sermon on its own, but the Psalms, the prophets, and the Gospels are full of lamenting. Yes, even Jesus had a habit of lamentation.
If you are a Christian, I would challenge you to start learning to practice what the Bible says about lamenting. If you had a major loss in your life, a close friend’s or church family member’s, how would you respond? Christians don’t just move on from deep sadness or pain. They bring it to God in a special way, asking for his help, and trusting in him. I would read some Psalms of lament. Psalms 10, 13, 22, and 77. They are good model prayers to use in those situations. Journal through those Psalms and try to find the key concepts in those Psalms.
“Many a time has this bitter complaint been heard in the dungeons of the Inquisition, at the whipping posts of slavery, and in the prisons of oppression. In due time God will publish his reply, but the full end is not yet.” - Charles Spurgeon
Christians do not disregard the unjust things that happen. Sometimes innocent people are hurt. Sometimes the guilty go unpunished. Those are real things that happen and must not be ignored. We must do what we can, bring those things to God, and leave them there. Why to God? Because…
God is the rightful Judge over all that happens, including evil.
Listen to how David entrusts his fate to God in Psalm 7:
O Lord my God, if I have done this: If there is iniquity in my hands, If I have repaid evil to him who was at peace with me, Or have plundered my enemy without cause, Let the enemy pursue me and overtake me; Yes, let him trample my life to the earth, And lay my honor in the dust. Selah Psalm 7:3–5
If you had perfect memory and have been here every week for the past several Sundays, then this point would need no further explanation. But we don’t have perfect memories so I guess I have to do my job and explain why I say this and what this means for us. Why am I talking about the past several Sundays in regard to God’s being the rightful Judge?
Because if God really is all that we have said he is over the past couple months, then it only makes sense that God would be the best and only choice to be the ultimate judge. Think about it. God knows and sees everything. He has all wisdom and knowledge. He can see everything in the past and the future because he is already there. Not only does he know everything, and is present anywhere, but he can do anything! His power is unlimited and he has all authority to control everything! Whatever needs to be done to exact perfect justice, God can do it! And last week, we learned of God’s goodness. It is not that he aligns with an external goodness outside himself so that we can call him good. He is the standard. He is the rubric for goodness, so that we compare everything to him to see if its good. Should not a judge know as much as possible? Should he not have all the evidence? Should a judge not have all the power and authority possible? Should the judge not be as good of a person as possible?
As Abraham said,
Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” Genesis 18:25
What is your attitude toward God’s justice? I think maybe some Christians struggle with modern justice, in part, because we don’t realize that the rules that we’re playing by matter.
Are you a rule follower? I am a rule follower. Firstborn-type personality. When I play a game, a big part of the fun is actually playing the game as it was meant to be played. Some people have a lot of fun taking a game and making their own version. They like to ignore some rules or add their own. I haven’t figured out why, but it seems like pastor’s kids are really good at this so I’m probably in for it as the girls get older. At a basic level, the game is the rules. Two or more people must agree to play by the same rules if you want to play the game. If you have no idea what the rules are, sorry, you’re probably not playing by the rules.
Now I am not claiming this is a proof for God’s rules being the true ones, the Bible proves itself in this regard. I just want Christians to think about the rules that you choose to play by. When it comes to justice, you will “play” by certain “rules.” Someone is determining the standard for what is right and what is wrong. What is just and what is unjust. David acknowledged God as the Judge, the One who gets to set the rules and enforce them. When we interact with the world, we must not cede the rule-making to people who do not worship God. Justice is what God says it is, so go to the Bible to hear what God says about it.
Justice is quite a buzz word in Western culture today. Everyone vies to get their pet issue defined by whether or not something is “just.” And, friend, most often, regardless of a one’s stated political alignment, they are just like our proverbial 7 year old, not really talking about justice. They are whining to the world, and to God, that’s not fair! Be careful to define justice according to the One who alone is worthy to judge ultimately. He will always tell us what is right so learn what justice is from Him. Read and love God’s Word. Learn the rules so you know when someone breaks them.
So now that David has acknowledged that he has experienced injustice, and given judgement over to God, what does he do?
In response to injustice, we must look to the Judge.
The personal injustice David felt served a purpose for him. Not only does it bring Him to further worship God through submission and dependence, he also has perspective on the injustice in the whole world.
Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, But establish the just; For the righteous God tests the hearts and minds. Psalm 7:9
When people hurt us, or when we lose something that means so much to us, when we don’t understand why things are the way they are, when we desperately wish that something could change, we should like David, have a Romans 8:22 moment. We should remember why things are not as they should be, and remember the solution. We need the judge to come and make all the wrongs right.
Of course, if God has given us the ability to enact justice in our sphere of influence, we should do everything we can to emulate his goodness in justice. But we must also recognize that because of a fallen world and fallen people, that will only go so far. So when we reach the limitations of human justice, we must look to God for the day when He will bring total justice.
If we can be honest with each other, where do we look so often for the execution of justice when we are wronged? And what is our most common instrument? Our tongue.
So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. James 1:19–20
When we are wronged, we open up that tankless water heater pretty quickly and what boils out is not godly. It is not worshipful or dependent upon the truly just judge. It is vengeful. It is spiteful.
We blow up. Or maybe spew out a venomous word. We are out for blood with the weapon that doesn’t leave a visible mark, so we don’t feel so bad. But friend, it does leave a mark. And it is not just.
Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:17–21
We must not seek vengeance because that belongs to God. It is not our place. I am not the judge over the injustice against me. God will make that injustice right. But what about the rapists? What about the abusers? What about the serial killers, war criminals? What about Hitler, and pastors who sexually abuse children? Don’t they get away with it?
And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Revelation 21:6–8
Yes, for now, they have not received what they deserve. But God withholds final judgement now because He is merciful. Yes, even the worst person imaginable may have an opportunity, in God’s providence to repent and turn back. But how is that just? Why can God give them a second chance?
The Gospel is the final answer of God's justice.
David writes:
If he does not turn back, He will sharpen His sword; He bends His bow and makes it ready. He also prepares for Himself instruments of death; He makes His arrows into fiery shafts. Behold, the wicked brings forth iniquity; Yes, he conceives trouble and brings forth falsehood. He made a pit and dug it out, And has fallen into the ditch which he made. His trouble shall return upon his own head, And his violent dealing shall come down on his own crown. Psalm 7:12–16
All of eternity hinges on the word “if.” Have you turned back from sin and trusted Christ? It is not just the abhorrent criminals and abusers that deserve eternal judgement. We have all violated Gods holiness. We are all selfish! We have all hated others and told lies. This whole world, the whole universe, belongs to him and when we rebel against him, that is the ultimate injustice.
The injustice of any sin is far more offensive and wrong to God, who is infinite, than when we are wronged. Even more, we killed his Son! For these things we deserve the lake of fire just as Hitler or
How could God then be just to give us mercy?
For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:6-8
Because Jesus already paid for our sins, God can give us mercy. We must repent and believe.
And yet, our personal sense of justice may bring us to a question: how can God let those who have been so vile and unjust even have a chance to repent?
Application:
Since God is just, we should praise Him. (Psalm 7:17)
Since God is just, we should forgive people.
Since God is just, we should proclaim his message of forgiveness.
Rather than using our tongue to execute justice in hurting someone back, we should use it to instate God’s merciful and beautiful justice in the Gospel.
Conclusion
For most of the rest of the book, Javert, an officer of the law, doggedly pursues the criminal Jean Valjean who violated parole and changed his name. Javert is obsessed with finding and incarcerating Valjean. Hugo contrasts this rigid and calloused perspective on justice with Valjean, who later learns compassion and mercy. And yet, in Hugo’s world, there remains a tension. Could anyone say that Javert was wrong for believing that Valjean must answer for his crimes? Yet, our hearts long for mercy. How can mercy be just? And how can justice be merciful?
God is a much better writer than any of us, including Victor Hugo. The Gospel is the story that can resolve these things. The just God takes our punishment on himself so that He can be both just and merciful.
Discussion Questions
So now that David has acknowledged that he has experienced injustice, and given judgement over to God, what does he do?
In response to injustice, we must look to the Judge.
The personal injustice David felt served a purpose for him. Not only does it bring Him to further worship God through submission and dependence, he also has perspective on the injustice in the whole world.
Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, But establish the just; For the righteous God tests the hearts and minds. Psalm 7:9
When people hurt us, or when we lose something that means so much to us, when we don’t understand why things are the way they are, when we desperately wish that something could change, we should like David, have a Romans 8:22 moment. We should remember why things are not as they should be, and remember the solution. We need the judge to come and make all the wrongs right.
Of course, if God has given us the ability to enact justice in our sphere of influence, we should do everything we can to emulate his goodness in justice. But we must also recognize that because of a fallen world and fallen people, that will only go so far. So when we reach the limitations of human justice, we must look to God for the day when He will bring total justice.
If we can be honest with each other, where do we look so often for the execution of justice when we are wronged? And what is our most common instrument? Our tongue.
So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. James 1:19–20
When we are wronged, we open up that tankless water heater pretty quickly and what boils out is not godly. It is not worshipful or dependent upon the truly just judge. It is vengeful. It is spiteful.
We blow up. Or maybe spew out a venomous word. We are out for blood with the weapon that doesn’t leave a visible mark, so we don’t feel so bad. But friend, it does leave a mark. And it is not just.
Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:17–21
We must not seek vengeance because that belongs to God. It is not our place. I am not the judge over the injustice against me. God will make that injustice right. But what about the rapists? What about the abusers? What about the serial killers, war criminals? What about Hitler, and pastors who sexually abuse children? Don’t they get away with it?
And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.” Revelation 21:6–8
Yes, for now, they have not received what they deserve. But God withholds final judgement now because He is merciful. Yes, even the worst person imaginable may have an opportunity, in God’s providence to repent and turn back. But how is that just? Why can God give them a second chance?
The Gospel is the final answer of God's justice.
David writes:
If he does not turn back, He will sharpen His sword; He bends His bow and makes it ready. He also prepares for Himself instruments of death; He makes His arrows into fiery shafts. Behold, the wicked brings forth iniquity; Yes, he conceives trouble and brings forth falsehood. He made a pit and dug it out, And has fallen into the ditch which he made. His trouble shall return upon his own head, And his violent dealing shall come down on his own crown. Psalm 7:12–16
All of eternity hinges on the word “if.” Have you turned back from sin and trusted Christ? It is not just the abhorrent criminals and abusers that deserve eternal judgement. We have all violated Gods holiness. We are all selfish! We have all hated others and told lies. This whole world, the whole universe, belongs to him and when we rebel against him, that is the ultimate injustice.
The injustice of any sin is far more offensive and wrong to God, who is infinite, than when we are wronged. Even more, we killed his Son! For these things we deserve the lake of fire just as Hitler or
How could God then be just to give us mercy?
For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:6-8
Because Jesus already paid for our sins, God can give us mercy. We must repent and believe.
And yet, our personal sense of justice may bring us to a question: how can God let those who have been so vile and unjust even have a chance to repent?
Application:
Since God is just, we should praise Him. (Psalm 7:17)
Since God is just, we should forgive people.
Since God is just, we should proclaim his message of forgiveness.
Rather than using our tongue to execute justice in hurting someone back, we should use it to instate God’s merciful and beautiful justice in the Gospel.
Conclusion
For most of the rest of the book, Javert, an officer of the law, doggedly pursues the criminal Jean Valjean who violated parole and changed his name. Javert is obsessed with finding and incarcerating Valjean. Hugo contrasts this rigid and calloused perspective on justice with Valjean, who later learns compassion and mercy. And yet, in Hugo’s world, there remains a tension. Could anyone say that Javert was wrong for believing that Valjean must answer for his crimes? Yet, our hearts long for mercy. How can mercy be just? And how can justice be merciful?
God is a much better writer than any of us, including Victor Hugo. The Gospel is the story that can resolve these things. The just God takes our punishment on himself so that He can be both just and merciful.
Discussion Questions
- Can you share any stories of a time when someone felt as though they had experienced injustice? Serious or silly, accurate or inaccurate. (Even a kid saying, “That’s not fair!”)
- What does David’s willingness to have God be his judge say about his character?
- How can we be like David in this way?
- What are some common personal obstacles to properly lamenting? What are some Biblical ways to evaluate and overcome those obstacles?
- Is it ever just to retaliate with angry words against someone? Why or why not?
- What are some practical ways to fight a habit of lashing out in vengeance with one’s tongue?
- Explain how God can be just to forgive sins which deserve to be punished with death.
- Do you know anyone whom you could continue getting to know so you can have an opportunity to tell them about God’s just mercy?
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