August 17

Aug 17 - Today from Proverbs 17 we look at verse 15
"Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent - the Lord detests them both."

One of the attributes that God constantly reveals about Himself is that He is just. In Jeremiah 9:24 we find a clear example: "Let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight." God formed man in His own image, and God delights when man reflects that image.
When God created the heavens and the earth, He brought order out of chaos (Genesis 1). Ever since sin entered the world, it is constantly trying to turn God's order back into chaos. In creating, God brought light, peace, harmony and life. Justice maintains light, peace, harmony and life. Sin diminishes light, peace, harmony and life. To thwart justice is sin. Justice is a very serious issue with God - and should be for man. Judgments are not to be made frivolously, nor out of bias. Evidence is to be based on established truth and not just the reality of a moment. Judges are to be impartial, not allowing their personal feelings to sway their verdict. Without true justice, society quickly deteriorates into chaos.
On what is the society of man to base justice? As Christians, we are to confidently base our justice system on the Word of God. The established Truths of His Word are to take precedence over every other ‘reality’. His Word not only reveals the moral basis of right and wrong, but He also reveals that there are systems and authorized governing officials established for the purpose of dealing with social justice. But what about those who have never heard, or do not have the Word of God? Will they still be held accountable? Romans chapter one reveals that man can build and conduct a proper justice system on what is known as 'Natural Law'. Conscience, history, and careful observance of nature are enough to reveal God's justice (knowledge of God). This system quickly becomes contaminated and distorted when those in positions of authority begin to use their positions for self-serving purposes rather than for preserving justice for the people whom they serve. Order reverts to chaos. When authorities choose to become self-serving, they pervert justice in both directions. They can acquit guilty people who can make them wealthier (bribes), or who can make them more powerful (connections), or who they just happen to like (subjectivity). Or, they can condemn innocent people for any number of reasons, such as revenge, indifference, favors to others, political expediency, etc.
How do we apply the lesson of this proverb to our personal lives? First, we are to be a just people. Justice speaks of equity and integrity, not carrying out sentences on others. Unless we hold a civil position of governing authority, we are not to judge others and then carry out the sentence (vigilantism). I must confess, we do this far too much. Our courtrooms are not mahogany paneled rooms in the county buildings; they are telephone lines, coffee shops, hallways and dinner tables. We hold the condemned in prisons of our own bitterness. Without having all of the evidence, we tend to share our prejudices against others and then execute the sentence of character assassination and belittlement. If we do not have enough strength to fully carry out the execution, we use our resources to build allies until we do have the strength. Then we proceed carry out our own method of justice until finally, we get satisfaction. Self-satisfaction. Chaos. Instead of loving our perceived enemies, we assist our real enemy in promoting chaos.
God walked in the garden with His man until sin came and introduced chaos into paradise. It was no longer good. Sin separated man from God. God persevered with sinful man and came to walk with us again - in the person of Jesus Christ. Once again He determined to bring order out of chaos. He showed us that the real way to achieve this is not to condemn but to serve. He offered us mercy instead of judgment, and He admonishes us to continue to follow His example. Let us not confuse justice and judgment. Romans 13:1-5 reveals that the power of judgment has been given to governing authorities by God. Hebrews 13:17 reveals that those authorities will one day give an accounting to God. Our responsibility is to "act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with (our) God." (Micah 6:8). We have a full-time job just judging ourselves (1 Cor. 11:31). When we honestly judge ourselves in the light of God's Word, we discover that we have no platform on which we can stand to judge others. There is only One who has the credentials to do that - and thank heavens He is merciful. Should not we be merciful as well?