Justice and Righteousness

Much is being said in the realm of social justice right now. Much of what is being said is worth the discussion. As I have contemplated some of my own perspectives over the past several years, I’ve discovered that my default notions about justice are partially correct and partially not. A serious look at the Biblical examples of social justice sheds light on God’s heart for justice. The challenge before us then is to take an honest look.

If you had asked me ten years ago if the Old Testament prophets would ever become a major voice in my life, I probably would have given you a doubtful reply. But what I am discovering is that those Old Testament prophets reveal the heart of God. They were speaking to a particular circumstance at a particular moment. If our circumstance reflects their circumstance, then their voices should be loud.

Our first steps into matters of social right and wrong embrace the realities of justice and righteousness through the eyes of those Biblical prophets. These two words become our road map, and the voices of the prophets our navigators. Justice correlates to the ideas of law and legal right. Righteousness deals the heart of the matter, not just the law. The best Old Testament scholars caution us not to separate these words too much.

• Justice is a mode of action; righteousness a quality of the person.
• Justice is strict and exact giving each person his due. Righteousness implies kindness and generosity.
• Justice is all about what is legal and right. Righteous grabs that legal standard and goes beyond justice. Righteousness is a burning compassion for the oppressed.
• Justice often deals with the actions between people. Righteousness often deals with the condition between people and God and between people and people.
• Justice is about doing right. Righteousness is the heart of doing right.

A look at the prophet Amos gives us a perfect example of this circumstance. Amos condemns Israel for excessive affluence, oppression of the poor and meaningless religious actions (Amos 4:1-5 & 8:4-6). And here’s what God said to Israel as a result. “’Behold the days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will send a famine on the land – not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run to and fro, to seek the word of the Lord, but they shall not find it’” (Amos 8:11-12). God quit speaking to them! God said to Israel through Amos, “I am done listening. I am done speaking.”

Both justice and righteousness had been lost in Israel. God’s response to Israel was to stop the religious gatherings and festival. Stop all the activities associated with gathered worship. Stop the singing. Stop the solemn gatherings of reflection. And start overflowing with justice and righteousness. Remember justice is about doing right. Righteousness is the heart of doing right.

If Amos’ circumstance was like our circumstance, then doesn’t his voice count? Shouldn’t his voice be heard?