The Lord Loves Justice

God's Creative Word
God Calls For Justice:  Justice Enacted
Solomon Judges with Wisdom and Justice

Psalm 37:27-34

The Message

 ^27-28 Turn your back on evil,
      work for the good and don't quit.
   God loves this kind of thing,
      never turns away from his friends.

 ^28-29 Live this way and you've got it made,
      but bad eggs will be tossed out.
   The good get planted on good land
      and put down healthy roots.

 ^30-31 Righteous chews on wisdom like a dog on a bone,
      rolls virtue around on his tongue.
   His heart pumps God's Word like blood through his veins;
      his feet are as sure as a cat's.

 ^32-33 Wicked sets a watch for Righteous,
      he's out for the kill.
   God, alert, is also on watch—
      Wicked won't hurt a hair of his head.

 ³⁴ Wait passionately for God,
      don't leave the path.
   He'll give you your place in the sun
      while you watch the wicked lose it.

For Reflection

What does it mean to participate in God's justice?  Perhaps it means that one has confidence in God's wisdom in spite of the fact that one faces patience eroding doubt and uncertainty.  The righteous hold tight to the promise of God even though they dangle from a string above a bottomless canyon.

 

Pray

Turn the psalmist's words into your own personal prayer.  Pray for the confidence to trust in the Lord.

A Prayer for Wisdom

God's Creative Word
God Calls For Justice:  Justice Enacted
Solomon Judges with Wisdom and Justice

Ephesians 1:15-23

The Message

 ^15-19That's why, when I heard of the solid trust you have in the Master Jesus and your outpouring of love to all the followers of Jesus, I couldn't stop thanking God for you—every time I prayed, I'd think of you and give thanks. But I do more than thank. I ask—ask the God of our Master, Jesus Christ, the God of glory—to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength!
 ^20-23All this energy issues from Christ: God raised him from death and set him on a throne in deep heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from his rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. He is in charge of it all, has the final word on everything. At the center of all this, Christ rules the church. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ's body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.

For Reflection

The source of all knowledge is God.  The source of all wisdom is God.  The major questions in life are theological.  The guardian of this theology is the church universal.  Imperfect as it is, the church is a sign of God's supremacy.

The church operates with-in a world context but is not of this world.  Perhaps as the world context changes it challenges the church.  Through resolving these challenging conflicts the Church grows into God's grace.  Today's Church is not what it was at the beginning.  Nor is it the church of King James time.  It is not all that it is going to be.  We see the hand of God in the maturing stages of the Church.

Pray

that you listen to the wisdom of the scriptures.  Pray that you will not measure today's Church by yesterdays standards.  Pray that the Church universal will address current challenges by applying scripture and action tempered by the love and grace of God to advance the Kingdom of God.

Reigning in Righteousness

God's Creative Word
God Calls For Justice:  Justice Enacted
David Embodies God's Justice

Isaiah 32:1-8

The Message

Safe Houses, Quiet Gardens

 ^1-8 But look! A king will rule in the right way, and his leaders will carry out justice.
Each one will stand as a shelter from high winds,
   provide safe cover in stormy weather.
Each will be cool running water in parched land,
   a huge granite outcrop giving shade in the desert.
Anyone who looks will see,
   anyone who listens will hear.
The impulsive will make sound decisions,
   the tongue-tied will speak with eloquence.
No more will fools become celebrities,
   nor crooks be rewarded with fame.
For fools are fools and that's that,
   thinking up new ways to do mischief.
They leave a wake of wrecked lives
   and lies about God,
Turning their backs on the homeless hungry,
   ignoring those dying of thirst in the streets.
And the crooks? Underhanded sneaks they are,
   inventive in sin and scandal,
Exploiting the poor with scams and lies,
   unmoved by the victimized poor.
But those who are noble make noble plans,
   and stand for what is noble.

For Reflection

In America we have given up on kings.  In the public sector we elect our leaders.  Sometime we fail to looki beyond the issue centered rhetoric of hopeful candidates.  Perhaps we should ask, "who will carry out justice?  Who will provide a sanctuary for those whose need is greatest?  Who will have the highest concern for the homeless and hungry?  Who is the most nobel?"

Pray

that all over the world people will enjoy lives under just leadership.  Pray that those who lead the governance of others will realize that a high regard for acting justly is more powerful than oppression.  Pray that we in America will reject the call for unjust action.

Praising God's Steadfast Love

God's Creative Word
God Calls For Justice:  Justice Enacted
David Embodies God's Justice

2 Samuel 22:47-51

The Message

 ^47-51 Live, God! Blessing to my Rock,
      my towering Salvation-God!
   This God set things right for me
      and shut up the people who talked back.
   He rescued me from enemy anger.
      You pulled me from the grip of upstarts,
   You saved me from the bullies.
      That's why I'm thanking you, God,
      all over the world.
   That's why I'm singing songs
      that rhyme your name.
   God's king takes the trophy;
      God's chosen is beloved.
   I mean David and all his children—
      always.

For Reflection

Yesterday, we in  America celebrated our freedom and independence.  This was justice paid for in the lives of many brave men and women.  It is justice that is still a model of governance for the world.  It is, however, a style of living that will always be threatened.  We must thank God for the examples of justice all over the world.  We must remember that God's justice, not our justice reigns.  We must listen as God sets us right. 

Pray

that you will temper your perceptions of the world with the wisdom found in scripture.  Pray that what we have been we will not remain; that what we are is not what we will become.  Pray for the guiding hand or God.  Pray that the whole world will grow into Grace.

Depending Upon God's Guidance

God's Creative Word
God Calls For Justice:  Justice Enacted
David Embodies God's Justice

2 Samuel 22:26-31

The Message

 ^26-28 You stick by people who stick with you,
      you're straight with people who're straight with you,
   You're good to good people,
      you shrewdly work around the bad ones.
   You take the side of the down-and-out,
      but the stuck-up you take down a peg.
 ^29-31 Suddenly, God, your light floods my path,
      God drives out the darkness.
   I smash the bands of marauders,
      I vault the high fences.
   What a God! His road
      stretches straight and smooth.
   Every God-direction is road-tested.
      Everyone who runs toward him
   Makes it.

For Reflection

Mankind can begin in kindness, but, when threatened, revert to defensiveness and create a powerful spiral into destruction.

Not God!  God will stick with you, be straight with you, good to you, take your side and work against those who work against you.  God will light your path with justice and wisdom.  All one has to do is follow the light.  Avoid the darkness,  Run toward God. 

Pray

that you pattern you life in the image of God's intentions for you.  Pray that you will have the wisdom and courage to overcome the pull of vengeance and retaliation.

Rejoicing in God's Deliverance

God's Creative Word
God Calls For Justice:  Justice Enacted
David Embodies God's Justice

2 Samuel 22:8-20

The Message

 ^8-16 Earth wobbled and lurched;
      the very heavens shook like leaves,
   Quaked like aspen leaves
      because of his rage.
   His nostrils flared, billowing smoke;
      his mouth spit fire.
   Tongues of fire darted in and out;
      he lowered the sky.
   He stepped down;
      under his feet an abyss opened up.
   He rode a winged creature,
      swift on wind-wings.
   He wrapped himself
      in a trenchcoat of black rain-cloud darkness.
   But his cloud-brightness burst through,
      a grand comet of fireworks.
   Then God thundered out of heaven;
      the High God gave a great shout.
   God shot his arrows—pandemonium!
      He hurled his lightnings—a rout!
   The secret sources of ocean were exposed,
      the hidden depths of earth lay uncovered
   The moment God roared in protest,
      let loose his hurricane anger.
 ^17-20 But me he caught—reached all the way
      from sky to sea; he pulled me out
   Of that ocean of hate, that enemy chaos,
      the void in which I was drowning.
   They hit me when I was down,
      but God stuck by me.
   He stood me up on a wide-open field;
      I stood there saved—surprised to be loved!

For Reflection 

Some believe that David uttered this psalm later in life.  It, then, may be a reflection of David's survival during Saul's violent reign.  David praises God for preserving him under the treacherous attacks from Saul.  David's faith in God grounds his perception of his survival and is a foundation for his kingship.  God pulled David from an ocean of hate which characterized Saul's rain and should have embittered David.  God rescued David from the curse of responding in hate.  

David praises God for sticking by him and for Gods saving grace.  As God has surprised David with His love, David may have surprised his subjects with grace. 

Pray

that you will not answer fear with fearful responses.  Pray that in the face of threat you will not answer threat with threat; hate with hate; injury with injury.  Pray for the people of our world who suffer the injustice of hateful leaders.  Pray that they will overcome the violence and establish peace.

Inquiring of the Lord

God's Creative Word
God Calls For Justice:  Justice Enacted
David Embodies God's Justice

2 Samuel 2:1-7

The Message

 ¹ After all this, David prayed. He asked God, "Shall I move to one of the cities of Judah?"    God said, "Yes, move." "And to which city?"
    "To Hebron."
 ^2-3 So David moved to Hebron, along with his two wives, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel. David's men, along with their families, also went with him and made their home in and around Hebron.
 ^4-7 The citizens of Judah came to Hebron, and then and there made David king over the clans of Judah.
    A report was brought to David that the men of Jabesh Gilead had given Saul a decent burial. David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead: "God bless you for this—for honoring your master, Saul, with a funeral. God honor you and be true to you—and I'll do the same, matching your generous act of goodness. Strengthen your resolve and do what must be done. Your master, Saul, is dead. The citizens of Judah have made me their king."

For Reflection

How many times have you experienced or heard of a newly appointed manager or CEO that in order to establish his authority began his new position with an immediate  "clean sweep," bringing all his own people to replace a former manager' s staff?  What does that say about the strength of a leader's confidence in his own ability, or of his regard for those who have served well?  David certainly has the authority to act with an iron fist but chooses to act with open hands of invitation.

David asks God for his advice and upon hearing it act on it without question.  David makes his home with his subjects and offers hospitality.  He then compliments his subjects and offers his respect which is due to those who have honored him with authority.  David leads by sharing his power not abusing it.  In doing so, David gains his subjects to his interest. 

Pray

for the wisdom to lead.  Pray that those who lead will lead justly.  Pray that they will seek the wisdom of God.  Pray that they will not resort to defending their leadership positions at the expense of those whom they lead.