Living in the Spirit
September 4, 2018
Scripture Reading: Proverbs 22:1-2,8-9, 22-23
Whoever sows injustice will reap calamity,
and the rod of anger will fail.
Those who are generous are blessed,
for they share their bread with the poor.
Do not rob the poor because they are poor,
or crush the afflicted at the gate;
for the Lord pleads their cause
and despoils of life those who despoil them. –Proverbs 22:8-9, 22-23
We are reaping calamity and it is most often because we are sowing injustice. The word translated injustice in the above scripture may also be translated iniquity or unrighteousness*. I fear because our culture attempts to view justice objectively, which is a good thing, we may, however, lose some of the essence of justice’s connection with relationship(s). An eye for an eye could be viewed objectively as being just. When considered as it might apply to relationships one with another the phrase takes on new meaning. Meaning that asked the question: what is right?
One of my great grandfathers was hit in the head with a Minié ball during a Civil War battle which was left in his head as the surgery to remove it was deemed too dangerous. It apparently limited his vision immediately and some thirty years later he received a veteran’s pension for a full disability as the bullet had finally blinded him. This injury was considered a side effect of war, and it begs the question would he have received justice if the man who shot him were located and had his eyes removed? I did not know my great-grandfather, but my guess is while he might have held a grudge or might not have, I doubt he would have wished the same disability on anyone else. I doubt he held a grudge. He was far too busy farming and raising a family. He knew the searing pain of having his oldest son died of disease at the age of 15 and the joy of raising his other children who became successful adults. If he had held a grudge the only person, he would have hurt was himself wasting his time and talent on something that leads to nothing but inward turmoil.
Justice, righteousness is about relationship. It is by nature subjective not objective. While our legal system must function in an objective way, real justice, righteousness is about heart and God’s love. God must define the justice and righteousness we live. Our relationship with God or rightness with God is reflected in the just, righteous ways we live in relationship with others. We can and have addressed blatant injustice through our legal system through things like the Civil Rights Act and that was a good first step but the needed reconciliation only comes when we all seek God’s righteousness and justice in the way that we live.
Prayer: Righteous God, mold us and make us love like you in our relationships with all others. Amen.
*https://biblehub.com/hebrew/5766.htm