JUSTICE IS NO SMALL MATTER

“For the Lord is righteous,
  he loves justice,
  upright men will see his face.”
      - Psalm 11:7

The Hebrew people believed the face of God was so holy, that sinful men could not look upon his face and live.  It was is why Moses hid his eyes when he knew God was going to pass by. God gave himself a human face when he and two other strangers sat in Abraham’s tent to announce that Sarah would conceive in her old age.

Quite correctly we make much of God’s love.  It is that part of his character upon which we depend for his grace.  But we should not forget that the Lord is justice, as well.  It is part of his nature that is not some conflicting impulse. It is the natural complement of love.  For love does not tolerate the injustice that victimizes and oppresses others.  He hates what injustice does to the unjust person, as well.  He may let injustice go unpunished for a time, but he does not ignore it or declare “no big deal, I’ll let this one pass.”

That is why God loves those who are honorable, people of integrity.  He loves people who do what is right and justice, no matter the personal cost. Our just-ness is an expression of his holiness at work in and through us. Those of us who live lives of holiness, lives that embody love and justice need not fear seeing the face of God.

And upright men will see his face.

© 2011 by Stephen L. Dunn