Justice Defined – The Rule of Law: Justice (2)

Justice Defined

The Rule of Law: Justice (2)

Justice is righteousness expressed in love and faithfulness.

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you. Psalm 89:14

We hear a good deal of talk these days about justice. Usually “justice” is preceded by the word “social”—“social justice.” Whenever people are talking about social justice or seeking to establish social justice, they are describing a concept of justice that has very little, if anything, to do with the Biblical idea. Social justice is a plastic term which is shaped and molded to fit the form of whatever shape the spirit of the age may require. Social justice is almost always paired with “rights” and applied to whatever some group or individual regards as its “due” from society.

Biblical justice, however, is closely akin to righteousness, and righteousness is defined by God and His Law, as we see in Psalm 89:14. God takes His seat on righteousness and justice; this is the “furniture” which is most appropriate to His divine presence. From that throne He expresses Himself to the creation—and to people—in steadfast love and faithfulness. By steadfast love the psalms typically mean everything that God does to uphold and sustain His creation and to provide for His creatures (cf. Pss. 104, 136). By faithfulness they refer to His covenant loyalty, that He does what He says and fulfills what He promises (cf. Ps. 105).

So then, what is justice as we are to understand it? Justice flows from righteousness; hence, the need to be governed in our souls by the Law of God. We can know that we are living in justice and only justice when we are walking faithfully within God’s covenant, living according to all His Word, and when all our thoughts, words, and deeds take some form of love for God and for our neighbor.

True justice is defined by God and mirrors the way He relates to His creatures. True justice is not defined by social situations and the demand for “rights.” True justice flows from hearts submissive to God’s Law, filled with His Spirit, focused on His Son, and determined to seek His Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit (Rom. 14:17-19).

For a practical guide to the role of God’s Law in the life of faith, get The Ground for Christian Ethics from our online store.

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In the Gates is a devotional series on the Law of God by Rev. T.M. Moore, editor of the Worldview Church. He serves as dean of the Centurions Program of the Wilberforce Forum and principal of The Fellowship of Ailbe, a spiritual fellowship in the Celtic Christian tradition. He is the author or editor of twenty books, and has contributed chapters to four others. His essays, reviews, articles, papers, and poetry have appeared in dozens of national and international journals, and on a wide range of websites. His most recent books are The Ailbe Psalter and The Ground for Christian Ethics (Waxed Tablet).

Scripture quotations in this article are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, (c) copyright 2001, 2007 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.