Right of Appeal – The Kingdom Curriculum XIX (6)

Right of Appeal

“And you shall come to the Levitical priests and to the judge who is in office in those days, and you shall consult them, and they shall declare to you the decision.” Deuteronomy 17:9

As will be obvious by now, the administration of justice in a community rests in the hands of finite people, some–perhaps many–of whom will not have access to divine revelation by virtue of their being yet unsaved. Even amongst the redeemed of the Lord the possibility exists that injustice could result in some situation, for a wide variety of reasons.

In the situation envisioned in our text, local magistrates, faced with a case they cannot adjudicate, are encouraged to appeal to a higher authority, one, by virtue of its place in the community, presumed to have a better grasp on matters of justice. Thus is established a principle of appeal in matters of justice. This principle includes the ability to call witnesses into a situation where justice is being sought (Deut. 19:15-17), who may give testimony in support of one or another party in or element of a case.

This right of appeal also implies the ability to have one’s case judged in the open, in the gates of the city, where neighbors and other objective observers would be able to view the proceedings for themselves (cf. Ruth 4). The principle of trial by a jury of peers is rooted here. “Sunshine laws” also have their origin in this idea that discussions of justice should be open for the inspection of the public, so that they can see for themselves how rulers and authorities judge the situations that come before them.

The right of appeal to a higher court is also implied here. If a party is not persuaded that he has been given justice in a situation, then, to a limited extent, he should have recourse to a higher authority. Thus one parent challenged should be willing to turn to the judgment of the second. One church court challenged can be reviewed by a higher court. Even corporations and businesses have personnel policy manuals that explain employees’ rights, including appeals.

Because justice is so precious and so important we must take care to “get it right.” The provision of various means of appeal helps to ensure that justice and only justice will be maintained in any community.

Reading and meditating on the Law of God is every believer’s duty and privilege (Ps. 1). Order your copy of The Law of God, a compendium of the commandments and precepts of God’s Law, by going to www.MyParuchia.com, point your browser to “Publications,” then click on the drop-down option, “Waxed Tablet Publications.”

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In the Gates is a devotional series on the Law of God by Rev. T.M. Moore.

T.M. Moore is 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.

Editor’s note: The use of a translation other than the Authorised Version in an article does not constitute an endorsement in whole or in part by The Christian Observer.