Towns were the breeding-ground of greed and avarice, treachery and injustice, the places where men preyed on men and where corruption rose up with its ugly head and tried to swallow all that was good and decent, all that was precious and rare.”
–Jory Sherman (Death Rattle)
“He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He.”
–Deuteronomy 32:4 (NKJV)
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Do you ever look at what’s happening in this country and wonder what in the world is going on? Has the nation gone mad? Where is common sense; where is truth, justice, and the American way? Think of Jeremiah when he was taken by the leaders because of his message from God and is lowered into a cistern. There was no water there, only mud, darkness and gloom. Where was God? Where was justice?
Jeremiah had preached against those in government who were doing wrong. He also preached against those in government who were silent and sort of just went along with those who were outspoken. In Psalm 58, David found himself among those in high places who are either blind to injustice or commit it themselves. I am using the New Living Translation because I especially like the first verse.
1 – Justice–do you rulers know the meaning of the word? Do you judge the people fairly?
2 – No, all your dealings are crooked; you hand out violence instead of justice.
3 – These wicked people are born sinners; even from birth they have lied and gone their own way.
4 – They spit poison like deadly snakes; they are like cobras that refuse to listen,
5 – ignoring the tunes of the snake charmers, no matter how skillfully they play.
6 – Break off their fangs, O God! Smash the jaws of these lions, O LORD!
7 – May they disappear like water into thirsty ground. Make their weapons useless in their hands.
8 – May they be like snails that dissolve into slime, like a stillborn child who will never see the sun.
9 – God will sweep them away, both young and old, faster than a pot heats on an open flame.
10 – The godly will rejoice when they see injustice avenged. They will wash their feet in the blood of the wicked.
11 – Then at last everyone will say, “There truly is a reward for those who live for God; surely there is a God who judges justly here on earth.”
George Rogers reminds us that, “The principles of the wicked are even worse than their practices; premeditated violence is doubly guilty.” Take a look at the cities in America with their riots and their anti-police chants and stand. There is a cry for injustice, for anarchy. David is angry when he sees the injustice around him, and we should be as well. Call it anger, call it righteous indignation, when we see injustice around us: anarchy, abortion, displacement of godly values there should rise up within our souls an anger.
Anger has its place. It is not wrong to become angry; it is wrong to become angry and sin. Without the feeling deep inside our soul that rages against injustice we would become passive–silent. However, anger should not overwhelm us, and if we do become angry we need to do as David did–take it to the Lord. In the midst of injustice raise a cry, but remember God is watching, not only your reaction, but also those who are committing the injustice. There is a dreadful time coming for those if they do not repent of their evil-doings. Also remember, the righteous will be rewarded by the “God who judges justly.”
“Satan tells us we’re weak; our hope is in vain.
The good that we seek we’ll never obtain.
But he can’t take from us (though often he’s tried)
The heart-cheering promise–The Lord will provide.”
–John Newton