A Passion for Justice

Psalm 57

            That we live in an unjust world is no secret. Turn on any newscast, browse any social media feeds and you will be overwhelmed with the injustices occurring in our world. The question that opens this Miktam, which may indicate a song of lament, is a cry from the heart of one who seeks justice.

            The word ‘gods’ (HCSB) might better be translated ‘rulers’ since none of the typical Hebrew words for God are used. If this psalm is from the period when Absalom, the son of David chased his father briefly from the throne, we can hear David ask – do you so-called ‘mighty ones’ really understand justice?

            I am uncomfortable with this psalm. David’s imagery in vs 6-9 seem out of place from a godly man, a man described as a man after God’s own heart (Acts 13:22, NKJV). The punishment which David asks from God in vs 6 – 9 bring images difficult to imagine.

            I wonder though, if in our passion for justice we have really pondered what punishment God has in store for the unjust? We certainly want people to experience the love of God He gave in His Son – “But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us! Much more then, since we have now been declared righteous by His blood, we will be saved through Him from wrath.” (Romans 5:8–9, HCSB). Notice the word ‘wrath’ in Paul’s marvelous declaration. It is indeed a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God, particularly for those who have rejected God’s offer of life in Jesus Christ.

            David, in hiding from his son, recognized that ultimately justice is not his to administer. Rather justice can only be dispensed by God. He alone as the absolute definition of justice is capable of determining right from wrong, justice from injustice.