Micah was a prophet called from his hometown of Moresheth to deliver God’s message of judgement against Israel. Corruption and abuse had become the practices of the rich and powerful against the poor. Micah warned the people of God’s approaching consequences against those oppressing others for their own personal gain. For the Lord is holy and righteous, and He expects the same from His people. And a just God demands justice.
What does it mean that God is just? It means that He is fair and impartial, and deals justice according to His righteousness. He can neither be bought nor bribed. His Word is true, His decisions final. “His work is perfect, for all His ways are just; a God of faithfulness and without injustice, righteous and upright is He.” (Deut. 32:4) The Lord rules in justice which He tempers with love and grace. For when He deals out His judgement, He stays by our side, loving us through the consequences until, through our repentance, we are once again restored to Him. And that same love and grace He extends to us, He wants us to pass on to others.
Throughout the Bible we read how seriously the Lord takes the plight of the poor, the widowed, and the orphaned. And He let’s us know exactly what He expects our treatment of them to be. “Learn to do good; seek justice, reprove the ruthless, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.” (Is. 1:17) We are God’s mirror images here on earth, and as His representatives our lives and behavior should reflect His just and holy character. To follow the Lord means to practice justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with Him. To be living testimonies of the fruit of the spirit; love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. (Gal. 5:22-23)
Yet although we may fail practicing justice and giving mercy, we can trust that God never will. The penalty for our sin is death. And justice cries out for satisfaction. And even though God wishes to bless instead of punish us, He must maintain His absolute justice by punishing all sin. But because of His great mercy and love, instead of giving us what we deserve, God Himself provided that satisfaction by sending His Son Jesus to serve our sentence on the Cross. Through His sacrifice Jesus not only satisfied the justice of God, He also made Him both the Just and the Justifier of all who have faith in the Lord. (Rom. 3:23-26)
One day soon Jesus will return to rule His earthly kingdom from the holy city of Jerusalem. There He will teach us His ways and judge with perfect justice between many nations. (vs. 4:2-3) The Lord’s reign will be established and the people will follow His laws. But until that time, it is up to us to demonstrate to the world what it means to act justly and to love mercy. To stand up against oppression and abuse of those who cannot stand up for themselves. For as Proverbs 31:8-9 tells us,”Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all the unfortunate. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and defend the rights of the afflicted and needy.”
“Throughout history it has been the inaction of those who could have acted; the indifference of those who should have known better; the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most, that has made it possible for evil to triumph.”...Haile Selassie
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