Justice

Lord, I continue to ask for help. When will you listen to me? I cried to you about the violence, but you did nothing! People are stealing things and hurting others. They are arguing and fighting. Why do you make me look at these terrible things? The law is weak and not fair to people. Evil people win their fights against good people. So the law is no longer fair, and justice does not win anymore.

This is a prayer that I frequently pray.  Well, no, it’s not – that’s an untruth.  But doesn’t it sound so much like what we could be praying, considering the condition of our world today?  That’s actually quoted from Habakkuk 1:2-4 (ERV)  

Habakkuk was a prophet around 612 BC and was a contemporary of another well-known prophet at that time – Jeremiah.  At this time in history, Habakkuk along with Jeremiah and others are prophesying against their own people – trying to warn them of their fate.  It’s being prophesied that wicked, ruthless enemies (like Babylonia) are going to bring terrible punishment against God’s people as a result of their rebellion and sin.   

In the Bible* I use for my daily study, the narration introduction to the book of Habakkuk in part says this:  “…Habakkuk, poses the profound theological question which must nag at anyone who is seriously listening to the prophets…The question is this:  how can a righteous and holy God use a wicked nation like Babylonia to bring punishment against God’s own people, rebellious and sinful though they may be?…How can God permit the wicked to prosper, often at the expense of the righteous?”  Consequently, Habakkuk reaches out to God – the verses that I quoted above.

The continuing narration indication is that when God replies to Habakkuk, He doesn’t provide all the answers but addresses the main question:  “His answer is that evil, wherever it is found, always bears within it the seeds of its own destruction.    Judah’s sins have condemned it to inevitable destruction.  The particular agency by which that destruction comes is of no consequence.  The enemy may be a righteous or a wicked nation – it matters not.  But likewise, if the oppressors themselves are evil – as the Babylonians are – then they too will face their own destruction.  Only in righteousness is there life; sin always brings death.”           

So…this morning as I began my reading of Habakkuk, the narration introduction and the scripture passages caught my attention.  We see so much injustice around us today, yet it seems to flourish unabated.  I don’t know about you, but it gets frustrating for me and I wonder, as Habakkuk did so long ago, why?  Lord…why?

In reality, if we take a truly serious look around us, we can see that our country – which was founded on strong Judeo/Christian principles – has become a rebellious and sinful nation, lacking in those principles.  Corruption is everywhere.  Cheating, lying, greed, self-promotion, arrogance, antisemitism, prejudice against Christians, hatefulness, disrespect, depravation – the list could go on and on.  I don’t think any of that is pleasing to God.  We won’t win any stars for what’s going on.  We are digging a grave with our sinfulness.       

We also have to face the fact that it’s not only non-Christians that are behaving badly – there’s plenty of blame to spread around to Christians and our Jewish friends as well.  We’re as guilty as God’s very own people were back in the days of Habakkuk and Jeremiah! 

So what are we to do about it?  It’s something that every single one of us needs to be concerned about if there’s any chance of avoiding God’s judgment.  How can we stop the inevitable that is sure to come at some point?  (And…if you don’t think judgment falls on the good as well as the bad, you need to get into your Bible and study, because it does.)  

But, there is hope, if God-fearing people will do what they are called to do.  God said:  “At times I might shut up the heavens so that no rain falls, or command grasshoppers to devour your crops, or send plagues among you. Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.”  (2 Chronicles 7:13-14 NLT)  It doesn’t say – if all you sinful unbelievers will call on me – it calls for God’s people to reach out to Him.

The Lord spoke to Jeremiah (36:2b-3 CEV):  “Now, get a scroll and write down everything I have told you, then read it to the people of Judah. Maybe they will stop sinning when they hear what terrible things I plan for them. And if they turn back to me, I will forgive them.’”

When David had been saved from His enemies, this was his prayer – and it could easily be ours:  “I love you, Lord; you are my strength.  The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.  He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.  I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies.”  (Psalm 18:1-3 NLT)

So…God-fearing people everywhere, we must take our responsibilities seriously – if we want to try to salvage our nation from destruction – if we want to see good overtake evil – if we want to see peace reign and if we want to see all injustices return to justice once again.  We must stop waiting on someone else to do the job for us – that “someone else” is US!  It’s time to step up to the plate and assume our responsibilities.  We must humble ourselves, seek God’s face and step away from all the wicked in our lives.

I vote for JUSTICE – how about you?

Written by Karran Martin – August 3, 2024  

[All bold emphasis is mine]

*The Narrated Bible – narration by F. LaGard Smith