Scepter of Justice
God is a just God. He is compassionate and all His ways are to make things in right alignment with His righteous plans.
"Now Zelophehad...had no sons but only daughters...They went to Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders and said, “The Lord commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our relatives...So Joshua gave them an inheritance along with the brothers of their father, according to the Lord’s command. The people of Joseph said to Joshua, “Why have you given us only one allotment and one portion for an inheritance? We are a numerous people, and the Lord has blessed us abundantly...Joshua said to the tribes of Joseph—to Ephraim and Manasseh—“You are numerous and very powerful. You will have not only one allotment but the forested hill country as well. Clear it, and its farthest limits will be yours; though the Canaanites have chariots fitted with iron and though they are strong, you can drive them out.””
Joshua 17:3-4, 14, 16-18
How would you respond if you blessed people and gave them a large inheritance only for them to ask for more? How would you respond to the people who said that they were owed an inheritance as part of the community even though the laws that were written did not entitle the people to a portion? These are the questions that came from this text and shine a light on the justice of God. God makes things right.
What would happen if we used the same approach to all of our decisions? Rather than asking the question of whether something might be beneficial or profitable, what if we asked if it was just? We live in a world that can favor injustice. We live in a world where people can seek every advantage regardless of whether it harms relationships. God is a just God and He wants us to learn to do what is just and right. We all have an innate sense of right and wrong, but we have do face times of tension when there is a cost to doing what is right.
“Hear my prayer, O God; listen to the words of my mouth. Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me. I will sacrifice a freewill offering to you; I will praise your name, Lord, for it is good. You have delivered me from all my troubles"
Psalms 54:1-2, 4, 6-7
If you were raised in a home with other siblings you undoubtedly had times where you cried out to your parents as the authorities to step in and administer justice. It is important to have someone you can call on when you need help. David says he calls on God because God is the one who delivers him from all troubles. How could you use God's help today? Where do you need to know that God hears you?
David certainly did not live a trouble-free life. He had countless times where he needed God to give him the strength to fight the battle and make a way. The idea of being delivered from all troubles, is not a statement that he got to a place of no troubles ever. More likely, David is keeping the scope of the pressures he faces to a single day. He is narrowing his focus and saying God you have delivered me today. I know more troubles will come in the future, but I am not going to spend time thinking about tomorrow's troubles. Maintaining justice is much harder than establishing justice because there will be troubles that come that are unjust.
Jesus taught us to learn to have enough faith to overcome the troubles of one day, this day. He said tomorrow will have troubles, but take heart I have overcome. He promises that He will be with us every step of the way and has a plan to help carry us through tomorrow's cares. Are you spending any time thinking about tomorrow's troubles rather than keeping your focus on how God has delivered you through today?
"Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away...my own vineyard is mine to give"
Song of Songs 8:6-7, 12, 14
What would the best relationship look like with God? How can you maintain a just relationship when God is perfect and we are not? God calls us to be faithful and devoted to Him. He calls us to obey and follow His ways. The hard part is we are human and will have times we fall short. When we do, justice requires something to balance the scales of harm done by sin.
Fortunately, there is something stronger than sin and that is the grace of God. The way we are able to keep the relationship with God just is through abiding in Jesus. He is the one that sets things right and seals our hearts. The bible recounts many times when the jealousy of God burned like fire. The imagery in this text sounds prophetic when you consider how Jesus overcame the grave and the love of Christ was proven to be stronger than death. Jesus takes care of the just requirement and invites us to choose to give Him our hearts. He does the heavy lifting, but we have a part to play in by sealing our hearts to Him.
“Hear this word...I gave you empty stomachs in every city and lack of bread in every town, yet you have not returned to me,” declares the Lord...I overthrew some of you as I overthrew Sodom and Gomorrah. You were like a burning stick snatched from the fire, yet you have not returned to me...prepare to meet your God...He who forms the mountains, who creates the wind, and who reveals his thoughts to mankind, who turns dawn to darkness, and treads on the heights of the earth— the Lord God Almighty is his name.”
Amos 4:1-2, 6-7, 9, 11-13
There is an insurance term that is used to describe natural disasters called acts of God. Sometimes these claims are not covered because they are seen as events that could not have been prevented. The text in Amos describes times where there are acts of God that occur in response to people going through own way and abandoning God.
The central question is why do these occur? Is God trying to punish the people for their wicked ways? No. God is a just God and would be justified in sending disasters upon the unfaithful. God's own words ask the question as to why the people did not turn to God when things beyond their control happened. He is saying that the just response to what the people see would be restored relationship. God's goal is redemption and salvation for all people. He wants to be united and see us live with daily dependence on Him. Have you ever experienced God using a time of hardship to draw you closer to Him?
“In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven...Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has set you above your companions by anointing you with the oil of joy.” He also says, “In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?”
Hebrews 1:1-3, 8-10, 14
Paul gives us insights into how Jesus brings justice to our lives. He says that His kingdom is ruled by the scepter of justice and that He loves righteousness. What can we learn from this and how does it help inform how we live? Paul says that Jesus was there at the beginning and He laid the foundations of the earth. Paul brings things back to the earliest times because he is showing how Jesus is bringing things back to God's divine design.
We were never meant to live apart from God. We were not meant to listen to the snake or fight each other like Cain and Abel. We live in a world that has been corrupted by sin, selfishness, and greed. How does Paul's teaching help us live in right alignment with Him? He reminds us to follow the ways of Jesus over the ways of the world.
We can see evidence in Jesus' very teachings. Jesus said it is better to give than receive. Generosity breaks the chains of greed on our heart. Jesus said it is better to humble yourself than be prideful. Humility seeks to build others up. Pride seeks to get whatever it can at whatever the cost. There is nothing wrong with being like the daughters Zelophehad who asked for their rightful inheritance. Theirs was not selfishness nor pride, theirs was a right expectation that God would provide out of the relationship they had with Him in the community they lived. What are you asking God for today? If you receive what you ask for, will it help you love better and administer justice to those in need of help? The blessings we receive are always meant to be received in light of how they can bless others around us.
We should walk with the same expectation. It is good to seek God and ask for what you believe is yours as a child of God as long as it is done for the glory of God and used for the kingdom of God. Jesus ushered in a new justice. A new scepter that set us free from the price that should be paid. He did this that we might be so full of gratitude that we would become compassionate with how we treat each other. Jesus changed our thinking from the golden rule to the platinum rule of justice. The golden rule taught that we should love our neighbor as ourselves. The platinum rule teaches us to love others as they want to be loved according to God's just and perfect teaching.