So, last night I went to get more ink...and now I've been permanently marked by justice. I had the Hebrew word for justice (mishpat) tattooed on my wrist. This word is very important to me and really defines my life's assignment from the Lord. Everything within me desires to be the hands and feet of the Lord to bring justice to those who God requires us to give it to. Here's a little bit about justice...
Just as love is the predominent idea of the New Testament so is justice the central ethical idea of the Old Testament. Most people think of justice only in regard to punishment, but that is only one small part of the Hebrew word mishpat. Through out the OT, justice is often times bringing freedom in some form or another to those who are oppressed or being exploited. Most always those being exploited are orphans and widows and aliens in the land.
Just as love is the predominent idea of the New Testament so is justice the central ethical idea of the Old Testament. Most people think of justice only in regard to punishment, but that is only one small part of the Hebrew word mishpat. Through out the OT, justice is often times bringing freedom in some form or another to those who are oppressed or being exploited. Most always those being exploited are orphans and widows and aliens in the land.
Deut 10:18 "He gives justice to orphans and widows. He shows love to the foreigners living among you and gives them food and clothing."
Psalm 146:6-9 "He is the one who made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. He is the one who keeps every promise forever, who gives justice to the
oppressed and food to the hungry. The Lord frees the prisoners. The Lord opens
the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts the burdens of those bent beneath their loads.
The Lord loves the righteous. The Lord protects the foreigners among us. He
cares for the orphans and widows, but he frustrates the plans of the wicked."
Job 29:12-17 "For I helped the poor in their need and the orphans who had no one to help them. I helped those who had lost hope, and they blessed me. And I caused the widows' hearts to sing for joy. All I did was just and honest. Righteousness covered me like a robe, and I wore justice like a turban. I served as eyes for the blind and feet for the lame. I was a father to the poor and made sure that even strangers received a fair trial. I broke the jaws of godless oppressors and made them release their victims."
Psalm 146:6-9 "He is the one who made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. He is the one who keeps every promise forever, who gives justice to the
oppressed and food to the hungry. The Lord frees the prisoners. The Lord opens
the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts the burdens of those bent beneath their loads.
The Lord loves the righteous. The Lord protects the foreigners among us. He
cares for the orphans and widows, but he frustrates the plans of the wicked."
Job 29:12-17 "For I helped the poor in their need and the orphans who had no one to help them. I helped those who had lost hope, and they blessed me. And I caused the widows' hearts to sing for joy. All I did was just and honest. Righteousness covered me like a robe, and I wore justice like a turban. I served as eyes for the blind and feet for the lame. I was a father to the poor and made sure that even strangers received a fair trial. I broke the jaws of godless oppressors and made them release their victims."
Justice means meeting the needs and taking care of the poor, the widow, the orphan and all who are oppressed. Often these groups are oppressed by our society and to do justice is to correct the abuses and meet their needs. "Injustice is depriving others of their basic needs or failing to correct matters when those rights are not met. Injustice is either a sin of commission or of
omission."
omission."
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