Jeremiah 9:23-24 " 'Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom. Let not the mighty man boast in his might. Nor let the rich man boast in his riches; But let him who boasts, boast in this: 'That he understands and knows Me; that I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these, I delight,' says the LORD."
Do you understand and know God? Do you hold to justice and righteousness no matter who it is for or against? Do your views of those things depend on culture, viral videos, or maybe the news media stirring you up? Are your thoughts on justice and righteousness in line with Scripture? Have you considered those questions separate from race, politics, or selfish ambition?
Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, in Exodus 18, brought Moses' wife and sons to him when Israel arrived in the wilderness. The news of all God had done up to this point reached Jethro. When he came, Moses shared all God had done, and Jethro rejoiced in God. God would use Jethro the next day to help Moses set up a justice system to unite the nation. Even before God will set up His law for the people (Exodus 19-20), there was a justice system. It was necessary to hear the people, so Moses spent all day hearing their cases. God would use Jethro to help ease the process instead of destroying the system. The timing of Jethro's visit and what he'd recognize as destructive to Moses and offer help to better the system, I believe, was God's intervention because justice and righteousness were and are God's standard for the earth (the land).
Then God told Moses to prepare or consecrate the people "If you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation." The Lord gave Moses the law that was to be given to the people He'd offer this kingdom to. Justice was an intricate part of the law. Parts outlined (Exodus 23) in the justice system for Israel were not circulating false reports, not following the crowd to do evil, not stealing, not murdering, staying away from false matters, and not bribing anyone to pervert the words of the righteous. Many laws helped Israel live righteously before God and just among the community.
After giving Israel all they needed to succeed as a nation that upheld justice and righteousness in the land, they continued to neglect these weightier matters. In Isaiah 5, God rebukes them for ritualistic worship. In 5:7, the prophet decries on God's behalf, "For the vineyard of the LORD of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are HIs pleasant plants. He looked for justice, but behold oppression; For righteousness, but behold, a cry for help." In the Old Testament, you can read passages about God's care of His people through those charged to offer justice. He set up justice through trade and fair scales. He demanded the care of orphans, widows, and strangers that passed through the land. It goes on and on.
As we enter the New Testament, the leaders of Israel would continue to walk according to the law, but they still neglected justice and righteousness. Matthew 23:23 Jesus would rebuke the Scribes and Pharisees as hypocrites. "For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law; justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done without leaving the others undone." Jesus was not rebuking the tithe. They were still obligated to it under the law. He was telling them those rituals would be more sincere if they loved their neighbor as themselves by being just and showing mercy. Throughout the Scripture, Justice, Righteousness, Mercy, and Faith are hand in hand or intertwined for true love and obedience to God.
Paul and Peter write to the Church and address the governing authorities and what God has set them up to do. This is where the fine print must be read. Unfortunately, so many leaders in today's church believe governing authorities have complete authority by God unless it is antithetical to God. That is not what these passages address. Sadly, so many have allowed the government to tell them how to do life, which is not the fine print. The fine print is no different than what was laid out for Israel in their days as God's kingdom people, to "live justly, love mercy and walk humbly with God."
Let's begin with Paul's epistle to the Roman church in chapter 13. He commands the church to be subject to the governing authorities. He says, "There is no authority except from God." Most people conflate that to say God has set up this authority. However, it is saying the governing authority's power that is set up comes from God. But then we must ask, "What is that power or authority?" Paul does not neglect to answer that question. In verse 3, we find the answer, "For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God's minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil." Are you reading the fine print? Do you see the governing authority's authority? It's there.
Peter addresses the same issue with the same conclusions. In his first epistle, chapter 2:13 "Therefore, submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme, or to governors, as to those who he sends for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good." Again, the fine print is clear if people choose to continue reading and not stop at the first command to "submit yourselves to every..."
We see the authority set up to govern people, as in Israel, is to carry out justice. The authority God has given is to protect the righteous or law-abiding and to prosecute evil-doers. Upholding justice is the fine print. There is no authority to demand people put things in their bodies, stay home forever, or all the other overstepping the governments worldwide do. The righteous should not live in fear of the governing authorities, as Peter says. When we do, we can say the government has crossed over what God has given them authority to do. Today, our government is attempting to put the fear of them in the hearts of the American people. They prosecute the righteous and neglect to hold to account the evildoers. That does foment God's wrath. If you continue to read Jeremiah, God's wrath came against Israel and Judah for these reasons. When we forget God, we will abandon His commands and bow to idols at the expense of others too.
We are not the first to live under a government that has overstepped its bounds. Jesus also lived in a time when Israel's leaders did the same. We can go back and read the Sermon on the Mount and the redirection Jesus gives on the law. The ritual was needed, but the heart of the ritual was more important. God set up justice in the sacrificial system. He did not expect everyone could offer the same offerings. He gave opportunities for poor people to bring more affordable sacrifices. He was looking for hearts that loved him and then loved others. He sought justice and righteousness in the land, not to set up hardships for the people. Something that was missing in Israel most of their time as His holy nation. Hardship was a way of life for the orphan and widow. This is what happens when justice is missing, and mercy is mitigated. It was even missing when Jesus walked on Earth.
Justice and Righteousness are so important to God that He set them up from the beginning. We see it when he handled Cain after he murdered his brother Abel. We can read of justice, righteousness, and mercy throughout the Old Testament. We see it in the New Testament, as well.
We are offered an examination in the Jeremiah passage. Yes, the examination is ours to make because the New Testament speaks of Justice and Righteousness as part of the life of a follower of Jesus. According to Paul and Peter, it is important to God that the fine print for our governing authorities be followed. It is to uphold justice in the land they "rule" over, even in a Democracy and a Constitutional Republic. Remember what Jeremiah says, " 'For in these I delight, ' says the LORD." Who are those in whom the LORD delights? Those who understand and know that the LORD exercises lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness in the land. He wants nothing less from those who love and obey him.
He has set up these criteria in the land from the beginning, through Israel, and for His Kingdom through the church. He has set up a system of governance on earth that leaders would carry out the same. He expects it from those who don't even know him. That is the authority he has set up. You must read the fine print to understand and know this is what God wants. If you understand this and live it out, you can know ( to know is not mental understanding alone, but practice) God delights in you.
Now that you know the fine print, pray that God will help American citizens to desire what God wants. He hasn't destroyed us, so there is still hope. Go back and read it; not only is it justice, righteousness, and mercy that He exercises. Praise Him for mercy. We need it. Praise Him also for those who uphold justice and righteousness, for it is in them God delights.
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