204 The God Who Is Righteous
If asked to name the attributes of God’s character, most likely you’d say love, power, or wisdom. But the attribute mentioned more than any other in the Bible is His righteousness or justice. Here are a few examples:
“For the Lord is righteous and He loves justice.” Psalm 11:7
“Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and justice go before You.” Psalm 89:14
God is a righteous judge committed to perfect justice, and because He is, we can look at life differently.
Because God is righteous, I can be confident that He will right all wrongs and correct all inequities.
Notice the word “all.” No one will elude God’s judgment. The righteous judge saw what happened, and you will be vindicated.
Because God is righteous, I need to understand that justice is His responsibility while forgiveness is mine.
The Bible says, “Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.”(Rom. 12:19)
Justice is in God’s hands. But forgiveness is a gift you give yourself. To hold on to bitterness is to remain under the control of your offender. But forgiveness sets your soul free.
Back in the O.T., the Lord raised up prophets who were absolutely committed to God’s standard of justice. Time and again they spoke out against injustice, and more times than not, their words were not directed at those outside of Israel, but at God’s people.
One of these prophets was Micah. Specifically, he addressed the injustice of the wealthy using their power and position to seize the property of the poor.
Now if we have not personally faced a great deal of injustice, it’s easy for us to read the prophets like Micah and think, “What’s the big deal? There will always be injustice. It’s just the way things are.”
The big deal is that the God who is righteous cares deeply about the poor and is appalled at the injustice that all too often comes their way. Moreover, He thunders against the complacency of His people who merely shrug their shoulders and offer prayers of gratitude that they’re not the ones suffering.
God is making a profound point. Walking in His way isn’t simply defined by sinful behaviors that we don’t do. It’s also defined by righteous behaviors that we do. And nowhere is that kind of righteousness more needed than those living in the margins.
Because God is righteous and just, we who bear His name are called to share His passion and act on His behalf.
So, how am I supposed to respond to the injustice? In Micah 6:8, God makes it very clear.
“He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8
Act justly
“Acting justly” starts in small ways. How about freshly committing yourself to being a person of absolute truth and total integrity?
But it’s not to stop there. We have to look at the world around us and ask God, “Where do You want me to be an agent of justice?
Love mercy
Other translations use the word “kindness.” Kindness is love in action.
Walk humbly
To walk humbly before the God who is righteous is to act righteously without getting self-righteous.
Text: Micah 3:1-3, 8-12; 6:8
Originally recorded on October 24, 2010, at Fellowship Missionary Church, Fort Wayne, IN