EXODUS 23:1-9 JUSTICE AND MERCY A lot of difficulty and heart-break can be the result of hearing and passing on to others false reports and gossip. For some malicious reason, some people initiate lies hoping to undermine the credibility of another person. Envy on the part of the Jewish leadership was the reason the words of Jesus were distorted and misrepresented. He did not say He was going to destroy the Temple. He had said to them, "Destroy (other people) this temple (His own body)" and He would raise it up in three days. This is what actually happened. Slander, false witnessing and gossip can affect families by setting one member against another. To misrepresent a person's words, to use them out of the context in which they were given, can create problems with neighbors and friends. False testimony and lies in court cause the justice system great problems because so much time has to be spent seeking out the truth before a fair decision can be made. To agree to deception puts both parties on an equal basis of condemnation. It is our responsibility to stop a false rumor or a lie rather than to pass it along to others.
Justice is often perverted when a rich person is being judged. At the same time a sympathetic disposition to the poor man's cause is wrong also. The whole point of judging a matter is that impartial justice be carried out without being pressured by those around. Fairness means we treat rich and poor alike when determining a just conclusion to a matter. Twisting justice only creates more problems that will complicate the lives of all involved.
A startling new instruction was given in the law. Be kind to your enemies. This was very unusual in that day because revenge was considered the way to deal with those who came against you in any way. Even though a person may be hostile towards you, the laws of fairness and kindness apply. If property such as an animal of an enemy was lost and you found it, you were to return it to the owner. If you see a problem and you are in a position to give aid, you must give it. It is important that we all learn not to return evil for evil. Even if evil is spoken against you, to respond with gracious words will show the reality of your Christian testimony and faith in God. There are some things we stay away from knowing that God knows all that is behind a matter and will deal in justice or mercy as He sees fit. Our responsibility is to stay away from anything that is evil.
The problem associated with receiving a gift from another person is you may be expected to change your opinion or form your words differently to bring condemnation on another person. Bribes given to those in authority pervert justice and undermine the whole purpose of laws. To maintain one's integrity, any leverage imposed by the gift or bribe of another person, must be rejected. Judgment and justice should be carried out without respecting any person or accepting any favors. Justice is depicted in a statue as a blindfolded woman with a sword in one hand and a scale in the other. This shows visibly the need of wisdom and discernment in making decisions and the willingness to carry out justice in a fair way to prevent further transgressions of the law.
Prejudice is another issue among God's people that has to be faced. It can lead to oppression and unfairness towards deserving people and increasing trouble for them to live in peace and quietness. We are to be sympathetic towards those who live among us who are far from home. It is important that we do not discriminate against the strangers and aliens because we were once strangers and aliens ourselves. Compassion for the strangers is to be our response to their need. Enduring affliction from the circumstances they are in is enough. The strangers should not have to endure it from us. Our role is to comfort and aid those in need and seek to enter into their situation that we may make it easier for them and be able to help them.
I know there are problems in life to be faced, And some of them cannot be solved. But when I remember how God showed me grace. Then I cannot help but be involved. The ones caused by words that misrepresent, Are ones I must always avoid. Those generally come from someone who sent, False testimony and with the truth have toyed.
There may be those who I do not know, And they hope I will make mistakes and fail. My responsibility is that God's grace will show In my life no matter what that entails. I may need to give my enemy a hand, To overcome some special problem he has. It doesn't have to be something so grand, I may be seen only by God's eyes.
When I see needs it is my obligation, To seek ways those needs can be met. To fulfill them will require my concentration, So, a bitter spirit or debt I will forget. The objective of justice is to do what is right, That all involved may be able to live in peace. Most good that is done will be done out of sight, When no one but the eyes of God really see.
There will be those who come into my life, Whose situations I cannot ignore. Instead of looking at it as someone else's plight, I can see that as an opened door,
Through efforts put forth to make life easier, For someone who is having a hard time. Strangers, orphans - the widows need one to feed her, And the privilege of meeting that need is mine.
"Father, may I never overlook some needy person or avoid some situation where I can honor Thee by showing mercy and doing justly. If it please Thee and be according to Thy purposes, use this vessel of clay to hold some glory and honor for Thee. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."