Longing for Justice

Tuesday, December 2, 2025

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 42:1-9

One of the most recurring themes in the Bible is that of justice. We see God’s provisions in the Law. We read David’s cries in the Psalms. We hear the Israelites' laments throughout the prophets. We listen to Jesus’ teaching in the Gospels. God’s people are crying out for justice, then and now. Even the atheist can be known to yell, “That’s not fair!” We all want justice. 

Let’s focus a moment on earthly justice. Any comic book fan or epic moviegoer will tell you that the bad guys gotta lose and the good guys gotta win. This is the grand narrative that satisfies, because a sense of justice is innate. From where do we get this sense of “fairness”? If there is no objective standard of right and wrong, then ethics are essentially determined by whoever carries the bigger stick. Books have been written about this, so we can’t elaborate about objective morality here, but suffice it to say that we have a sense of justice because a just God created us. 

If you consider the whole counsel of Scripture, it cannot be denied that God will take up the cause of the oppressed.  I tremble at the thought of the judgment waiting for those who take advantage of those under His watchful eye. There are too many verses to list, but I hope you can hear His heart in these verses…

“The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed…” (Psalm 9:9 NIV)

“The Lord does justice for the fatherless and the oppressed…” (Psalm 10:18 NIV)

“The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed…” (Psalm 103:6 NIV)

While it is sometimes hard to live through the injustices of our world, we have been promised a conquering King who will set all things right. If you look at Israel’s history, they endured cycles of oppression and mistreatment. When they cried out to God, He promised them a future Messiah who would execute justice:

“With righteousness He will judge the needy, with justice He will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of His mouth; with the breath of his lips He will slay the wicked. Righteousness will be His belt and faithfulness the sash around His waist." (Isaiah 11:4-5 NIV)

“Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him;  He will bring forth justice to the nations… He will not grow faint or be discouraged till He has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for His law.” (Isaiah 42:1‭-4 NIV)

Mary recognizes this aspect of the Messiah in her womb when she lifts up her hymn of praise, what has become known as the Magnificat.

“He has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.” (Luke 1:52-55 NIV)

So I can see how Israel expected Jesus to overthrow Rome when He came. Bad guys gotta lose, and good guys gotta win, right? But He didn’t overthrow governments or eliminate robber barons. Perhaps, again, His ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts higher than our thoughts. Perhaps we need to revisit our definitions of “good” and “bad.” We will explore that more tomorrow. 

For today, find solace in knowing that God sees. He knows about the lies. He knows about the mistreatment. He will hold people accountable for how they have treated others. Jesus will return to execute perfect justice, take up the cause of the oppressed, and set all things right!

“And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” (Luke 18:7-8 NIV)