Category: justice

Who Will Not Fear You?

OLD TESTAMENT: Zephaniah 1

POETRY: Psalm 119:169-176

NEW TESTAMENT: Revelation 15

Zephaniah 1:14-16 (LEB):

“The great day of Yahweh is near,

near and coming very quickly.

The sound of the day of Yahweh is bitter;

the mighty man cries aloud there.

A day of wrath is that day,

a day of distress and anguish,

a day of ruin and devastation,

a day of darkness and gloom,

a day of clouds and thick darkness,

a day of trumpet blast and battle cry

against the fortified cities and against the lofty battlements.”

Psalm 119:169-176 (LEB):

“Let my cry come before you, O Yahweh;

give me understanding according to your word.

Let my supplication come before you;

deliver me according to your word.

My lips will pour forth praise,

for you teach me your statutes.

My tongue will sing of your word,

for all your commandments are right.

Let your hand be ready to help me,

for I have chosen your precepts.

I long for your salvation, O Yahweh,

and your law is my delight.

Let my soul live and praise you,

and let your rules help me.

I have gone astray like a lost sheep;

seek your servant,

for I do not forget your commandments.”

Revelation 15:3-4 (LEB):

“And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God,

and the song of the Lamb, saying,

‘Great and amazing are your deeds,

O Lord God the Almighty!

Just and true are your ways,

O King of the nations!

Who will not fear, O Lord,

and glorify your name?

For you alone are holy.

All nations will come and worship you,

for your righteous acts have been revealed.'”

The prophet Zephaniah opens with a solemn warning of the coming Day of Yahweh, a day characterized by divine judgment. The imagery of darkness, anguish, and distress serves as a powerful reminder of the seriousness of God’s justice. For those who reject His ways, this day brings fear and despair.

Yet, within this stark portrayal lies a call to repentance and an invitation to seek refuge in God. While Zephaniah emphasizes God’s wrath, it is important to remember that His justice is always intertwined with His mercy. In moments of turmoil and judgment, we are reminded of our need for God’s grace and guidance. This day of reckoning compels us to reflect on our own lives, ensuring that we align our hearts with God’s will.

In Psalm 119, the psalmist expresses a deep longing for God’s guidance and salvation. His heartfelt cry for understanding echoes the sentiment of Zephaniah—a recognition of human frailty and the need for divine intervention. The psalmist’s desire to follow God’s commandments illustrates the importance of aligning our lives with His truth.

As he pleads for deliverance and praises God’s statutes, we see the relationship between our obedience and God’s faithfulness. In our own lives, we are invited to seek God’s understanding and mercy, especially when we feel lost or astray. This passage reassures us that, even in our wandering, God is attentive to our cries, ready to respond with love and grace.

Revelation 15 presents a scene of worship in heaven, where the redeemed sing the song of Moses and the Lamb. This song celebrates God’s greatness, justice, and holiness. The acknowledgment of His righteous acts inspires awe and reverence, uniting all nations in worship.

In the midst of judgment, the song of the Lamb reminds us that God’s mercy prevails. The ultimate act of redemption through Christ is the source of our hope and assurance. As we reflect on our journey, we are invited to join in this eternal song, declaring God’s majesty and righteousness. The assurance of His salvation empowers us to face the trials of this world with faith and courage.

-Jeff Ransom

Reflection Questions:

How does the imagery of the Day of Yahweh in Zephaniah challenge your understanding of God’s justice and mercy?

In what ways can you seek God’s understanding and guidance in your daily life, especially during challenging times?

Reflect on the psalmist’s desire for salvation and obedience. How can you cultivate a deeper love for God’s commandments in your life?

What does it mean for you to sing the song of the Lamb in your everyday life? How can you express your worship and gratitude for His redemption?

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Seeking God, His Justice and His Victory

OLD TESTAMENT: Habakkuk 1

POETRY: Psalm 119:145-152

NEW TESTAMENT: Revelation 12

Habakkuk 1:2-4 (LEB):

“How long, O Yahweh, must I cry for help,

and you do not listen?

I cry out to you, ‘Violence!’

and you do not save.

Why do you make me see iniquity,

and why do you look idly at wrongdoing?

Destruction and violence are before me;

strife and contention arise.

Therefore the law is paralyzed,

and justice never goes forth;

for the wicked surround the righteous;

therefore justice comes out perverted.”

Psalm 119:145-152 (LEB):

“I cry out with my whole heart; answer me, O Yahweh!

I will observe your statutes.

I cry out to you; save me,

that I may keep your testimonies.

I rise before dawn and cry for help;

I hope in your words.

My eyes are awake before the watches of the night,

that I may meditate on your promise.

Hear my voice according to your steadfast love;

O Yahweh, according to your justice give me life.

They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose;

they are far from your law.

But you are near, O Yahweh,

and all your commandments are true.

Long have I known from your testimonies

that you have founded them forever.”

Revelation 12:10-11 (LEB):

“And I heard a loud voice in heaven saying,

‘Now the salvation and the power

and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come,

for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down,

who accuses them day and night before our God.

And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb

and by the word of their testimony,

for they loved not their lives even unto death.'”

The book of Habakkuk begins with a profound sense of lament and confusion. The prophet cries out to God, questioning why He seems silent in the face of injustice and violence. Habakkuk’s raw honesty reflects the struggles many of us face when we encounter suffering, evil, and a lack of justice in the world. He sees the wicked prospering while the righteous suffer, and he cannot understand why God allows this.

In our own lives, we may find ourselves in similar situations—crying out to God for answers, feeling like our prayers go unheard as we witness injustice. Yet, Habakkuk’s cry serves as a reminder that it is okay to bring our questions and struggles before God. He desires honesty in our relationship with Him.

In Psalm 119, the psalmist embodies a similar urgency in seeking God. He cries out with his whole heart for God to answer him, showing a deep reliance on God’s word and a yearning for His guidance. The psalmist acknowledges the darkness around him and the threat from those who persecute him, but he clings to the truth that God’s commandments are near and true.

This passage emphasizes the importance of persistent prayer and meditation on God’s promises, especially when we face trials. The psalmist rises early and stays awake at night, seeking the Lord’s assurance and strength. It is in these moments of desperation that we must remember God’s steadfast love and justice. The psalmist’s faith is rooted in the belief that God is near, and His promises endure forever.

Revelation 12 offers a powerful proclamation of victory amid the spiritual battle that believers face. The voice from heaven announces the establishment of God’s kingdom and the defeat of the accuser, the one who brings charges against God’s people. Through the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony, believers conquer the enemy, demonstrating that faith in Christ triumphs over every accusation and hardship.

This passage assures us that even in the face of persecution and struggle, we have the victory through Christ. The acknowledgment that the accuser has been thrown down is a reminder that God’s justice prevails. As we navigate our own trials, we can hold on to the assurance that Christ has already won the battle for us.

-Jeff Ransom

Reflection Questions:

In what areas of your life do you feel like God is silent in the face of injustice? How can you bring these concerns to Him honestly?

How does the psalmist’s commitment to prayer and meditation inspire you to seek God more fervently in your own life?

What does it mean for you to conquer through the blood of the Lamb and the word of your testimony? How can you share your story of God’s faithfulness with others?

Reflect on the assurance that God’s kingdom is established and that the accuser has been defeated. How does this truth impact your daily walk with Christ?

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Righteously Seeking

OLD TESTAMENT: Isaiah 55 & 56

POETRY: Psalm 109

NEW TESTAMENT: James 5:1-6

Isaiah 55:6-7 (LEB):

“Seek Yahweh while he lets himself be found;

call him while he is near.

Let the wicked forsake his way,

and the unrighteous man his thoughts.

Let him return to Yahweh, that he may take pity on him,

and to our God, for he will forgive manifold.”

Psalm 109:26-27 (LEB):

“Help me, O Yahweh my God;

save me according to your loyal love,

that they may know that this is your hand,

that you, O Yahweh, you have done it.”

James 5:1-3 (LEB):

“Come now, you rich people, weep and cry aloud over the miseries that are coming upon you! Your wealth has rotted, and your clothing has become moth-eaten. Your gold and your silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be a witness against you, and it will consume your flesh like fire. You have stored up treasure in the last days!”

Isaiah 55 invites us to seek the Lord while He is near, to forsake wicked ways and return to God, who is merciful and willing to forgive. God’s invitation is open to all—both Jew and Gentile—as He extends grace and compassion to those who humbly come to Him. Isaiah 56 continues this theme of inclusion, as God promises blessings to all who keep His covenant, including foreigners and those who may have felt excluded from God’s promises.

These chapters reveal God’s heart for justice and righteousness. His call is for people to not only seek Him but also to live according to His ways. This invitation is urgent—God’s mercy is abundant, but it requires repentance and a genuine return to Him.

Psalm 109 is a cry for justice in the midst of betrayal and opposition. The psalmist calls out to God to deliver him from enemies who have falsely accused and wronged him. Though the psalm contains strong language against those who seek his harm, the underlying message is a deep trust in God’s justice.

The psalmist does not take revenge into his own hands but instead pleads for God’s intervention: “Help me, O Yahweh my God; save me according to your loyal love” (Psalm 109:26). This is a reminder for us to trust in God’s righteous judgment, even when we face injustice. God sees the wrongs committed against us, and He is faithful to act on behalf of His people.

James 5 issues a sharp warning to the wealthy who have exploited others and hoarded riches unjustly. The rich are warned that their wealth will decay and testify against them in the final judgment. James condemns the unjust actions of those who have accumulated wealth at the expense of others, particularly the laborers they have oppressed. He highlights the gravity of injustice and the destructive consequences of placing wealth above righteousness.

This passage calls us to examine our own hearts and actions. Are we prioritizing wealth and success over righteousness and justice? Are we treating others with fairness and compassion, or are we focused on accumulating earthly treasures? James’ words remind us that God values justice, and the way we treat others is a reflection of our relationship with Him.

This week, take time to reflect on the call in Isaiah 55-56 to seek the Lord and walk in His ways. Trust in God’s justice as expressed in Psalm 109, and examine your life in light of James 5’s warning against greed and exploitation. Let God’s Word guide you toward righteousness, justice, and mercy as you live out your faith.

-Jeff Ransom

Reflection Questions:

In what areas of your life do you need to seek the Lord and turn away from sinful thoughts or actions?

How can you grow in your trust of God’s justice when you face opposition or injustice from others?

Are there ways in which you might be prioritizing wealth or success over righteousness and justice? How can you refocus your heart and actions toward God’s kingdom values?

How can you actively seek justice and fairness in your relationships and community, reflecting God’s concern for the oppressed?

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Your Perfect Parent

Old Testament: 2 Chronicles 11 & 12

Poetry: Psalm 94

New Testament: 2 Thessalonians 1

Key verses: Psalm 94:18-19 – “If I should say, “My foot has slipped,” Your lovingkindness, O LORD, will hold me up. When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul.”

            Psalm 94 uses some harsh language at the start of the Psalm. To start, the psalmist calls God “God of Vengeance” and is asking God to let His vengeance come down on the wicked. The psalmist also calls upon God to have judgment upon those who are proud. This Psalm calls upon God’s justice against the wicked. It even ends with saying that God will destroy the wicked because of their sin. This paints a rather harsh and commanding picture of God’s character. This is similar to Psalm 7 where it displays that God will sharpen His sword against those who do not repent. In today’s reading from 2 Chronicles, it shows that God sent Egypt to rise up against King Rehoboam due to his sinful ways.  

We like to focus on viewing God as our compassionate father who is loving and overflowing with grace, but in the Psalm you read today and in 2 Chronicles 12 that isn’t the same picture. How can both be true?

You can understand this through the fact that God’s perfect plan for each of us is that we choose to dedicate our life to Him. He desires our hearts and calls us to be faithful to His teachings. God has laid out a clear way of how we can live righteously. In Old Testament prophets, you can see God calling His people to follow Him with their full hearts time and time again. Then again in the New Testament He sent His son to teach us the same lessons of following God with our hearts and our lives. Just like any parent, God has set boundaries for His children to follow. When those boundaries aren’t followed, there will be punishment. You saw that today in 2 Chronicles 12. Rehoboam turned away from God and did evil, so Egypt came as a punishment for the choices Rehoboam made. In Psalm 94, the psalmist calls upon God to judge those who are not following the boundaries God has set for His people. 

As new parents, my husband and I have started to navigate what it means to correct a child when they make the wrong choice or push the boundaries we have set. With a two year old, every day is a constant battle of learning that he can’t be independent like he wants to be and he can’t have his way all of the time. It’s a tough lesson for a two year old to learn! That lesson is taught by Cameron and I as his parents. Sometimes it means gentle reminders while other times he ends up in time out or losing a privilege that was about to happen. We as parents would be failing him if we didn’t stick to our clear boundaries and allowed him to do whatever he wanted. He would end up running into the street, not being buckled in his carseat, or trying to drink vinegar! All of those things would cause him harm and so as parents we must help guide and protect him from that harm. God is doing the same thing with His people. He has set boundaries that will allow people to have the gracious gift of eternal life. His justice is enacting the rules He has put in place like any parent should do for their child. 

You might be wondering why I have the key verses as something seemingly different from the theme of this devotional. Those two verses are the hope we as believers have because God is our gracious and loving father. The psalmist went into what happens when we don’t follow God’s rules and boundaries but there’s hope for those who do. You have someone to run to when times get tough. When it feels like the world is trying to pull you down, you have a great God who is ready to lend you a hand. Yes you should recognize that choosing to not follow God will have bad results, but when you actively dedicate your life to Him, what a great hope you can have. He will be present with you as you walk along in this life and He has promised the return of His son to usher in an eternal and perfect kingdom for you to partake in. 

-Makenna Landry

Reflection:

  1. What do you know about the God of justice and vengeance? What do you know about the God of love? How do these both work together from the same Almighty and Sovereign God?
  2. Describe what you have learned from your parents’ parenting style. Did you have a compassionate father who disciplined? Why would a compassionate Heavenly Father discipline? How did your parents comfort you?
  3. What is one way that God has brought you comfort when the world tries to get you down?
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A God of Justice

Old Testament: Amos 5 & 6

Poetry: Psalm 73

New Testament: Luke 13:10-35

Justice is a solid theme throughout the book of Amos. Through the prophet Amos, God is pronouncing judgement upon Israel and neighboring nations. He first announces why said nation is being punished, and then warns of the coming consequences. It stood out to me how God cast judgment upon the same nations he would also be defending. For example, in Amos 1:12, the people of Edom are to be punished for crimes committed against Israelites. In 2:1, Moabites are punished for having desecrated the bones of Edom’s king. In later chapters, Israel is being punished for idolatry. God’s justice reigns. 

Whether a group was victimized or guilty, God did not let wrongs go unnoticed. 

God is a God of compassion and mercy, but he is also just. It can be difficult for us to fully comprehend how these attributes coexist, but that is because we are understanding these concepts in mere human terms. To simply put, God has a God brain, and we, with our human brain, will never be able to fully understand how God works through both grace and justice. Fortunately, we don’t need to know the how in order to believe He does. 

Everyone experiences injustice in their lives. Whether large scale injustice like racism or sexism, to smaller personal injustices within relationships and friend groups. No matter the severity, God is aware of them all. It is the smaller injustices I want to address, today. 

When our feelings are hurt, when lies or gossip has been spread about us, when we are betrayed by people we trust, we feel robbed and empty. We want someone to hear our side of the story. If we’re honest with ourselves, we really aren’t looking for God to rain down fire upon the guilty individual(s). Usually, all we really want is an apology. But there are some situations in which we will never get this. This can hurt, so deeply. I know. I’m in a situation like that now. 

If you’re like me, dealing with a relational injustice, you probably aren’t wishing terrible horrible judgment upon said person. You are probably just wanting closure or a chance to be heard. Take comfort in today’s reading. God is a God of justice, one who rights wrongs. While I may never get the respect I deserve, or the chance to rewrite the narrative believed about me, God knows, and God sees. In these cases, punishment need not necessarily occur in order for us to feel justified. The fact the LORD knows and sees can be justice enough.

~ Emilee Ross

(originally posted July 10, 2020 for SeekGrowLove)

Reflection Questions

  1. Amos 6:12 says: “But you have turned justice into poison and the fruit of righteousness into bitterness”. What might this look like?
  2. Justice is important to God. How does He show justice?
  3. How can you work to establish justice?
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