The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Exodus 23:3,
"... do not show favoritism to a poor person in a lawsuit"
In this verse the Lord tells Moses to not grant a person partiality in court simply because he or she might be poor. Partiality has no place in the courtroom. Justice is not really just if favor is extended to anyone-- justice is to be blind. The Lord knows there are those who might pervert the cause of justice to make amends for circumstances not having anything to do with the business at hand in a courtroom.
The Lord certainly is not picking on the poor. Two verses later he tells Moses, "Do not deny justice to your poor people in their lawsuits." While this direction focuses on what we would call civil law, it would certainly apply to criminal law as well.
The book of Proverbs talks about justice and provides us guidance, "Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent— the Lord detests them both." Proverbs 17:15. It is equally a miscarriage of justice to fail to convict a guilty person as it is to convict an innocent person.
When it comes to outcomes of justice, some might prefer to end the practice of capital punishment to prevent the possibility of executing an innocent person by mistake. This misses the point of justice. An appeal to determine the appropriateness of penalties for violating law should be made to the Scriptures, and not predicated on the veracity of justice itself. This is why justice is such an extremely important business.
"... do not show favoritism to a poor person in a lawsuit"
In this verse the Lord tells Moses to not grant a person partiality in court simply because he or she might be poor. Partiality has no place in the courtroom. Justice is not really just if favor is extended to anyone-- justice is to be blind. The Lord knows there are those who might pervert the cause of justice to make amends for circumstances not having anything to do with the business at hand in a courtroom.
The Lord certainly is not picking on the poor. Two verses later he tells Moses, "Do not deny justice to your poor people in their lawsuits." While this direction focuses on what we would call civil law, it would certainly apply to criminal law as well.
The book of Proverbs talks about justice and provides us guidance, "Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent— the Lord detests them both." Proverbs 17:15. It is equally a miscarriage of justice to fail to convict a guilty person as it is to convict an innocent person.
When it comes to outcomes of justice, some might prefer to end the practice of capital punishment to prevent the possibility of executing an innocent person by mistake. This misses the point of justice. An appeal to determine the appropriateness of penalties for violating law should be made to the Scriptures, and not predicated on the veracity of justice itself. This is why justice is such an extremely important business.
I might point out that those who reject the Scriptures have absolutely no basis for determining the appropriateness of various punishments for crime. I think that is why we see criminals today being punished by whatever the popular whim of the people might be at a given time. (Remember "three strikes and you are out"?)
Oh, and "social justice"? That is not about justice at all. lt is only about political domination and the grasping of power. It is stunning to me how many churches and denominations have adopted the language of such political groups. How about we all get back to our Bibles?
Real justice requires the conviction and punishment of the guilty as well as the exoneration of the innocent - and no one is to be afforded favoritism.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know. A blog with all my posts can be found here: http://worshipfortoday.blogspot.com/
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know. A blog with all my posts can be found here: http://worshipfortoday.blogspot.com/
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