09/10/2024
September Month of Prayer – Week 2
This week, we are gaining our understanding about Justice from a couple of the Wisdom Books of the Bible: Psalms and Ecclesiastes.
Tuesday, September 10, 2024
Psalm 82:1-8 (The Message Translation)
Do you believe our current system of justice is equitable to all people?
In this psalm, God summons the human judges and asks them “How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked?” Verses 1 and 6 both establishes and limits the authority of the human judges because they are accountable to God. All are appointed by God and all are to act in his name, and by virtue of his commission.
How long will you judge unjustly? God calls together the assembly of judges, not to compliment them or pay them honor. God did it to confront them for judging unjustly. They have departed from God’s justice. God’s justice includes defending the poor and fatherless, the afflicted and needy. In verse 5, God exposes the weakness of the unjust judges stating that “they do not know, nor do they understand.”
In reflecting on the question for today, I do not believe our current system is equitable to those mentioned in this text (verses 4, 5). Despite their high standing in society, and often their high opinion of themselves, the judges (politicians, judicatories, federal and state governmental leaders) are often ignorant to the plight of those who they are called to serve and represent. There is a disconnect between the judges and those they are called to judge.
The unjust judges can be swayed and become corrupt by means of bribery, lobbying, extortion, nepotism and embezzlement to name a few. Just recently, Linda Sun was accused of using her high-ranking positions in state government to serve the interests of the Chinese government and the Chinese Communist Party in exchange for millions of dollars. Her husband, Chris Hu, was also arrested in the alleged scheme.
“When those who are given the privilege to represent God in the administration of justice fail, we must petition God to intervene and deliver the vulnerable We see the hand of God in the affairs of the vulnerable when we avail ourselves to be used as agents of God in acting justly to protect their rights and to preserve their human dignity.”
(Jean-Paul Agidi, minister of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana)
Let’s pause now and petition God to intervene and deliver the vulnerable.
Pastor Desiree
