Decent people care if someone has suffered a wrong. We agree that wrong and right, while maybe not as distinguishable as night and day in every situation, are clearly two different things. We desire resolution and restoration of relationships.

God knows this, of course. For those who accept Jesus as their Savior, our wrongs are washed away. But as we make our way in this world, He’s also given us a pattern to keep us from careless assessment of wrong.

The first five books of the Bible, the books of law, provide some direction. Leviticus, for instance, addresses something that confuses some Christians of late. In chapter 24 we find: “’Anyone who takes the life of a human being is to be put to death. Anyone who takes the life of someone’s animal must make restitution—life for life. Anyone who injures their neighbor is to be injured in the same manner: fracture for fracture, eye for eye, tooth for tooth. The one who has inflicted the injury must suffer the same injury. Whoever kills an animal must make restitution, but whoever kills a human being is to be put to death. You are to have the same law for the foreigner and the native-born. I am the Lord your God.’” 

God lays it out. Justice requires punishment and/or restitution. But He cautions us to punish only as far as the harm that was done. If someone takes out your eye, their eye is the price of that, no more, no less. So when we get confused about who should pay back what for a wrong done, we must remember that in essence God said, Go ahead. But don’t do something to someone who didn’t do it to you; or you, yourself, become the criminal. Don’t go beyond what was specifically done to specifically you, or you’ve gone too far.

Father,

When we face judgment, we’d rather have You be our judge than anyone else. Your judgments are right and pure and merciful. You know our back story and you see our intent. In our guilt, we feel safer with You than anyone else. And though it’s a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the living God, we’d still rather be there than anywhere else.

We are distressed with the trouble around us. Some want to take justice one step farther than the wrong committed. But You caution us to have equal scales. Help us to be like You, to measure with equal weights.

Jesus, You forgave those who killed you and You forgive us. We can do that, even if we find ourselves doing it over and over again. We can do that, because You do it for us far beyond description.

But when punishment is best meted out in order to discourage lawlessness, give us courage, discipline, and wisdom to match the harm done, but not go beyond nor make excuse and leave the guilty unpunished, therein allowing lawlessness to continue. Crush the evil belief of handing judgment to those who did not harm simply because of skin color or status or withholding judgment for the same reasons.

And forgive our nation for the evil of calling justice by any other name but Yours, for You are the lawgiver and You are the judge; and misdirecting righteousness into social this and social that leaves us with misplaced hurt, misguided hearts, and a misdirected understanding of Your character. And we love Who You are!

In Jesus Name,

Amen

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