Can you believe that!?
Where were the police!?
Driving home from a Christmas gathering with friends, I let our car coast down a long hill as we approached an intersection. In my rear-view mirror flashing lights appeared; I had coasted too fast. I hoped the officer would only give me a warning, not a speeding ticket.
I think my examples are typical. We most often want justice when we know that someone else has broken the law. But, for ourselves, we want to be an exception to justice. We want mercy.
Justice means that everyone gets what they deserve. The punishment fits the crime. Appropriate consequences follow sin. Wrongdoing is not swept under the rug (ignored). Related words are: fairness, equity and vengeance.
Mercy means that you do not get what you deserve. You do not have to pay the price for a mistake. For example, the owner of the tool you borrowed and broke bears the expense for repairing or replacing it. It means that you do not have to endure the consequences for doing something wrong. For example, you get a warning instead of a traffic ticket. Related words are pardon and forgiveness.
In ancient times, God was infuriated when His people played favorites, when His people oppressed the poor and denied justice to some. Solomon commented on this problem:
Driving home from a Christmas gathering with friends, I let our car coast down a long hill as we approached an intersection. In my rear-view mirror flashing lights appeared; I had coasted too fast. I hoped the officer would only give me a warning, not a speeding ticket.
I think my examples are typical. We most often want justice when we know that someone else has broken the law. But, for ourselves, we want to be an exception to justice. We want mercy.
Justice means that everyone gets what they deserve. The punishment fits the crime. Appropriate consequences follow sin. Wrongdoing is not swept under the rug (ignored). Related words are: fairness, equity and vengeance.
Mercy means that you do not get what you deserve. You do not have to pay the price for a mistake. For example, the owner of the tool you borrowed and broke bears the expense for repairing or replacing it. It means that you do not have to endure the consequences for doing something wrong. For example, you get a warning instead of a traffic ticket. Related words are pardon and forgiveness.
In ancient times, God was infuriated when His people played favorites, when His people oppressed the poor and denied justice to some. Solomon commented on this problem:
If you see the oppression of the poor and denial of justice and righteousness in the province, do not be shocked at the sight; for one official watches over another official, and there are higher officials over them.—Ecclesiastes 5:8
Officials play favorites and watch out for each other as if to think, I will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. Exercising the power of their position they ignore justice...because they can. Solomon simply informed us that, though justice should be expected, we should not be surprised when injustice occurs.
Even so, we should give careful attention to the words of James. Warning against showing partiality, he wrote:
Judgment will be merciless to the one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.—James 2:13
God is just.
God is merciful.
How can justice and mercy exit in harmony in the character of God?
God is the very definition of justice. Sin cannot be ignored, there must be payment. Sin demands death. God has never let anyone escape the penalty for sin.
However, God is also the definition of mercy. He has provided the payment for sin. He provided the sacrificial lamb that would pay the sin debt for every sinner. With the sin debt paid, no sinner has to pay for his own sin. That is mercy.
At the death of Jesus on the cross, justice was served; payment was made for sin. At the same moment, mercy triumphed over judgment.
Do you know why God instructed: “Vengeance is mine, I will repay”? Humans are just like the governing officials of Solomon’s day. We parcel out justice and mercy according to our whims.
So, what does God expect of us, we who have been shown mercy?
How can justice and mercy exit in harmony in the character of God?
God is the very definition of justice. Sin cannot be ignored, there must be payment. Sin demands death. God has never let anyone escape the penalty for sin.
However, God is also the definition of mercy. He has provided the payment for sin. He provided the sacrificial lamb that would pay the sin debt for every sinner. With the sin debt paid, no sinner has to pay for his own sin. That is mercy.
At the death of Jesus on the cross, justice was served; payment was made for sin. At the same moment, mercy triumphed over judgment.
Do you know why God instructed: “Vengeance is mine, I will repay”? Humans are just like the governing officials of Solomon’s day. We parcel out justice and mercy according to our whims.
So, what does God expect of us, we who have been shown mercy?
Jesus taught His disciples:
Blissful are the merciful,for they shall receive mercy.--Matthew 5:7
Mark Stinnett
January 23, 2022
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