Justice, Mercy and Grace
Pastor Bill Zacharda
July 6, 2008
Selected Proverbs are found in the text below
Introduction: Solomon reminds us that it takes great wisdom to be just, merciful and gracious in God’s eyes. Indeed justice, mercy and grace is found in the character of God. Therefore, be imitators of God! Show the same quality of justice and mercy and grace as God himself. These God characteristics are sufficiently spelled out in the Bible and are to be part of who we are as Christians.
A monk went to Mother Teresa and said, “Mother Teresa, one of my colleagues is spreading things around about me that are not true. I demand justice.” To which Mother Teresa replied, “Oh just forget it. Think of what he would say if he knew the truth.” So, the monk demanded justice and justice was needed but, in fact, he needed mercy more. That is true for all of us. Now, the story doesn’t say that the monk then asked for God’s forgiveness for his subtle arrogance, but, if he had, he would have received grace. That also is true for all of us. We need justice, mercy and grace all through our lives, in the daily affairs of our lives. Now Proverbs doesn’t have everything to say about justice, mercy and grace, but what it has is worth hearing.
1. Let’s start with justice. Lives and fortunes are greatly affected by judges. Let’s read the first saying: Pro. 17:15 “Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent -- the LORD detests them both.” God hates injustice in ALL forms, whether acquitting the guilty like O. J. Simpson on a technicality or condemning the innocent like Joan of Arc. Know this: God will not let the guilty go unpunished because his very character demands justice. This is why God sent Christ to die for our sins. Paul wrote the Romans explaining, (3:26) “...[God] did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.” Justice is needed for salvation. Justice is needed for an orderly society. Our laws must be just. Our judges must be just. Our citizens must be just. And, again, like my message on honesty, justice is found in the character of God.
Let’s read where justice will ultimately be found. (29:26) “Many seek an audience with a ruler, but it is from the LORD that man gets justice.” Human institutions and authorities are flawed and sometimes malicious. When bad things happen to good people we need to champion the right and help the mistreated, because justice ultimately comes from God. We need to be on the Lord’s side even if it is on the losing side.
Solomon identifies some acts that are not good. Let’s read the next three: (17:26) “It is not good to punish an innocent man, or to flog officials for their integrity.” (18:5) “It is not good to be partial to the wicked or to deprive the innocent of justice.” (24:23-25) “...To show partiality in judging is not good: Whoever says to the guilty, “You are innocent” --peoples will curse him and nations denounce him. But it will go well with those who convict the guilty, and rich blessing will come upon them. These are all miscarriages of justice. They go against God’s character. It’s not good. This is true in court cases. It’s true in our daily affairs of life.
Let’s read the next one: (21:15) ”When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.” Pay close attention to how people react to authority. Are they respectful? Are they arrogant? How people respond to justice reveals their character. If you were driving at 75 mph in a 60 mph speed limit and a police officer pulls you over and gives you a ticket, what’s your reaction to the fine? Let’s read the next one: (28:5) “Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand it fully.” Law abiding citizens have no fear of the law. Those who fear the law often criticize it and try to get around it in some way. Those who are righteous will always rejoice when justice is done, even when you get that parking ticket. They will use that ticket as a reminder to obey the law. Justice is necessary for our society to function. Paul in Romans 13:4 writes: “[the governing authority] is God’s servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God’s servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer.”
2. Justice as well as mercy and grace depend on truthfulness. To settle any dispute in a court of law or in a household, you need truthful witnesses. Solomon has many proverbs on bearing false witness. We will read just a few of them. This one is my favorite: 18:17 “The first to present his case seems right, till another comes forward and questions him.” A good judge hears both sides. The more children Judy and I had the more skilled we became as referees. We gained wisdom by not believing the first child who came to us with a complaint, but by listening to both sides of a story and asking the right questions before handing down a decision. Cross-examination is important. The best thing our children can learn in a cross-examination is to be truthful.
Let’s read the next three: (14:5) “A truthful witness does not deceive, but a false witness pours out lies.” (19:9) “A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who pours out lies will perish.” (25:18) “Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow is the man who gives false testimony against his neighbor.” It can crush like a club (when an innocent person is declared guilty), divide like a sword (when friend betrays you), or pierce like an arrow (when someone tarnishes one’s reputation) Bearing false witness is deadly!
3. Thirdly, Justice is best served with both mercy and grace. (3:34) “He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble.” God’s boomerang, what goes around comes around, is God mocking the mockers. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble is quoted in both James and 1st Peter, so this must be very important. No one deserves mercy or grace. Only the humble accept mercy and grace.
(28:13) “He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.” Unconfessed sin brings misery while confession brings mercy. When we confess our sin to God and renounce it we will always find mercy. This is true with God and should be true when we ask people to forgive us.
(4:9) She [wisdom] will set a garland of grace on your head and present you with a crown of splendor.” Grace is like crowns placed on your head. These are unnamed blessings in our lives. Be on the lookout to spot them. They are seldom on a grand scale like being invited to the White House, but fulfilled by much smaller things in everyday life, like today’s invitation to the Lord’s Table.
Justice is best served with mercy and grace. I read a story in a book, and I don’t think it was a true story, of a man in a small town who stole a loaf of bread. He was caught stealing it and taken to court. He pleaded guilty but explained that he had no job and his family was hungry. He had been looking for work for some time and his money ran out. So he resorted to stealing. The judge rendered his verdict. He said, “You stole the bread and you are guilty. The law is unambiguous. I order you to pay a fine of $10. However I realize that you are unable to pay a fine of $10. So, I’ll give you $10.” The Judge took the money out of wallet and handed it to the man. When the man took the money the judge said: “Now I also want to remit the fine.” That meant that the man did not have to pay the fine. He could keep the $10. The judge then turned to the everyone in the court room and said, “Now the bailiff is going to pass the hat around and I’m asking everyone to contribute for living in a community where a man can’t find a job and has to steal to put bread on the table for his family.” So, was justice meted out? Yes. Of course. But so was mercy and grace. The $10 fine and passing the hat was justice. The fine remitted was mercy. The money received from the judge was grace. Justice is best served when tempered with mercy and grace. God’s mercy and grace do not lessen his justice. Justice is best served when mercy and grace are possible.