Just Leaders
“Never forget that justice is what love looks like in public.” So said Cornel West, the noted scholar, activist, social critic and theologian. God loved Israel and He wanted His people to prosper in the land that He was giving them. The foundation for prosperity in the Promised Land and for peace among the people, was justice. So God instructed the people, through Moses, to appoint leaders to judge between them by administering His law in the settling of disputes. These appointed leaders were to judge fairly, not as an afterthought, but as a divine imperative. And for cases that were too hard for them to decide, they were to go to a higher court. That higher court included priests on the of the council of judges to hear the case and judge through a deep understanding of God’s law and by seeking God’s divine wisdom in their decision. I pray that you receive the blessing of God’s justice and peace in your life.
Appoint judges and officials for each of your tribes in every town the LORD your God is giving you, and they shall judge the people fairly. Do not pervert justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the innocent. Follow justice and justice alone, so that you may live and possess the land the LORD your God is giving you (Deut. 16:18-20). Having established the laws that Israel was to live by, God also established a standard for the judges who were to apply God’s law in disputes that came before them. Moses communicated God’s judicial standards of justice for all those who were preparing to enter and live in the Promised Land. The standard of conduct for Judges was that they be just and fair above all else in their judgments. They were not to accept bribes nor pervert justice. They were to be impartial. They were to be appointed from their local tribes to serve. They were not to have personal or political agendas, but follow justice alone. The end goal of the proper dispensation of justice was so that God’s people would live and possess the land that He had given them. Where God’s people are treated with fairness and justice by their leaders, there is peace and prosperity.
If cases come before your courts that are too difficult for you to judge —whether bloodshed, lawsuits or assaults —take them to the place the LORD your God will choose. Go to the Levitical priests and to the judge who is in office at that time. Inquire of them and they will give you the verdict. You must act according to the decisions they give you at the place the LORD will choose. Be careful to do everything they instruct you to do. Act according to whatever they teach you and the decisions they give you. Do not turn aside from what they tell you, to the right or to the left. Anyone who shows contempt for the judge or for the priest who stands ministering there to the LORD your God is to be put to death. You must purge the evil from Israel. All the people will hear and be afraid, and will not be contemptuous again. (Deut. 17:8-13) God provided for a higher court to hear difficult cases. This court was to be established in the Promised Land at the place the Lord would choose (God’s Sanctuary). The court would be comprised of Priests and a Chief Justice. The location and the make up of the court was designed to further ensure that the court’s decisions were aligned with God’s laws and standard of justice. While Israel’s Priests and Judges had a responsibility with regard to justice, the people of Israel also had a responsibility to follow the decisions from the court. Failure to do so was considered contempt and any person(s) who were in contempt were subject to capital punishment (death). Capital punishment was an intentionally severe penalty for contempt, because it was meant to be a deterrent against anarchy and subversion of the law in Israel. God calls for us to act justly toward one another, consistent with His standards of fairness and love.
“No justice, no peace” is the heartfelt cry heard from many protesters in their demonstrations against injustice. Without justice, a society begins to break down in chaos. That is true whether we are talking about a nation, an organization or a household. Think about it, you can’t even settle a dispute between young children unless they sense that you have been fair and just. God knew that justice was imperative to the well being and prosperity of His people. And He expected those in leadership positions to be just in their decisions for the benefit His people. Whatever positions of leadership that you may hold, God expects you to use His standards of justice and fairness as your guide. He wants you to a seek His wisdom in making decisions affecting His people. Know that God is watching and He holds the leaders of His people accountable. The past few years have heightened our awareness that injustice pervades our leadership and our land. Yet God’s love of His people demands justice for all of them. Yes, God knows we need justice…and it starts with just leaders!
Blessings,
Rev. Glenn
