Righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne; steadfast love and mercy go before him.
Psalm 89:14
The blog post of two weeks ago is titled A Case of Injustice. The question put forth was “If I were guaranteed justice in a case of wrongdoing against me or someone I love, would I be able to let it go?” Knowing human nature, yes, I would probably let the case rest since I am assured that justice will be met.
There is an important piece to this whole picture that determines how this is worked out. Faith. The absolute certainty that God is who He says He is. It is knowing the Truth and tenaciously clinging to that Truth in spite of physical evidence that may be true.
Are belief and faith the same thing?
No – while closely related, ‘faith’ and ‘belief’ are not the same. ‘Belief’ is simply accepting something as true, while ‘faith’ implies a deeper level of trust and commitment, often in the face of uncertainty, where one actively relies on something even without complete proof.
Unless I have faith that God is who He says He is, I am unable to let my cases of injustice rest. Until I stand on Truth, thoughts of doubt, uncertainty, and despair will color the decisions I make. The truth of the matter is: Righteousness and justice are always satisfied. There is no case of injustice where reparation is not apportioned. We may not always witness justice met, but it is always accomplished.
It is only in this understanding, that I can confidently release cases of injustice to the One who is Righteous.
This takes a knowing, a becoming familiar with who God is. As we come to know Him, faith begins to grow in the heart.
How can I begin to know God? The Bible is the Truth about who God is. Start listening to, or reading it daily and engage in these three practices:
Firstly, ask Holy Spirit to reveal Truth to you.
Secondly, ask yourself the question: “What do I learn about the character and nature of God in this passage?”
Lastly, write down any adjectives or phrases that describe who God is.
As you absorb the words of Truth, faith takes root, begins to flourish, and bear fruit.
When I understand the steadfast love and mercy of God, my cases of injustice can rest, because I am confident that God is who He says He is, and I know that the foundation of his throne is established in righteousness and justice.
It is a fine line between what is true, and what is Truth. We do well to recognize the difference. (Further clarification on this true/Truth subject can be found in the post Two Truths and a Lie published 07/2022)
Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:16
Postscript:
I do not in any way support passivity or non-action in cases of injustice. I advocate for justice and believe that we are to “Seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with God” as stated in Micah 6. However, if we dress vindication or revenge in the guise of ‘justice’, we do wrong. God clearly states “Vengeance is mine. I will repay.”