“David Administered Justice”

Tuesday, December 13, 2022

BIBLE READING: 2 Samuel 8, 10

“So David reigned over all Israel. And David administered justice and equity to all his people.” (2 Samuel 8.15)

War was par for the course in ancient times (2 Samuel 11.1). But not all war was selfish and power-mongering. By faith, David’s war efforts in 2 Samuel 10 secured the land God had given them (2 Samuel 8.3, 6). But these efforts also executed justice for those who had been shamed by this enemy (2 Samuel 10.4-ff). David would not allow those under his watch to be treated as such without coming to their defense; and his actions were blessed and commended by God (2 Samuel 8.6, 14).

We need to understand how motivated God is by justice. Justice held a central place throughout Jesus’ teaching and ministry. For Jesus, a lack of concern for the marginalized is not a minor oversight but reveals that a person is at odds with God. This is illustrated in the parable of the sheep and goats where the true sheep are those who have a heart for the hungry, the stranger, the poor, the sick, and the imprisoned (Matthew 25.35-36).

This is an important yet challenging dynamic of faith. Because faith cares about what God cares about, it also acts to preserve what is right and good. By faith, David administered justice (2 Samuel 8.15; Hebrews 11.33). This is not a call to arms but rather to act for the good of others according to what is righteous and holy. Christians cannot be ambivalent to the need for justice in our world for it is the reason Christ died for my sins (Romans 5.8). Therefore, how we “do justice” (Micah 6.8) is a direct reflection of how we view God’s mercy and grace towards us. For us, justice can be administered in many ways. When we teach our children right and wrong, we are preparing them to do justice. When we serve those rejected and abandoned by society, we are showing justice. When we act according to God’s word to combat wrong thinking and actions, we are promoting justice. As we look at our world, we must be people motivated to do justice: to help the helpless, defend the weak and provide for those in need. Not for the sake of creating societal equality – that is never the point of justice! – but to show the same concern God shows for all humanity.

There will always be those who are helpless and marginalized. And while we seek to serve them, we must always point them to the justice we all receive from Jesus. In him, God is not only “just but the justifier of those who have faith in Christ” (Romans 3.26-27). In what small ways we can, let us honor him by seeking to “do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with our God” (Micah 6.8).

“Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand it completely” (Proverbs 28.5)

"…learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause” (Isaiah 1.17)

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