Justice

Exodus 21- 22

"An eye for an eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe." (21:25)  But, not really.  When we read this verse in context (in the very next verse) we find that if an eye of a slave is put out by their master, the master's eye is not put out, rather the slave is to be set free.  It's not about getting even, it's not about punishing the one who has done harm.  It's about ensuring that justice is done for the innocent one.  That God-given rights are preserved for all people.  It is also about preserving rights of the one who offends.  If a master takes out the eye of a servant, his eye is not to be taken out according to our lesson, but he must let the servant (slave) go free. 

Justice is often only interpreted or misinterpreted as making the person pay dearly for what they have done - making them suffer.  Justice, it seems is viewed by some as being only about vengeance. Justice is not vengeance. There are indeed times when someone will pay dearly for their sins against humanity.  Hopefully, this is not because we are a hateful, angry or fearful people who want to see vengeance, rather people who wish to see the whole of humanity safeguarded against these crimes.   

Even as we are cautious to ensure that we are seeking justice and not vengeance, we also need to be cautious that we are not attempting to justify the sins of someone or a whole people with cheap excuses.  Justice that forgives the offender without concern for the one who was harmed is not justice.  We cannot simply close our eyes to the sins, the injustices done to innocent parties, to those who cannot defend themselves.    

God desires justice for all His people.  How can we know justice?  How can we do justice?  "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and, Love your neighbor as yourself." (Luke 10:27)  In these two things you will find the summation of the whole law.