God enforces the laws he makes.
My walk through historic Annapolis this evening brings me – somewhat surprised – to the Maryland state house. I had forgotten that this is the capitol city. But here is the historic building, which I discover is the oldest state capitol in continuous use.
Finding a way in proves to be tricky, since it’s undergoing renovations. Not knowing the visitor policy, I hesitate, wondering if it’s worth accessing. But I’m here. And on these walks, I have a strong sense of adventure.
I’m glad I tried. It’s nearing closing time and with the government not in session, it’s quiet, solemn and dignified inside. I am alone to take it all in.
The solemnity is appropriate. Laws are created here – the guardrails against the exercise of our fallen nature, the first step in ensuring that justice is done. This draws my thoughts back to the character of God, for he is the origin of all that is just.
And the heavens proclaim his righteousness, for he is a God of justice. Ps. 50:6
I know that the Lord secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy. Ps. 140:12
Yet, this is where it gets troubling. For the world is filled with injustice. The poor and the needy get misused, abused, and neglected constantly. The gap between the reality of the heavens and life on earth could not be greater.
Frederick Douglass felt this tension. I find an imposing, life-sized sculpture of him in the historic Old House of Delegates Chamber. In his autobiography, Douglass recounts the horrors of slavery and asks, “Will not a righteous God visit for these things?”
The answer is that someday he will. Great Christian thinkers of the past remind me of this:
If God be a just God, he will take vengeance. God has given men a law to live by, and they break it. There must be a day for the execution of offenders. A law not executed is but like a wooden dagger, for a show. At the last day, God’s sword shall be drawn out against offenders; then his justice shall be revealed before all the world. Thomas Watson
God is not true to himself unless he punishes sin. And unless one knows and feels the truth of this fact, that wrongdoers have no natural hope of anything from God but retributive judgment, one can never share the Biblical faith in divine grace. J.I. Packer
This is the problem, isn’t it? We want punishment for the wrong-doers and never include ourselves in that category. And yet without the death of Christ on our behalf, we, too, would come to the hot seat, isolated before judgment of the Sovereign God, with all our sins exposed.
So, standing here alone in this place of earthly legislation, I worship aloud the God of justice. In whispered words, I thank him for his laws, given to tune my heart to the high note of heaven. And I praise him for his grace, recognizing how much dissonance remains in me.
And I embrace a longing for justice to be done in this world. As Abraham asked, “Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Gen. 18:25)
This tension, too, honors God.
O great and righteous Father, our sense of justice comes from you. In your time, you will punish all wrong. Help us to live out your righteousness and tell of your grace.
Reader: How do you work through the tension of living in a world filled with injustice?
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