Life: Ready When Injustice Prevails

• The Bible Studies for Life lesson for Jan. 18 focuses on Exodus 23:1-3, 6-9.

Introduction

We live in a world in which justice seems conspicuously absent. Injustice, unrest and violence compete for the top headlines daily. Unending strife brings on weariness and despair that enduring answers never will be found. This sentiment was expressed outstandingly by the poet, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, who poured out his frustrations about worldly strife and then found God’s powerful answer in the words, “Peace on Earth, good will to men”—words of grace and justice (Luke 2:14) that will prevail for eternity.

For centuries, God’s people have looked to the Bible for comfort in the face of injustice. Early in the Bible, we find an important passage on justice. Exodus 23 teaches much about God’s character.

Justice is the forgotten character trait of our Lord. In passages where God describes himself, he always includes assertions of his justice. One example is Exodus 34:5-7, where God describes himself as merciful, gracious, slow to anger, loving, forgiving and just. Only the Holy Lord of the covenant perfectly and completely practices these six outstanding character traits.

Genesis 18:19 teaches God elects his followers based upon their choice to live by righteousness and justice. The Bible teaches no human being can live this way in his own power (Psalm 53:3; Romans 3:10-18). Yet when God transforms the lives of those who place their trust in him (Genesis 15:6; Romans 12:1-2), God’s righteousness and justice become character traits of God’s children, which is what God saw in Abraham in Genesis 18:19.

Let your words and actions work justice, not against it (Exodus 23:1-3)

The concern in verse 1 about false reports (spreading rumors) is an application of the ninth commandment (Exodus 20:16). The point against joining another lying witness derives from God’s insistence on practicing justice in the courtroom and all social interactions. This point is commanded later in Deuteronomy 17:6. Jesus taught God’s commands must be applied broadly, not narrowly (See several examples in Matthew 5:21-48).

One seeming corrective for showing bias in favor of those with power and financial influence is to weight consideration toward those of no influence or means. But God is wary of abuse of this advantage by those who would overstate their status as victims.

God shows no favoritism (Romans 2:11) and expects his people to refrain from all partiality (James 2:1-9¸ especially verse 9). The corrective is expressed by the often derided “eye for an eye” law in Exodus 21:23-24, which guarantees balanced justice to the community of God’s people. The plight of victims is proportionately answered, while wrongdoers are protected from excessive retaliation.

The strange prohibition against showing favoritism to the poor is not a matter of siding with the majority. In Moses’ day, democratic principles were unknown, especially to a freshly liberated slave class. Instead, the sense of the prohibition is of the order: “Do not show favoritism—especially among the least protected, the poor.”

Economy of expression drops the first part of the expression and emphasizes the second part. The second part of the expression is the less likely temptation for most societies, but not for Israel, who experienced countless incidences of injustice because they were poor and powerless. Israel’s temptation would be to overcorrect based on their personal experience. God’s people are to practice complete and balanced justice, not a one-sided justice, and certainly not injustice.

Work on behalf of the innocent (Exodus 23:6-7)

The other side of handling justice for the poor is seen in verse 6. While they must not receive preferential treatment, they are not to be denied justice. Israel needed this law in Egypt. Now the Lord expects Israel to practice justice in the cases of the poor.

Honesty must prevail in Israel’s system of courts. Verse 7 demands measures must be established to root out every possibility for entertaining false charges. Furthermore, innocent and honest people are not to be put to death. Careful court procedures must be established that wisely distinguish between innocence and guilt.

America handles this matter by famously deciding defendants must be presumed innocent until proven guilty. In this passage, the preservation of innocent life is vitally important. This shows the value of life in God’s eyes and the necessity to work carefully and honestly through legal matters.

Don’t oppress or hold anyone down (Exodus 23:8-9)

Verse 8 brings up the ultimate reason for a miscarriage of justice—bribery. Nothing perverts justice more quickly than paying off court officials. This is abhorrent to the Lord, for whom justice is a strong personal value. God is seriously concerned the world understands he is just. David discovered this in Psalm 51:4. God wants his people to practice justice, so the world can see justice in God’s actions.

Finally, verse 9 speaks of practicing justice with foreigners by not oppressing them. The Lord reminds Israel they once were foreigners oppressed and mistreated in Egypt. Human history has many examples of formerly oppressed people who, when they gained an upper hand, oppressed other people. Yet the Lord insists his people live by the high standard of impartial justice for all.

God’s people therefore are to practice a deliberately thought out justice. This passage lists several applications of the matter of justice—no false reports, no collusion with lying witnesses, no partiality, no special treatment or denial of justice to the poor, no false accusations, no bribery and no oppression of foreigners. The highest level of justice must be extended to all, because all will one day answer to God.