An editorial in a Swazi newspaper once began, “The task of a government is to provide services to its people.” Many would agree with that assumption, but it happens to be an assumption with which the Bible frequently disagrees.
The governing authority’s primary job, according to scripture, does not include many of the services that governments attempt to provide today. If the government had only one ministry, it should be the ministry of justice. If a government has many departments, the ones that should receive the most emphasis are the ones that enable the government to fulfil its God given mandate to “carry out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer” (Rom 13:4).
This psalm is a “royal psalm.” It is a psalm designed to remind the king to keep his focus on his God-given role as a righteous judge. We cannot cover this psalm in detail but let us at least remember that justice is its central focus.
Sought from God
Justice must be sought from God.
Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the royal son! 2 May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice! (1-2)
Justice is not a natural tendency for any fallen human.We tend to grasp our own interests first, even if they are not the most important considerations.We tend to sympathize with those who are like us.
In a monarchy there is the danger that the wealthy and powerful may be favoured.In a democracy there is a tendency to favour the majority.It is difficult to see things clearly, but the judge must try. This was emphasised in the Mosaic Law. The judges were commanded not to side with the majority, nor to favour either rich over poor or poor over rich (Ex 23:3, 6). They were to rule purely on the basis of justice.But, of course, justice is possible for us only when we keep focused on God rather than people. “May they fear you while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations!” (5)
Seek justice
Justice is what should be sought. We tend to seek the desirable end result, but this is a mistake. If we seek prosperity and peace, we will (like Neville Chamberlain) find ourselves at war. But if we seek justice, prosperity and peace will be the long-term result.
“Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness!
6 May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth! 7 In his days may the righteous flourish, and peace abound, till the moon be no more!” (3,6-7)
Fame and long-life for the ruler may seem desirable as well.
“Long may he live; may gold of Sheba be given to him! May prayer be made for him continually, and blessings invoked for him all the day! 16 May there be abundance of grain in the land; on the tops of the mountains may it wave; may its fruit be like Lebanon; and may people blossom in the cities like the grass of the field! 17 May his name endure forever, his fame continue as long as the sun! May people be blessed in him, all nations call him blessed! (16-17).
These will be the long-term results for the just nation (Isa 32:17; 57:20-21).But we must not expect that they will always be the immediate results.
We are all rather frustrated with our governing authorities much of the time.Our rulers often put convenience and prosperity ahead of justice.But our frustration may be hypocritical. We have not made justice our main concern, either in how we have voted or in how we live our lives.We seek what is comfortable, what is safe, what is popular. We seek what will not rock the boat, instead of seeking what is right.We end up uncomfortable, unsafe, and in a badly rocking boat.
If we would demand justice of the ruling authorities of our world, we must seek justice in our areas of influence.
Of course, we will never do so perfectly. That is why there is a cross.