Ephesians 4:1-16; Ezekiel 10-11; Isaiah 42

“Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.” (Isaiah 42:1 NKJV) 

Justice is a two-edged sword. When we’ve been wronged, we want justice. We want someone (else) to pay. We may know of someone who’s been wronged and want things to be made right. On the other hand, if we’re the ones who’ve done wrong, justice isn’t so appealing. We don’t want what we deserve. I believe that those Jews who heard this message had one understanding: the Gentiles will get what’s coming to them. It was Gentiles who fought against them and then took them into exile. It was Gentiles who destroyed Jerusalem, God’s Holy City. They would need to pay! True justice, though, happens when the world is in alignment with God’s plan. I believe God’s plan was to bring the Gentiles into His family so that we’d live in a just world where everyone had a chance to be in a positive relationship with God.

I don’t know what the meaning of this passage was to the original audience of Jews, but I believe God’s plan was to make it possible for all people, Jew and Gentile alike, to live in a just world where God was in control. We saw that hope come to life in the coming of the Messiah, Jesus. As followers of Jesus we believe that He is the Elect One designed to bring justice – not through a process of judgment, but of reconciliation. Paul said that God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself (2 Corinthians 5:19) and I believe that’s the ultimate picture of God’s plan of Justice for all. True justice will happen when we become reconciled to God. We can show that justice now as we live in the reconciliation by seeking reconciliation and bringing God’s brand of justice to our world. 

Lord, bring justice to our world. Let it flow like a mighty river as we see people reconciled to You through Jesus. Let us all delight in Your justice.