As Christians in the 21st century, we often hear how God made each one of us with a unique calling and identity. Lou Engle sums it up well and echoes Psalm 139 when he says, “God had a dream and He wrapped your body around it.”
Day to day, another aspect of God’s ways is little discussed and often misunderstood: His heart for justice.
The word justice instantly brings to mind efforts to end the great injustices of our day: sex slavery, abortion, extreme poverty and racism, among others. It’s man against man, or a people group preying on those weaker or disadvantaged.
Do we have any idea how important justice is to God? In Psalm 89:14, it says, “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne.” Acts 22:14 describes Jesus as the Just One. Yet it goes so much deeper.
I believe truly engaging with God’s heart for justice can change so much—how we view the world, how we personally respond to circumstances and even how we view our everyday interactions.
To start, we have to go to Isaiah 59. For 58 chapters God has been pouring out His word to Isaiah about injustice, righteousness and the coming Messiah. We find here in chapter 59 that justice is not just an abstract concept to God, nor a rally cry or human response.
Look at verses 15-16: “Then the Lord saw it, and it displeased Him that there was no justice. He saw that there was no man and was astonished that there was no intercessor; therefore, His own arm brought salvation to Him, and His righteousness sustained Him.”
The word “displeased” actually means to be broken or shattered. And the word for “wonder” literally means astonished or amazed.
The picture here is of our heavenly Father’s heart being rent in two when He beholds injustice; He looks around aghast that there is no one who cares to stand in the gap. This isn’t the heart of a cold, legalistic, aloof judge. He is a zealous Father whose heart is burning to make wrong things right.
This truth can transform our lives. It’s why we can stand with confidence praying before courthouses and abortion centers. As we stand in faith, we are not trying to get heaven’s attention; we are responding to the tug on our hearts by the Great Intercessor who earnestly desires for minds to be changed, hearts to be softened and lives to be saved.
We need to expand our definition of justice. Justice is simply, at its core, making wrong things right. When people hear this, often our hearts respond in one of three ways—let’s consider each one.
1. Where wrongs have been committed against you, know your Father will not cease until He brings justice.
Isaiah 42 talks about the fact that Jesus will not grow faint or be discouraged until He establishes justice in the earth. Perhaps you are facing a current injustice, or maybe it was the way a loved one treated you as a child.
No matter what it is, you need to know that God not only sees it all, but He feels it too. And He is committed to making these wrong things right. It may not look like how you would have planned, or come on your timetable—but you can trust the caring leadership of Jesus.
2. If you already work on behalf of a justice issue, press into God’s heart.
Perhaps you work in public policy, law enforcement or another field related to justice issues—you know making wrong things right is part of your calling, your DNA. I challenge you to press into God’s heart.
Get to know what He thinks and feels about the issue, for He is already burning with desire and plans; He is earnestly looking for partners who will intercede and bring His kingdom into the present circumstances.
Don’t just follow the emotions of concern or human zeal. The human heart was not made to confront such evil alone. At best, you’ll burn out. At worst, if your heart is disconnected from the humbling and mercy-inspiring place of prayer, you can become like the very beast you set out to fight.
