JUSTICE;

Meaning:

• A concern for justice, peace, and genuine respect for people.

Similar:

• Fairness, objectivity, equality, honour, decency, integrity, honesty, ethics, morals, virtue, principle and trustworthiness.

Questions:

What is the real meaning of justice?

• Justice is the ethical, philosophical idea that people are to be treated impartially, correctly, and reasonably by the arbitrators of the law.  These laws ensure that no harm comes to another, and remedial action is to be taken where damage is alleged.  Both the accused and accuser are given an equal hearing.

What is the deep meaning of justice?

• Justice is a moral concept of rightness based upon equity, ethics, rationality, law, natural law and religion.  It is the chosen act of being just or fair.

The four pillars of Justice

1) Being fair in the process

2) Being transparent in actions

3) Providing an opportunity for voice

4) Being impartial in decision making

Why is the word of justice important?

• Justice is one of the most important moral values in law and politics.  Legal and political systems maintaining law and order is desirable but cannot be accomplished unless justice is the ultimate end goal.

CIVIL RIGHTS:

Meaning:

• The rights of citizens to political and social freedom and equality.

“It is for freedom that Christ has set you free.  Stand firm, then, and do not let yourself be chained again by a yoke of bondage.”

Galatians 5:1

CIVIL AND POLITICAL RIGHTS

Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect the individual’s freedom.  They ensure one’s entitlement to participate in society and the state’s civil and political life without repression and discrimination.

TYRANNY:

 Meaning:

• Cruel and oppressive government or rule.

• Malicious, unreasonable, or arbitrary use of power and control.

• A government in which all power is in the hands of a single ruler.

• A harsh, cruel, severe government or conduct, unjust, brutal, ruthless, arbitrary, oppressive, and despotic.

God Almighty is sovereign and all-seeing.  No tyrant has or ever will escape their deserved retribution or punishment.

Nebuchadnezzar

God humbled Nebuchadnezzar twice when he tried to punish people for choosing to worship God rather than the king’s golden image.  As well as punishing him with seven years of madness, reducing him to his knees, chained on all fours as a wild animal eating grass.

Pharaoh

The Pharoah, Haman of Egypt, continually oppressed the Israelites through cruel injustice.  God knew, saw and then sent Moses and Aaron on behalf of his people.  These men frequently delivered God’s message to Pharaoh, who repeatedly refused to listen.  Multiple disciplinary actions were meted out upon Pharaoh and his people, who continued his hardness of heart.

Pharaoh pursued the fleeing Israelites across the receding waters of the mighty Nile.  At daybreak, God clogged their chariot wheels, throwing them into a panic.  The waters of the Nile rushed back into place, destroying Pharaoh and his entire army.

God is calling all people to learn from Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar.

Hear God’s words:

“Why do you boast of evil, you mighty men?  You who are a disgrace before my eyes.  Your tongue plots destruction; it is like a sharpened razor, you who practice deceit.  You love evil rather than good, falsehood rather than speaking the truth.  Surely I will bring you down to everlasting ruin:  I will snatch you up and tear you from your tent; I will uproot you from the land of the living.  The righteous will laugh at you and say, here is the man who did not make God his stronghold but trusted in his great wealth and grew strong by destroying others.  For I, almighty God, look across my earth to see if any seek me.  Every leader has turned away and have all together become corrupt.  Is there no one who does good, not even one?”

Psalm 52:1-7; 53:1-3

In light of the turmoil cascading in a ripple effect across our globe, may we allow our creator to open our eyes, ears and heart to his message of warning and encouragement to continue to obey his leading in standing for our autonomy.  Remember, each one of us is his individual masterpiece of creation, and we are placed upon this earth by his design and for his purpose.  We live for him and no other; we are subject and accountable to God first.

 

AND ALL THE PEOPLE

SAY

AMEN

 

 

Friday, March 3, 2023

Sally Darlene Cooper