A Life of Justice

Psalm 112 provides us with a glimpse of what a life devoted to God's Reign yields. Someone who fears the Lord and delights in his commandments will see his children's children become mighty in the land, wealth and riches will be his, he will be light in the midst of darkness and his righteousness will endure forever. He will be generous, lending freely to any who ask and run his business with integrity. He will be steadfast, his mind and heart unshakable even when bad news comes and will live to see his enemies defeated. As his righteousness endures forever, he will give freely to the poor and be able to walk with dignity among all.

I recently preached from this text in a small church in southern Mexico and when we finished going through the chapter I asked what do you think is the main point. What seems to be a common concept? A 10 year old girl spoke up from the front row and said, " la justicia." You see in Spanish the word "justicia" appears three times and the noun "justo" another three times. That word has become notorious for keeping us from understanding biblical texts or at least providing us with an excuse for not practicing its demands. In the English text vss. 3, 5 & 9 use terms such as righteousness, honesty and integrity where the Spanish always uses "justicia."

In the Hebrew language the idea of justice has the meaning of rightness, integrity, and without obstruction on a variety of levels. In vs. 3 it is referring to an individual's relation to God. In vs. 5 it refers to a person's dealings with his neighbors, clients, customers and all those with whom he is in daily contact. Finally, in vs. 9 we see a much broader context where justice is being done on a societal level. This verse carries echoes of the "Year of the Lord's favor" that we hear about in the Jubilee, Is. 61 and Lk. 4 when the poor will have the good news preached to them, debts will be cancelled, land re-distributed with equality. The word translated power or dignity which will be gloriously exalted (v.9) is literally in the Hebrew "ram's horn," or the instrument used to announce the year of Jubilee.

The concluding verse of this psalm departs drastically from all these wonderful fruits of a life of justice when it says that this kind of life will provoke anger, resentment and violence from those who profit from the politics of hate, division and war. While the fruit of justice will be peace (Is. 32:17) we often are reminded of the violence that inevitably comes before such peace is obtained. News just came today that a Pentecostal pastor from Honduras who was also the founder of the Latin American network of Christian lawyers was assassinated in what has become an all too common event in that small country. Let us pray, struggle and be in solidarity with those around the world who attempt to live a Psalm 112 life only to fall victim to the reality of its final verse.