The concern for justice in our world today keeps inclining. However, before we can achieve justice for the world, we must better understand how God views it. The Scripture tells us that God just and will judge injustice. As Christians, we should stand up against injustice. As people of faith, we should not rebuff from the difficult truth of this prevalent injustice that is affecting our communities. We should seek to confront the reality of the broken world in which we participate and stand for the truth.
What does the Bible say about peace and justice? What bible verses can help us understand these very important concepts? Does these issues even concern God? The Bible gives us many practical stories that are filled with wisdom that is so applicable, even in our modern era. While the Bible is crowded with verses about justice and peace, I will concentrate attention on only one injustice that happened within David’s family and that which teared his family apart hence distracted his kingship. I won’t go into all the details, but you can read them in 2 Samuel 13 if you’d like. Here’s the gist.
The tragic story of a beautiful princess — sexually abused by her half-brother and then betrayed by her powerful father David. It becomes a well-guarded family secret no one dares mention. No justice prevailed but everyone pretended there was somewhat peace amidst the injustice.
Tamar, the young royal princess, who lived in a world where her father and brothers were powerful. Very obedient, trusting, and kind. Amnon, asks her to cook and bring the food to his room. She does so unaware that he has schemed and lied in order to get her, because of his lustful desire for her (2 Samuel 13:7-11).
Amnon, the crown prince, ignores Tamar’s pleas and overpowers her. After successfully raping Tamar, he has her thrown out (2 Samuel 13:14-18).
Tamar expresses her profound grievance by tearing her robe, putting ashes on her head, and wailing aloud. Her brother Absalom realizes what happened and tells her to “be quiet for now” (2 Samuel 13:19-20).
David becomes very angry (2 Samuel 13:21) but failed to punish Amnon. No justice for Tamar but she remains desolate. Who will stand by her side as she cries for justice?
Now David’s family life was flawed by His failure to deal with Amnon’s abuse of Absalom’s sister. David’s third son Absalom, the child of his fourth wife Maacah of Geshur expected David both as father and as king to provide justice for Tamar and due punishment to Amnon but didn’t see justice for her sister. Absalom played it cool. And it came to pass, after two full years, Absalom did not stop plotting the revenge of Amnon’s sin against Tamar until he successfully murders Amnon in revenge of her sister’s injustice. David’s failure to seek justice for her daughter resulted in the distraction of his family and kingship. He thought he could have cover injustice with peace but he failed. Many of us today are tempted to do same mistake. But I assure you, there will be no peace without justice.
In many different parts of the world, justice and peace are lost dreams rather than a lived experience. This calls for a question; What is it about justice and peace that make them so hard to achieve?
We can only look forward to justice and peace in the world if the organizations and public institutions that we all rely on will be effective, transparent and accountable.
There can never be complete peace amidst injustice. It will surely produce an evil result one day. If justice doesn’t prevail, there can never be peace. This surely tells us that justice and peace exist together and one causes the other. As Christians, we should always make sure we stand for justice in the cause of promoting peace in our society.
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So insightful