Isaiah on Tuesday: A Spirit of Justice, A Source of Strength

The ideas that have been swimming around in my head in terms of deep thought all have to do with justice. I first started thinking somewhat deliberately about this back when I was writing about chapter 26 but have been driven much more intensely as I read Howard Zinn's Passionate Declarations, especially the current chapter on economic justice.

In terms of what that means on a practical level, I am trying to formulate a way to understand, encapsulate and communicate what justice means from a Biblical standpoint. This is no easy task, but I think it worthwhile - even critical - in terms of a full understanding of my faith. Perhaps that is why I am so drawn to Isaiah. He was unafraid to stand up to the authorities (as we'll see in this week's chapter, 28) and justice and the poor were never far from his message.

In this week's chapter, Isaiah has it in for the religious rulers of Israel, even as he proclaims a messianic message. These priests are referred to, in quite poetic fashion, as "Ephraim's drunkards." These hypocrites who declare the law with their mouths (or burble on as v. 10 seems to imply) spend their money on beer and wine. Their "visions" are blurred and "decisions" are spoken with slurred speech. Yet, one who is coming to displace the disgrace of the priesthood:

2 See, the Lord has one who is powerful and strong.
Like a hailstorm and a destructive wind,
like a driving rain and a flooding downpour,
he will throw it forcefully to the ground.

"In that day" (there's that phrase again...)

5 ...the LORD Almighty
will be a glorious crown,
a beautiful wreath
for the remnant of his people.

6 He will be a spirit of justice
to him who sits in judgment,
a source of strength
to those who turn back the battle at the gate.

The unjust and foolish priesthood would be replaced by a just and eternal one. Here again we see Isaiah's ability to hear and speak of the coming Messiah:

16 So this is what the Sovereign LORD says:

"See, I lay a stone in Zion,
a tested stone,
a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation;
the one who trusts will never be dismayed.

17 I will make justice the measuring line
and righteousness the plumb line;
hail will sweep away your refuge, the lie,
and water will overflow your hiding place.

The LORD is very concerned with both justice and righteousness. They are inseparable concepts. Isaiah saw a day when those who have betrayed both justice and righteousness are replaced with one who IS (and brings) both justice and righteousness.

It is these very words that impress upon me the need to have a very clear and accurate understanding of this word "justice", especially as it is used throughout the Bible. Righteousness has never been a problem for us to understand. Jesus made very clear what righteousness is in the Sermon on the Mount. He also gave us the greatest commandments: Love God and love your neighbor.

Yet, we (I) struggle with defining and living out justice. Perhaps because it is a concept that is much fuzzier than righteousness. The bright lines of the law are blurred in circumstances and contexts. Even so, I think it is MORE important to understand justice since it is the foundation of the law (again, the Sermon on the Mount provides some direction - and there are ample other examples.) And so even as I attempt to build a clear picture of true justice, I need to deconstruct my current frameworks (particularly cultural ones) and question the very foundation of what is commonly thought of as justice.

Expect to see much more writings on this topic of justice. Until then, back to our regularly scheduled program...