What is justice? Where does it come from and what is its end goal and purpose? Justice is both getting and giving what is deserve based on God’s standard of right and wrong. This is very different from the modern definition of Justice as the “theory by which fairness is administered.” A standard based on who God is, His very heart and character. In this passage justice is described in four different relationships: 1) in relation to other people’s stuff we are to restore what you damaged, 2) in relationship to God we are to worship God exclusively and freely give Him what He is due, 3) in relation to people, specifically those in need, we are to have compassion on the marginalized, and help those who hate us, and 4) in relation to justice itself, we are to truthfully defend the innocent and condemn the guilty. But, is justice the same as fairness? “Fair” has come to mean getting my individual rights and equality (social justice) which may actually have very little to do with what is right in God’s eyes. If fair means getting what you deserve based on His standard of right and wrong, then fairness and justice are in harmony.
