Understanding Justice

Scripture: So David said to Joab and the commanders of the army, “Go, number Israel, from Beersheba to Dan, and bring me a report, that I may know their number.” ... But God was displeased with this thing, and he struck Israel. And David said to God, “I have sinned greatly in that I have done this thing. But now, please take away the iniquity of your servant, for I have acted very foolishly.” ... So the Lord sent a pestilence on Israel, and 70,000 men of Israel fell. 1 Chronicles 21:2,7-8,14

Observation: I had to do research to understand what is really going on here, because it isn't obvious. On the face of it, David takes a census, God gets angry, so he sends a pestilence that kills men of Israel not David. However, in studying I discovered there are elements that are dependent on other verses and very related to understanding specific parts of God's law.

This starts because God is angry with Israel (stated in 2 Samuel 24:1). In this, taking the census is a test to see if the people will redeem themselves following the law stated in Exodus 30 ... when the people of Israel are counted, each is to pay a sum to redeem their lives and "avoid pestilence". They failed and thus pestilence was brought upon them. However, taking the census was also a test of David. Also by the law, one is to only count those things that belong to them ... one does not count their neighbor's money, for example, but only their own, as doing otherwise only fosters greed or pride. Israel belongs to God, not to David. Therefore, David had no right to count them under the law. Doing so was an act of foolish pride.

Application: In reading this section, my first thought is "wait, David took a census just like ... oh ... EVERY king does, and that was bad?" Then my next thought was "so God killed 70,000 men NOT named King David??" It isn't until all the dots are connected that it makes sense. Then, when you study the facts, it makes perfect sense.

So where am I doing what David did in my daily walk with God? Where am I failing to connect the dots and thus not understanding - or even knowing - basic truths about God, his laws, his teachings, his love? And so where am I failing to walk with God due to my ignorance? One word jumps out at me right now, immediately:

Justice.

I don't understand this concept. I feel, perhaps, humans have corrupted the term to turn it into the concept of a "cause" ... while justice is clearly good and something we should strive for, it has become a concept about the relationships by and toward any classification of people who want specific recognition. This cannot be the definition of justice. I think it must be something more basic, and at the same time something more perfect. It isn't equity, fairness, equality, or accountability. And it isn't compassion and mercy. I think it starts with value and respect.

Justice starts when we see someone else as a person God loves, thus we attribute to them intrinsic value in the context of God's great love, and therefore interact with them out of that base understanding. I need to meditate on this more.

Prayer: Dear Lord, I know I have not been a man of justice in the past. I am trying to learn what that means, and how I can mature into a life a justice, mercy, and humility. I get the other two, even when I fail to practice them. Please do continue to work within my heart as it relates to justice toward all mankind. Amen.