The Bible tells us that it isn’t for us to judge, because only God has the authority to judge. If we judge others, then we will be judged ourselves. The Bible also tells us that it isn’t for us to avenge. That too, we are to leave up to the Lord because in Romans we’re told, “‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay’, says the Lord”. In our flesh we may want to judge as if we know what a person deserves. We may also want to avenge as if we are the ones who have the right to deal out our form of justice. But we should never forget that the Bible tells us to leave these things to the Lord. And when we do, we should take comfort in knowing that these decisions are left in good hands, because we serve a just God. We’re reminded in Proverbs chapter 29, verse 26:
“Many seek an audience with a ruler, but it is from the Lord that man gets justice.”
And in chapter 17 verse 15, it says:
“Acquitting the guilty and condemning the innocent - the Lord detests them both.”
Our God is a God of justice. He hates when the guilty are acquitted and when the innocent are condemned. And we are encouraged that it is from the Lord that a man gets justice. Our earthly justice system may be flawed. Jurys may be coerced, judges may be bribed, and people may lie on the stand. And even if our system does what it is designed to do, those who are innocent may still be condemned and those who are guilty may still be acquitted. But when we rely on God, justice will ultimately prevail, even if it is only in God’s timing and only in God’s way. If you are crying out for justice, I encourage you to bring it to the Lord - the only one who can truly give you justice. I encourage you to trust him to do what is right.
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I don’t mind confessing that I hate seeing the guilty go free or the innocent condemned. But I’m happy to know that our God feels the same way. In my strength and with my wisdom, I couldn’t make someone pay for their crimes nor could I righteously sentence someone. For that, we are called to rely on the one who does have the power, wisdom and authority to give us justice when we have been wronged. I encourage you to trust him. It would do us good to leave justice in God’s hands while we focus on forgiveness with the help of the Holy Spirit. If you are in that place today, I hope that you are willing to trust God for justice, as well as emotional healing and forgiveness with the help of the Holy Spirit.
