True Justice

In the days past, my husband and I reflected on recent unfortunate events that have deeply impacted our local community. In a distressing incident, law enforcement officers encountered a few juveniles while investigating a case. One of the juveniles attempted to flee the officer and pointed what appeared to be a handgun at the officer. In response, the officer fired, resulting in the tragic death of the juvenile. This incident has ignited protests and deepened the division between the community and the police, an ongoing dilemma that has plagued our country.

Shortly after, I was studying the book of Proverbs and came across the following verse.  

It is not good to be partial to the wicked and so deprive the innocent of justice. (Pr. 18:5 NIV)

To be partial means to show favor, favoring one side in a dispute above another. 

While we recognize and sympathize with the tragic death of the young man and his grieving family, it's important to remember that the law must be upheld regardless of a person's ethnicity or social status. When we as a community defend someone who has clearly broken the law, we deny justice to the innocent and now make the guiltless feel guilty.

There are those who turn justice into bitterness…(Am.5:7 NIV)

The impact of this situation is not only on the individuals we rely on to keep us safe, but it also affects our entire society.

It represents a dangerous shift from a society that once feared to disobey the law and be condemned, to one that now fears to protect the law and face condemnation.

Supporting Text:

Do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great…(Lev. 19:15)

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil,...( Is. 5:20)

 

For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. (Ro. 13:4)