Editorial – Do Justly

“What doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly…?” (Mic. 6:8).

This is one divine exhortation which is continually reinforced by the societies in which we live.

If someone thinks they have received unfair treatment, they are very quick to complain. Regularly we hear protests about people’s civil rights being violated if they feel discriminaton has occurred on the basis of race, religion or national origin. Any judge who is exposed for taking bribes will face public shame and may well find his career is finished. The great appeal of labor unions is to protect workers against arbitrary actions by their employers; older employees, for example, want protection against age discrimination. Every time we park our car in a public area, we are reminded of the cause of the handicapped who won legislation to help them function more equally among those not so afflicted. And even at baseball’s Little League level, a near riot could start if a father was umpiring and called his son safe when he was obviously out.

We expect fair play when we buy something at the store. If a garment is labeled as being of a certain fabric, we expect that to be the case. Government agencies exist to ensure that foodstuffs are adequately labeled and that weights and measures are accurate.

People may not expect forgive­ness or mercy, but in our society they do clamor that others “do justly.”

Below the surface

However, we all know that in spite of the external appearance of fairness, in every-day life, the concept is often not practiced. Somehow, the jails are populated by very few wealthy or influential criminals. By some means, the company which wines and dines a purchasing agent will get a majority of the contracts. Those who contribute heavily to a politician’s campaign fund invariably find laws are passed which favor their position. Human nature is true to form. While people do not want to be victimized by injustice, they don’t mind if it benefits them.

From our reading of scripture, this is what we would expect. The Lord does not emphasize something without reason. And this matter of doing justly is truly stressed.

A major issue

In Micah, “to do justly” is highlighted along with “to love mercy” and “to walk humbly with thy God” as rules of conduct God requires. By comparison, offerings and sacrifices pale in importance to God. “…Thousands of rams…ten thousands of rivers of oil…the fruit of my body” God does not desire nearly as much as “what is good.”

The Lord Jesus echoes this passage in condemning the scribes and Pharisees for omitting “the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith” (Matt. 23:23). Note how the same three areas of conduct are highlighted in the same sequence as in Micah.

The Hebrew word used in Micah is mishpat; the same word is used to describe one of the great aspects of the conduct of Yahweh. “I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment (mishpat), and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD” (Jer. 9:24). God delights in mishpat; He delights to do it; He delights to see it done.

For the brotherhood

We read scripture often enough to know its primary audience is the called and chosen of God. If something is underscored by the Lord, it behooves every one one of us to have a careful look at our own lives with the divine principle in mind.

Are we doing justly? If the world exalts this attribute, surely this will be no problem among the servants of God! But is this so?

In our reactions to situations that arise, does worldly status or wealth affect our treatment of another brother or sister? Do we find ourselves honoring the counsel of a rich brother and ignoring the input of a poor brother because of their economic status? Do we find ourselves using one set of standards for those who are natural family and a different set for those who are not? Does our application of principles to brethren vary according to their loyalty to us? Do we tolerate un-Christ-like behavior from our special friend but readily criticize the same type of conduct in someone else? Is this equitable? Is it doing mishpat?

Sometimes one sees a youth circle that has a friendly face for members who are personable and fashionable but a chilly one for those who are awkward. When that happens, almost every time the youngsters are reflecting attitudes they have learned at home. For better or worse, our children reflect our attitudes and provide us a good means for self examination. “The thoughts of the righteous are right (mishpat).” We must learn to think in a spiritually consistent manner, not in a fleshly, capricious one.

Not identical treatment

Mishpat does not mean the same methods will be applied to every person alike. “And of some have compassion, making a difference, and others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire…” (Jude 22-23). Circumstances and personalities vary, requiring wisdom in applying firmness, goodness, mercy and righteousness. But if we “do justly,” we will not base our decisions on carnal considerations, but according to our desire that others be saved.

In business

“Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right (mishpat)…a just (mishpat) weight and balance are the LORD’s” (Prov. 16:8,11). If doing justly is part of our thinking, it will be evident at work as well as in the ecclesia.

One of the classic examples we saw in this regard was a brother building a house. He was being meticulous about some area that no one would ever see. But that did not matter to him. The person who bought the home would do so assuming it was worth the price and the brother was making sure that would be the case.

If we are in a supervisory capacity, worldly people may not recognize if we are merciful and forgiving. They will often mistake such conduct as weakness. But they will know if we do justly; every disciple in such a position should have a reputation for being fair.

Supervisors have favorites who receive special treatment, employees cut corners wherever they can get away with it. But the servant of God will be different for as his God delights in judgment so “it is joy to the just to do judgment (mishpat)” (Prov. 21:15).