Where Is Your Justice?

WHERE IS YOUR JUSTICE?

a prayer to open

In the midst of the pain in the world, Lord, I cry out to you.

When darkness overwhelms and the light has faded,

lead me in the way of hope, and grant me eyes to see your goodness.

Justice—do you rulers know the meaning of the word?

Do you judge the people fairly?

No! You plot injustice in your hearts.

You spread violence throughout the land.

These wicked people are born sinners;

even from birth they have lied and gone their own way.

They spit venom like deadly snakes;

they are like cobras that refuse to listen,

ignoring the tunes of the snake charmers,

no matter how skillfully they play.

Break off their fangs, O God!

Smash the jaws of these lions, O LORD!

May they disappear like water into thirsty ground.

Make their weapons useless in their hands.

May they be like snails that dissolve into slime,

like a stillborn child who will never see the sun.

God will sweep them away, both young and old,

faster than a pot heats over burning thorns.

The godly will rejoice when they see injustice avenged.

They will wash their feet in the blood of the wicked.

Then at last everyone will say,

“There truly is a reward for those who live for God;

surely there is a God who judges justly here on earth.”

Our world needs kind, humble, and strong leaders who maintain order, empower and encourage people to be and do their best for the common good, and ensure that systems and infrastructures work and don’t act as tools of oppression. So often we experience just the opposite: government, business, community, and even church leaders whose hunger for power, self-interest, and greed incapacitates them from leading well and ends in hurt, violence, mismanagement, or all three. We can hardly imagine, most of us, being led by loving, wise, and Christ-centered women and men. We see so few examples. As we await the arrival of our true King, may God give us more leaders after his own heart.

• As you read today’s lament, what leader came to mind? If you feel the Holy Spirit leading you to do so, spend time simply making this lament on behalf of whomever that leader leads. Pray the words as your own.
• As you consider more closely the leader that came to mind for you as you read, where do you see God at work even in the midst of that leader’s deficiencies or brokenness?
• How is God calling you to participate in drawing out goodness and equity from our leaders?

God, we long for your justice in this world. Save us from injustice and unfair rulers and governors. Make what is wrong right again. Restore goodness and righteousness. Come, Lord Jesus.