“Justice” is a term that we often hear in our contemporary cultural moment. On social media posts, in high profile court cases, and even in the streets, our nation has been in turmoil over questions of justice. But who determines the standard for justice? Is justice simply what benefits my tribe or interest group? Or is it a shifting cultural consensus? As Christians, we have a different answer. Our standard of justice is God Himself, as revealed to us in His Word. Only our God can truly deliver from oppression and maintain righteousness (Psalm 146). Only the Lord “stands to order judgment right to judges of the land” (Psalm 82). Only He can save His weak, poor servants (Psalm 86). Though the powerful in the world may plot and scheme (Psalm 2), only the Lord’s kingdom will endure throughout all generations (Psalm 145). Though He is slow to anger, He “will by no means clear the guilty,” but instead He “will make a complete end of the adversaries” (Nahum 1:3, 8). When the nations rage over questions of justice (and injustice), our hearts should turn back to the Lord and to His Word—and “blessed are all who in Him hide.” —Henry C. Haffner
Key Words: Jealous, Avenging, Wrathful, Slow, Whirlwind, Stronghold, Refuge, Flood
Keystone Verse: The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows those who take refuge in Him. (Nahum 1:7)
Nahum 1:1-8
An oracle concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum of Elkosh.
2 The Lord is a jealous and avenging God; the Lord is avenging and wrathful; the Lord takes vengeance on His adversaries and keeps wrath for His enemies. 3 The Lord is slow to anger and great in power, and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty. His way is in whirlwind and storm, and the clouds are the dust of His feet. 4 He rebukes the sea and makes it dry; He dries up all the rivers; Bashan and Carmel wither; the bloom of Lebanon withers. 5 The mountains quake before Him; the hills melt; the earth heaves before Him, the world and all who dwell in it. 6 Who can stand before His indignation? Who can endure the heat of His anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken into pieces by Him. 7 The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; He knows those who take refuge in Him. 8 But with an overflowing flood He will make a complete end of the adversaries and will pursue His enemies into darkness.