What Do We Do When Faced With Injustice?
Good Morning Friends,
In today’s scripture we have the story of Naboth, Jezebel and King Ahab and a killing for a Vineyard. And then from Amos and Job we get a glimpse of two men who shared some things in common. Both were laymen. They were not trained ministers or religious leaders but they did have a devotion to God, a passion for justice and a keen sense of right from wrong. Amos’ red hot fervor blasts away. Job is more restrained and contemplative…deductive. Both in their own ways shout out that life is not fair. What Do We Do When Faced With Injustice?
Scripture: Then Job answered: “Today also my complaint is bitter; his hand is heavy despite my groaning. Oh, that I knew where I might find him, that I might come even to his dwelling! I would lay my case before him, and fill my mouth with arguments. I would learn what he would answer me, and understand what he would say to me. Would he contend with me in the greatness of his power? No; but he would give heed to me. There an upright person could reason with him, and I should be acquitted forever by my judge. “If I go forward, he is not there; or backward, I cannot perceive him; on the left he hides, and I cannot behold him; I turn to the right, but I cannot see him. But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I shall come out like gold. My foot has held fast to his steps; I have kept his way and have not turned aside. I have not departed from the commandment of his lips; I have treasured in my bosom the words of his mouth.
But he stands alone and who can dissuade him? What he desires, that he does. For he will complete what he appoints for me; and many such things are in his mind.
Job 23:1-14
But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever flowing stream.
Amos 5:24
“‘Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding, Who set its measurements? Since you know. Or who stretched the line on it? On what were its bases sunk? Or who laid its cornerstone, When the morning stars sang together And all the sons of God shouted for joy?”
Job 38:4-7 (NRSV)
Later the following events took place: Naboth the Jezreelite had a vineyard in Jezreel, beside the palace of King Ahab of Samaria. And Ahab said to Naboth, “Give me your vineyard, so that I may have it for a vegetable garden, because it is near my house; I will give you a better vineyard for it; or, if it seems good to you, I will give you its value in money.” But Naboth said to Ahab, “The Lord forbid that I should give you my ancestral inheritance.” Ahab went home resentful and sullen because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had said to him; for he had said, “I will not give you my ancestral inheritance.” He lay down on his bed, turned away his face, and would not eat. His wife Jezebel came to him and said, “Why are you so depressed that you will not eat?” He said to her, “Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and said to him, ‘Give me your vineyard for money; or else, if you prefer, I will give you another vineyard for it’; but he answered, ‘I will not give you my vineyard.'” His wife Jezebel said to him, “Do you now govern Israel? Get up, eat some food, and be cheerful; I will give you the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.” So she wrote letters in Ahab’s name and sealed them with his seal; she sent the letters to the elders and the nobles who lived with Naboth in his city. She wrote in the letters, “Proclaim a fast, and seat Naboth at the head of the assembly; seat two scoundrels opposite him, and have them bring a charge against him, saying, ‘You have cursed God and the king.’ Then take him out, and stone him to death.” The men of his city, the elders and the nobles who lived in his city, did as Jezebel had sent word to them. Just as it was written in the letters that she had sent to them, they proclaimed a fast and seated Naboth at the head of the assembly. The two scoundrels came in and sat opposite him; and the scoundrels brought a charge against Naboth, in the presence of the people, saying, “Naboth cursed God and the king.” So they took him outside the city, and stoned him to death. Then they sent to Jezebel, saying, “Naboth has been stoned; he is dead.” As soon as Jezebel heard that Naboth had been stoned and was dead, Jezebel said to Ahab, “Go, take possession of the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, which he refused to give you for money; for Naboth is not alive, but dead.” As soon as Ahab heard that Naboth was dead, Ahab set out to go down to the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite, to take possession of it.
1 Kings 21:1-21:16 (NRSV)
Message: My faith is tested just about every day that I see suffering. For behind much of the world’s suffering is injustice. And as the called out body of believers we are to judge the world and also to love the people in it enough not to judge them but to recognize the consequences of actions. I am not saying that God is unjust, but that there are all sorts of reasons, both fair and unfair, that we suffer. In some ways though, I am saying that if we love we will suffer and that in our suffering we might discover the love of God. And of course some of the suffering can be prevented and some cannot and knowing which one to spend time on trying to fix is a great challenge. The problem is that we live in a world with evil. The problem is that personal responsibility only takes us so far. The problem is that we need a collective impact. Thankfully God’s mercy is not limited by our evil. Thankfully God’s love is limitless. And that is perhaps why the suffering on the cross was so intense. Now if I did not believe in God then I simply could say that there is no God to blame for all of this mess. If I was a polytheist I could attribute the evil to the evil Gods and the good to the good Gods. However as a Christian I believe in one God that is both just and loving, and suffering and the injustice in the world is so much more difficult to explain given that reality. Job’s friends muddled it up pretty good. Naboth lost his life being obedient to God. The thing is that the church is called to action when injustice occurs…we are to love. And that love in this world will likely produce suffering. Therefore today’s message is not going to focus on why we suffer, or God’s role on the cross suffering for us, or even the reality that as Christians we are told in scripture that we are to suffer. Instead I have chosen to focus on how we deal with suffering when it does come into our lives. That is a little more manageable. So here is my suggestion on what we should reflect on when we are suffering emotionally or physically. First know that when we suffer we will initially feel that God is far away but we need to know that this is when God is near to us. It is common and natural to feel isolated from God during times of intense trials. Today’s scripture relates this. The second is that God is on time even when He feels late. If we look to the story of Mary, Martha and Lazarus we will see this principle in action. Jesus appeared late, Lazarus was dead, but Jesus’ timing could not have been more perfect. If we focus on God’s presence and His timing then we will realize, as Job did, that we have so little to do with our own salvation… it rains on the just and unjust. And though sometimes the suffering and struggling makes us stronger and builds character by strengthening our faith and brings us to the point where we accept God, it ultimately is still grace. Here consecrated living brings us to a point where only the fellowship with God matters. We discover that righteousness is not the work of man but a gift of God.
Pray that God’s tests of love, tests of faith, tests of obedience, sacrifice and humility, endurance and patience refine us to be who we were created to be. Pray for those who still struggle to succeed in a world that seems so unfair. Pray we realize that suffering is not always due to our sinfulness, though sometimes it is. Pray we realize that the cause of suffering is known only to God and that our job is to turn it into something worthwhile especially when it is born out of injustice. Pray that we all experience the grace of God. Pray we realize that God’s forgiveness is always available.
Blessings,
John Lawson
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