"All His Ways Are Justice' - What Is Justice?

From a human standpoint, justice is often understood to be nothing more than the fair application of the rules of law.  The book Right and Reason-Ethics in Theory and Practice says that "justice is connected with law, obligation, rights, and duties, and measures out its awards according to equality or merit."  Jehovah's justice, however, involves more than the cold application of regulations out of a sense of duty or obligation.

The breadth and depth of Jehovah's justice can better be understood by considering the original language words used in the Bible. In the Hebrew Scriptures, three principal words are involved.  The word most often rendered "justice" may also be rendered "what is right."  (Genesis 18:25)  The other two words are usually rendered "righteousness"   is defined as the "quality of being right or just."  Basically, then, there is no distinction between righteousness and justice.  Amos 5:24.

Hence, when the Bible says that God is just, it is telling us that he does what is right and fair and that he does so consistently without partiality.  (Romans 2:11)  Really, it is inconceivable that he would act otherwise. Faithful Elihu stated:  "Far be it from the true God to act wickedly, and the Almighty to act unjustly!"  (Job 34:10)  Why? For two important reasons. 

First, he is holy. As we noted in Chapter 3, Jehovah is infinitely pure and upright.  Therefore, he is incapable of acting unrighteously, or unjustly.  Consider what that means.  The holiness of our heavenly Father gives us every reason to trust that he will never mistreat his children.  Jesus had such confidence.  On the final night of his earthly life, he prayed:  "Holy Father, watch over them [the disciples} on account of your own name."  (John 17:11)  "Holy Father"-in the Scriptures, the form of address  applies  to Jehovah alone.  This is fitting, for no human father can compare with Him in holiness.  Jesus had complete faith that his disciples would be safe in the hands of the Father, who is absolutely pure and clean and entirely separated from all sinfulness. -Matthew 23:9. 

Second, unselfish love is intrinsic to God's very nature.  Such love moves him to be righteous, or just, in his dealings with others.  But injustice in its many forms-including racism, discrimination, and partiality-often springs from greed and selfishness, the opposites of love.  Regarding the God of love, the Bible assures us:  "Jehovah is righteous; he does love righteous acts."  (Psalm 11:7)  Jehovah says of himself: "I, Jehovah, am loving justice."  (Isaiah 61:8)  Is it not comforting to know that our God takes delight in doing what is right, or just?  - Jeremiah 9:24.

Next time: "All His Ways Are Justice" - Mercy and Jehovah's Perfect Justice

From the book: Draw Close to Jehovah