{"id":4701,"date":"2012-10-21T09:27:44","date_gmt":"2012-10-21T14:27:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/markdroberts\/?p=4701"},"modified":"2015-03-13T15:31:24","modified_gmt":"2015-03-13T20:31:24","slug":"why-does-god-love-justice-inspiration-from-the-high-calling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/markdroberts\/2012\/10\/21\/why-does-god-love-justice-inspiration-from-the-high-calling\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Does God Love Justice? Inspiration from The High Calling"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>
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Psalm 11:1-7<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

For the righteous LORD loves justice.
\nThe virtuous will see his face.<\/p>\n

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Psalm 11:7<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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In yesterday\u2019s reflection on Psalm 10<\/a>, we saw that God \u201cbring[s] justice to the orphans and the oppressed\u201d (10:18). This picture of the Lord is consistent with what we find throughout the Scriptures.<\/p>\n

Psalm 11 further explains God\u2019s relationship to justice. Verse 7 reads, \u201cFor the righteous LORD loves justice.\u201d Our translation obscures an intentional play on words in the original Hebrew. It might be translated more literally, \u201cFor the just LORD loves justice\u201d or \u201cFor the righteous LORD loves righteous deeds.\u201d The Hebrew uses the adjective tzaddiq<\/em> in reference to the Lord and the plural noun tzedaqot<\/em> to depict that which he loves. Even without knowing Hebrew, you can see the close relationship between these two words, which are based on the tz-d-q<\/em> root.<\/p>\n

In English, we often make a distinction between righteousness and justice. Righteousness has to do more with personal morality, with acting rightly according to some standard. Justice is a matter of legality or societal structures. In Hebrew, however, the words based on the tz-d-q<\/em> root embrace both personal morality and legal\/social relationships. Thus, God as tzaddiq<\/em> is both righteous and just. And God loves both personal righteousness and societal justice.<\/p>\n

Why? Why is God a lover of righteousness and justice? Because these realities reflect God\u2019s own nature. When we do what is right, we are not just acting properly, but also mirroring God\u2019s own nature. The same is true when we seek justice in our relationships and in our world.<\/p>\n

Doing what God loves is surely a sufficient motivation for us as we live our lives in this world. Whether in the workplace or in the civic square, whether among our neighbors or in our families, we want to do the things that God loves. But verse 7 adds a further motivation for such behavior: \u201cThe virtuous will see his face.\u201d When we live in a way that pleases God, we will see God more clearly. Our hearts and minds will be attuned to the Lord so that we might be attuned to his presence both within and around us.<\/p>\n

QUESTIONS FOR FURTHER REFLECTION:<\/strong> Do you truly desire to do that which God loves? What increases this desire? What conflicts with this desire? How might you live today as a reflection of God\u2019s own righteousness and justice?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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PRAYER:<\/strong> God of righteousness and justice, may I love what you love. May I desire what you desire. May I seek what you seek. May I live in such a way that you love my deeds and my relationships.<\/p>\n

Help me, I pray, to consider you as I live my life today. Even when I\u2019m doing that which tends to be called \u201csecular,\u201d may I do it for your delight and glory.<\/p>\n

Gracious God, may I see your face. May I know you more truly. May I continuously grow in my relationship with you. Amen<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

_________________________________________________<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>Would you like to receive a Daily Reflection like this one in your email inbox each morning?<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how . . . .<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

This devotional comes from The High Calling: Everyday Conversations about Work, Life, and God <\/em>(www.thehighcalling.org<\/a>). You can read my Daily Reflections there, or sign up to have them sent to your email inbox each day. This website contains lots of encouragement for people who are trying to live out their faith in the workplace. The High Calling<\/em> is associated with Laity Lodge, where I work.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Psalm 11:1-7 For the righteous LORD loves justice. The virtuous will see his face. Psalm 11:7 In yesterday\u2019s reflection on Psalm 10, we saw that God \u201cbring[s] justice to the orphans and the oppressed\u201d (10:18). This picture of the Lord is consistent with what we find throughout the Scriptures. Psalm 11 further explains God\u2019s relationship […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":109,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7933],"tags":[17100,17099],"class_list":["post-4701","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-inspiration-high-calling","tag-justice","tag-psalm-11"],"yoast_head":"\nWhy Does God Love Justice? Inspiration from The High Calling<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Psalm 11:1-7 For the righteous LORD loves justice. The virtuous will see his face. 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