To know who God is, you must read His Word, the bible. His character is especially evident in the law that compiles the various regulations He commanded us to observe. In short, it is ‘love’, but from a relational perspective, it can be divided into ‘God’s love’ and ‘to love thy neighbour’. In other words, the law is divided into the regulations concerning sacrifices offered to God and the moral and social laws to be observed among people relations.
The book of Micah describes the relationship between the two as “act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with Him” (6:8), while Jesus expressed it as “justice, mercy and faith” (Matthew 23:23). Justice and mercy are necessary in relationships, and walking humbly with God and faith are attitudes necessary in the relationship we have with God.
To understand ‘justice and mercy’, I believe the English bible can be more convenient than the Korean. The words ‘justice’ and ‘righteousness’ not only characterises God but also portrays important standards in all human relationships. First, justice refers to acting according to principle. This means not to defend someone more over another just because they are closer to you or in the same team. No matter how much you may like something or someone, you should act fairly rather than following emotions only. There are some people who have a strong sense of ‘ownership’. A strong tendency to make decisions based on my cell, my team or my department.
Righteousness means being responsible for the person you are in a relationship with. It is to sacrifice and love them with devotion. People tend to lean on one side between justice and righteousness. If justice is strong, one can be fair, but they may also seem cold and rigid; if righteousness is strong, the person may be good, but they might act inconsistently causing a lack of order.
Out God has these two things in mysterious harmony. Especially on the cross, justice and righteousness were fully satisfied. He carried out justice by judging us the sinners, without the slightest concessions according to the standard of the law yet fulfilled His responsibility for us with an incomprehensible excess of righteousness by having His only Son die on the cross.
We should also be like this. In all relationships, do not act solely on where your emotions lead you. Instead, act according to principles. However, we also must live by practicing love, not hesitating making personal sacrifices to save our neighbours who are far from meeting those standards.
“‘Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favouritism to the great, but judge your neighbour fairly.”(Levitivus 19:15)
“If you come across your enemy’s ox or donkey wandering off, be sure to return it. If you see the donkey of someone who hates you fallen down under its load, do not leave it there; be sure you help them with it.” (Exodus 23:4-5)
