Treasure: God Treasures Justice

Treasure: God Treasures Justice

Pastor Aaron Sutherland

Micah 6:8

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly with your God.

Justice; the quality of being just, impartial, or fair

Justice is not found in a just world, justice is found in a just God

Isaiah 30:18

Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you;
    therefore he will rise up to show you compassion.
For the Lord is a God of justice.
    Blessed are all who wait for him!

I. GOD DESIRES JUSTICE

Isaiah 30:18a

Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you...

Luke 18:15-17

People were also bringing babies to Jesus for him to place his hands on them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them.  But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."

Too often we see God’s Kingdom as something we fight FOR instead of something we surrender TO

II. GOD DELIVERS JUSTICE

Isaiah 30:18b

Therefore he will rise up to show you compassion.

The right thing at the wrong time becomes the wrong thing

We pray for God to deliver justice to others, and we permit God to deliver justice to us.

III. GOD DEFINES JUSTICE

Isaiah 30:18c

For the Lord is a God of justice.
    Blessed are all who wait for him.

God wants us to join in His justice, not ask Him to join us in our own

Psalm 13:1-2

How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?
    How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I take counsel in my soul
    and have sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long shall my enemy be exalted over me?

Psalm 13:5

But I have trusted in your steadfast love;
    my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.

Discussion Questions

1. How have you seen God’s justice expressed outside of your efforts?

2. Have you ever felt like you joined God in his justice? What did that look like?

3. How can our judgment cloud true justice?