They were the words of one of the parents who lost their daughter when the balcony collapsed.
Justice must prevail, cried the campaigner seeking the protection and equal rights of women in Afghanistan.
Whoever we are, we all have this sense of what is just and fair,
and nothing angers us more when injustice goes unpunished and the victims continue to suffer.
We've all experienced it in our lives and we can all see it.
It's not fair that the richest 60 people in the world have more wealth than the combined wealth of the poorest 3.5 billion.
That's half of the world's population.
It's wrong that the slaughter of innocent people at the hands of ISIS continues,
the beheadings of men, the rape and mutilation of women, the taking of children as sex slaves.
It's not right that gang lords walk our streets exploiting the vulnerable and terrorising neighbourhoods.
It's complete savagery that Boko Haram are kidnapping children and using them as suicide bombers,
because no one will suspect them.
It's not fair that men and women and children are being washed up on the shores of Greece
as they seek safety for their families.
It's not right that nearly half a million people, the most needy of our nation,
are waiting an appointment to see a consultant or a surgeon.
You see, we all know what it is to experience and see injustice.
And whatever we believe, we all want justice to be done.
Well, the story of the Bible tells us of a God who loves and desires justice to be done.
Psalm 146 reminds us of who God is.
It tells us that he executes justice for the oppressed and he gives food for the hungry.
The Lord sets prisoners free.
The Lord gives sight to the blind.
He lifts up those who are bowed down.
The Lord loves those who live justly.
The Lord watches over the immigrant and sustains the fatherless and the widow,
but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.
This is our great God.
And God so loves justice that he demands that his people also act justly.
So throughout the story, as God worked with his people,
and as they were rescued from Egypt, from slavery, unjustly,
they were brought out of that and brought into a new land,
and God gave them laws reflecting his character and how they should live.
And this is what he said to them.
If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the Lord is giving you,
do not be hard-hearted or tight-fisted towards your brother or sister.
Rather be open-handed and freely lend them whatever they need.
And cursed be anyone who withholds the justice that is due to the immigrant, the fatherless, and the widow.
And all the people shall say, Amen.
In fact, one of the main roles of the prophets was to remind God's people of how they should live as God's people in God's world.
From Micah, the prophet spoke to the people.
He says, He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly.
To love mercy.
And to walk humbly with your God.
You see, to act justly.
Or to do justice in the world.
Essentially means two things.
On the one hand, justice is about punishment.
It's about correcting wrongs and making sure people receive the penalty for their crime.
But on the other hand, justice is also about protection.
It's about giving people their rights.
And making sure that people are treated fairly.
And given the respect that is due to them.
You see, God's laws for his people was actually a reflection of his own heart and character of the way in which the world should be.
In fact, God promised that one day, he would bring about this kind of justice to all nations of the world.
And here we turn to Isaiah, chapter 42.
Let's read chapter 42, verse 1 together.
This is a prophecy looking forward to the coming of God's servant, the Lord Jesus Christ, who would come and bring justice.
Verse 1.
And here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight.
I will put my spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations.
He will not shout or cry out or raise his voice in the streets.
He will not be a bully or he will not oppress people.
Verse 3.
A bruised reed he will not break.
In other words, he will not crush those who are weak.
A smouldering wick he will not snuff out.
He will not destroy the needy.
In faithfulness he will bring forth justice.
He will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth.
You see, nothing and no one is going to stand in God's way.
God will not rest until justice is done.
All wrongs will be punished.
The vulnerable will be protected.
God, since Adam and Eve fell and the curse came upon the world,
God is intent on renewing and restoring and making everything right
and putting things back together the way they should be.
Well, if that is what God has promised,
if God has promised to bring justice,
then where is justice?
You see, God has promised to renew and restore.
But nothing, it seems, seems to be happening.
This is the struggle that we find throughout the story of the whole Bible.
Listen to the cries of the Psalms, the writers,
as they come to terms with the reality of living life
in a world where there is so much injustice.
My soul is in anguish.
How long, O Lord?
How long?
How long, O Lord?
Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and every day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?
How long will the wicked, O Lord?
How long will the wicked be jubilant?
How long must your servant wait?
When will you punish my persecutors?
Now isn't that your cry?
Isn't that your experience in life?
You work hard for your employer.
You do everything that's right,
but then you watch
as the lazy and the cheats get a pay rise.
Where's the justice in that?
Someone has wronged you
and every time you see them
it's a reminder that they got away.
It's as if they're sneering and laughing at you.
Where's the justice in that?
We turn on the news
and watch as another bomb goes off
and more lives are lost
and we wonder,
what is God doing?
How long
till you put it all right?
You see,
these are the normal questions
of Christians
as we live on the one hand
with God's promise of justice,
but then the reality of injustice.
And there's this tension.
God says,
I'm going to put everything right,
but our experience in life
is that nothing seems to be right.
That was certainly the experience
of the prophet Habakkuk
as he sees his own people
being oppressed
by an invading nation.
Have a look at Habakkuk chapter 1.
It's one of those books
that are there,
but we find hard to find.
It's on page 490, I think,
if you're using a red-covered Bible.
Sorry?
Oh, sorry, 940.
940.
Habakkuk chapter 1.
So here's a man called by God,
a prophet,
to speak into the people
in their situation.
He knows of God's promise of justice,
but yet his experience in life
is one of injustice.
page 940,
Habakkuk chapter 1.
Let's pick it up in verse 2.
How long, O Lord,
must I call for help,
but you do not listen,
or cry out to you,
violence,
but you do not save.
Have you not heard,
God,
the cries of those
270 girls
that were kidnapped
by Boko Haram,
or the 1,000 other children
who've been snatched
on their way to school?
Have you not heard
their cries at night
as they long for their parents?
Verse 3.
Why do you make me
look at injustice?
Why do you tolerate wrong?
God,
do you not know
about the 23 million people
who are suffering
to the point of sickness
and starvation
in that evil
and cruel state
of North Korea?
Can you not see
what's going on?
Verse 3.
Destruction and violence
are before me.
There is strife
and conflict abounds.
Do you not care
about that innocent man?
This past week,
that father of three,
struggling with his
drug addiction,
then being shot
in the face
and killed?
Do you not care
about these things?
Verse 4.
Therefore the law
is paralysed
and justice
never prevails.
The wicked
hem in the righteous
so that justice
is perverted.
How long?
How long,
O Lord,
till you deliver
on that promise
to renew
and restore
this disordered world
and our broken lives?
Or is this just
some big sick joke
and you're just
leading us up
the narrow path
to a dead end?
God has answered.
God has answered
in time
and in history
in three ways.
First,
justice has been done
at the cross.
You see,
when Jesus came
and moved
into this world,
he moved
into a world
of injustice.
He wasn't immune
to the suffering.
He was a man
who suffered
unjustly.
Jesus was innocent
of any crime.
He was without sin,
but yet he was
beaten,
whipped,
crushed,
broken,
crucified
on a wooden cross.
But Jesus' death
was so much more
than just identifying
with the injustices
of the world.
His death
was our substitution.
Go with me,
please,
to Luke's Gospel,
chapter 23.
Luke's Gospel,
chapter 23.
In Luke 23,
we have the account
of Jesus
dying on the cross.
His execution.
And as Jesus
was crucified,
you remember
that he was
crucified
with two criminals,
one on either side.
And we pick it up
in verse 39.
So we picture there
this innocent one
crucified
on the cross.
Verse 39,
and one of the criminals
who hung there
hurled their insults
at him.
Aren't you the Christ?
Well, save yourself
and us.
But the other criminal
rebuked him.
Don't you fear God,
he said,
since you are
under the same sentence?
We are punished
justly,
for we are getting
what our deeds
deserve.
But this man
has done nothing wrong.
You see,
in the history
of the world,
there is only one
who is truly
innocent.
That is the God-man
who hung
on the cross.
We might not be
responsible for
acts of terrorism.
We might not have
siphoned off
taxpayers' money
into our own
personal accounts.
but each one
of us
has acted
unjustly
towards others.
Our words,
my words,
have hurt
the innocent.
Our greed,
my greed,
has caused
needy people
to suffer.
You see,
if justice
is to be done,
if we want
God to bring
his justice,
justice,
then we too
deserve
to be punished.
If we want
God to come
right now
and correct
all wrongs
and put
everything right,
then that means
God must not
just deal with
the world,
he must deal
with me.
Why should I
be excluded
and stand apart
from it all
and be let
off the hook?
Well,
in history,
God has come
in the person
of Jesus Christ.
Jesus came
into this world
to be our
substitute
and he was
treated as you
and I deserve
to be treated
because Jesus
came and took
all our acts
of injustice
on himself
and so the
justice of God
falls not on us
but it falls
on his son
on the cross
who takes the
blame
for all that
we have done
wrong.
verse 42
this is criminal
he says to
Jesus
remember me
when you come
into your kingdom
and Jesus
answered him
I tell you the
truth
today
you will be
with me
in paradise
you see
when we fall
in dependence
upon God
when we
acknowledge our
guilt
when we trust
in Christ
alone
we can be
forgiven
of all of
our sin
we are
welcomed as
that criminal
was
into paradise
itself
the new
creation
where justice
reigns
and where
peace
rules
justice
is done
at the cross
well justice
has been done
at the cross
and justice
is being
done
through the
church
you see
when we
turn
independence
to Christ
he doesn't
just leave
us as we
are
he transforms
us into
the kind
of people
who begin
to live
and act
justly
the church
is to be
a place
where we
speak up
for the
oppressed
where we
give a voice
to the
unborn
who provide
for those
who have
suffered
injustices
have a look
at Acts
chapter 2
here we get
this wonderful
picture
of the church
and how
it should
operate
a people
of justice
Acts chapter 2
and verse
44
so chapter
2 verse
44
all the
believers
were together
and had
everything in
common
selling their
possessions
and goods
they gave
to anyone
as they
had need
this is a
picture of
God's new
people
the church
those who
have been
changed
by God
now begin
to reflect
the very
character
of God
to others
they look
out for
the most
vulnerable
the weak
and the
poor
they look
out for
those who
have suffered
injustice
in fact
those who
have much
have a
very special
responsibility
have a look
at chapter 4
and verse
34
again we
have a
picture
of what
the church
should be
as the
believers
met together
look at
verse 34
there were
no needy
persons
among them
for from
time to
time those
who owned
lands or
houses sold
them brought
the money
from the
sales and
put it at
the apostles
feet and
it was
distributed to
anyone as
he had
need
you see the
needy today
is the
refugee who
is fleeing
from Syria
it's the
homeless person
which includes
those who are
living in
emergency
accommodation
it's a
single mum
who's suffering
abuse at the
hands of her
so-called
lovers
it's the
father who's
having to
work three
jobs trying
to make
ends meet
it's the
immigrant who
can't speak
English and
needs help
and support
if we are
people who've
experienced the
grace of God
where the
justice of God
has not fallen
on us but
upon his son
so that we
can be
forgiven
if that is
our experience
we will be
a people who
are seeking
justice in
the lives of
those who
are most
needy
instead of
crying out
what is
God doing
what are
God's people
doing
one of the
ways we
seek to do
that as a
church is
through what
we call
ministries of
mercy
we have a
financial fund
to provide
for the
practical and
social needs
of other
people
in some
way to
reflect the
character of
God to
those who
do not yet
know God
so God's
plan is not
that justice
has been done
on the cross
but justice
is being done
through his
people
the church
but there's
a third
way
justice
will be
done
when Jesus
returns
have a look
at Revelation
chapter 6
Revelation
chapter 6
Revelation
is this
spectacular
vision
of what
is going
to happen
in the
end
if you
want to
know
how the
history
of the
world
the story
is going
to reach
its
conclusion
read
Revelation
but it's
full of
imagery
and symbolism
so we
don't take
everything
literally
it's got
full of
vibrant
colours
and pictures
to help
us see
and at
the heart
of this
vision
comes this
question
in
Revelation
chapter 6
and verse
10
Revelation
chapter 6
verse 10
there's a
question
that is being
raised by
God's people
as they look
out on the
world and see
the injustice
that is going
on
do you see
what it says
there in
verse 10
they called
out in a
loud voice
how long
sovereign
Lord
holy and
true
until you
judge the
inhabitants
of the
earth
and avenge
our blood
how long
is it going
to be
till you
bring justice
to those
who are
suffering
injustice
well as we
read through
the conclusion
of the story
we're not
told a
day or a
date
but we are
simply told
that justice
will come
and we are
given a picture
of what it
will look like
have a look at
Revelation
chapter 19
Revelation 19
we have this
incredible picture
we need to
engage our
minds here
in this
to picture
it
this is what
it will be
like
when the
risen
Lord Jesus
returns
in all
his glory
and all
his power
and will
fulfill the
promise to
bring justice
upon all
peoples
and all
nations
let me read
from verse
11
so picture
this scene
standing as it
were if we're
looking up
to the sky
I saw
heaven
standing
open
and there
before me
was a
white
horse
a white
horse
being a
symbol
of the
purity
of the
one who
is to
come
the rider
is called
faithful
and true
faithful to
all his
promises
throughout
time
to renew
this broken
world
and restore
disordered
lives
he is
true
he is
going to
expose
every
single
wrong
nothing
will be
kept
hidden
everything
will be
shown
for what
it is
with
justice
he judges
and makes
war
his eyes
are like
blazing
fire
and on
his head
are many
crowns
here is
one
with
absolute
power
and supreme
authority
over all
things
and over
all people
he has
a name
written
on him
that no
one knows
but he
himself
in other
words
nobody
can
comprehend
his
awesome
rule
and power
you cannot
confine
him to
a mere
name
you cannot
squish him
down into
a box
that you
can manage
he is
bigger
and beyond
and greater
than all
things
verse 13
he is
dressed
in a
robe
dripped
in blood
because
this
faithful
and true
rider
on his
white
horse
is nothing
less
than the
crucified
Jesus
whose
blood
was shed
for you
and for
me
and now
he comes
in victory
and in
power
his name
is the
word
of God
verse 14
the armies
of heaven
were following
him
riding on
white horses
and dressed
in fine
linen
white and
clean
the armies
are not
just the
armies
all the
angels
but God's
people
those who
have trusted
in him
will be
with him
as he
rides in
victory
with power
and authority
and they
will be
behind him
on their
horses
coming to
bring
justice
verse 15
out of his
mouth
comes a
sharp
sword
and with
it to
which he
will strike
down the
nations
he will
rule them
with an
iron scepter
because with
his word
he will
execute
justice
punishing
wrong
and protecting
the weak
he treads
the wine
press of
the fury
of the wrath
of God
almighty
just as
those in
days gone
past
would have
gone out
to the
vineyard
and collected
the grapes
and brought
it back
into the
big vat
and they
would put
all the
grapes
there
and then
the servants
would come
and they
would trample
on the
grapes
squeezing
the juice
out of them
until it
ran below
into the
vats
underneath
well in
this image
in this
picture
we see
God
gathering
the nations
of the
world
and as it
were
he treads
and he
crushes
upon them
bringing
his justice
to all
who have
defied him
and not
one will
escape
justice
will be
done
verse 16
and on
his robe
and on
his thigh
he has
his name
written
the king
of kings
and the
lord of
lords
just as
God had
promised
that a
saviour
would come
and that
saviour
did come
so God
has promised
to you
and me
that one
day his
judge
the risen
Jesus
is going
to come
Jesus
the risen
king
will come
and execute
justice
upon all
peoples
and all
nations
how will
we stand
before this
king of kings
and lord of
lords when he
comes
the only
place for us
to stand
is to stand
under the cross
where justice
has been
done
where we
take refuge
where the
justice of
God has
fallen on
his son
instead of
you and
me
so that we
can look
forward to a
new heavens
and a new
earth where
everything is
put right
not because we
deserve it
but because of
his grace
and his mercy
justice
will be done
let's pray
or
pray
on