Justice

The foundations of law and order have collapsed.  What can the righteous do? But the Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord still rules from heaven. Psalm 11:3-4

I can't count the number of times we have watched the evening news and been horrified at the increasing rise of violence and corruption in our land.  Added to that is the disappointment we feel with some of the seemingly inadequate sentences meted out to criminals. Worse still, there are those who are obviously guilty but can afford to hire expensive lawyers who then somehow 'prove' their innocence.  Then there is the problem of government being manipulated by the vocal minority to change age-old laws that have kept our society on a firm foundation, to fit our increasingly sin-filled world's demands.  I am so glad I can say with the psalmist - Yet I am confident I will see the LORD’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living (Psalm 27:13).

What can the righteous do indeed?   In the 1700s Irish orator, philosopher, and politician Edmund Burke said, "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."

Firstly we can take comfort from, and hope in the fact that God is in his holy temple and he does indeed still rule from heaven.  We do not have to adopt a position that 'all is lost, there is no hope'.  Secondly we must remember that we have a God, and we have his attention.  'The LORD is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer of the righteous.' (Proverbs 15:9). We can and must pray. James 5:16(NLT) says, 'The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results.'  (Don't say, "Well I'm not really righteous.  If you are a believer, remember, our righteousness has nothing to do with how good we are but all to do with the righteousness that is given to believers because of our  Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.  We are covered over with his righteousness and that's what God sees.) Our earnest prayers will produce results. God promises they will.  It may not be in our timeframe but we must continue to pray in faith and leave the results to God.

Sometimes we have the opportunity to speak up and be counted.  It is easy to ignore opinion polls as being of no consequence or use.  However, they can give ammunition to the enemy.  If good people do or say nothing, the world has all the say and the opinion polls are loaded in their favour, but don't necessarily reflect the true thinking of a nation.  Let us love our nation enough to speak the truth - in love, because 'Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people.' Proverbs 14:34

Prayer:  Lord God, thank you that you are still ruling from heaven and you will indeed have the final say.  Help me to know when to speak up for truth and right and help me to be faithful in prayer for my nation.  Thank you that you always hear my prayer.  Amen