Perfect Justice

Isaiah 11:4 – “But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked.”

In many courthouses you can find a statue of a blindfolded woman holding a balance and an unsheathed sword. She symbolizes justice. The blindfold indicates that the law is no respecter of persons, the balance denotes that all facts are weighed carefully, and the bared sword means that punishment is dispersed quickly whenever guilt is found. The symbolism is beautiful, but most of us will agree that such punitive action is not always fair and swift.

Clever men may get by with light penalties while others guilty of lesser crimes are given heavy sentences. Nor is retribution rendered rapidly, for often months and sometimes years elapse between the time of the arrest and the final verdict. This deliberation is inevitable when a sincere effort is being made to judge men on the principle that they are innocent until proven guilty. Human judges do not have complete knowledge and therefore must act slowly and carefully. Sinful mankind is not capable of administering perfect justice.

How comforting it is to know that someday Christ will right all wrongs and put an end to all inequities. Isaiah 11:3,4 tells us that He will not judge of the basis of mere external appearance or hearsay, but with that discernment which can be exercised only by One who knows everything. He will always be fair. No one from a low station in life will be discriminated against, and no one with wealth will be given preferential treatment.

Don’t be discouraged by the injustices you encounter in this world. Final judgement rests with Christ. Trust Him and look forward to the day of His return.