Justice and Mercy

The more I try to learn about justice, the more I find myself learning about mercy.

If Justice is getting what you deserve, and mercy is not getting what you deserve, then how is God both just and merciful? And subsequently how are we to accomplish what God has required of us: to do justice and love mercy?

(Warning! This may take some brain power.)

When a person convicted of murder gets a life sentence in prison, we call that justice. We say things like “justice has been served.” But if that person was proven guilty and did not get punished or imprisoned, we would call it injustice. But it is a little more complicated if you were to talk to the person’s mother. She may understand why we would call it injustice, but she would call it mercy.

Another place justice and mercy seem to be at odds is when we say we want justice for all. This is a nice thought; but if we unpack it, we may be surprised, because justice for all would not lead us to a happy place. Some work harder than others, some sacrifice more than others, so to desire justice for all would be to desire inequity. 

All this contradiction and confusion is not a result of misunderstanding justice. It is a result of misunderstanding mercy. In the Bible, justice and mercy are not at odds. They go hand-in-hand. 

God loves it when we do right by others (justice), but He is even more impressed and glorified when we show mercy to others. Jesus said it this way: “I desire mercy, not sacrifice.” Jesus’ younger half-brother James wrote it this way: “Mercy triumphs over judgment.” Micah said it this way: “Do justice and love mercy,” because, though justice is good and right, mercy is the only way we can find the equity we desire for all people. 

Let me see if I can bring all these thoughts together now. 

Sad to say, the only place all humanity is actually on equal footing with each other is in our sin. “We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” Our sins have earned us the wage of death. Yet, God — who is just and loves justice — loves mercy even more.

God executed complete justice by pouring out our punishment on His Son. He did this as the greatest act of justice the world has ever known and ever will know. Justice was satisfied forevermore on that cross. But at the same time, this was the greatest act of mercy the world has ever known and ever will know. Since God’s desire for justice was completely satisfied on the Cross of the Christ, God’s love for mercy is left to be satisfied in you and me. That is why Jeremiah could write prophetically that God’s mercies are new every morning. Hallelu!

Now, while we are left to enjoy and experience the great mercy of God, there is also a challenge for us. If God is willing to show us mercy, then we should be willing to multiply mercy to others — no matter what they deserve. This is very difficult, and even painful, when faced with multiplying mercy to someone who has severely injured or betrayed us. Father wounds, mother wounds, sexual wounds, betrayal wounds, and divorce wounds can leave us hungry for justice. But the way God accomplishes His justice is not through our anger, resentment or worse. Jesus was wounded to take on all the penalty and punishment for the wounds we have experienced. And just as we are left to enjoy and experience the mercy of God, God requires us to be agents of His mercy to others. 

Mercy truly is the greatest gift. Mercy truly does triumph over judgment.

I pray we would be individuals full of mercy, making up a community that endlessly extends mercy to melt away copious amounts of shame for those around us. 

David