Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you. Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, Lord.
They rejoice in your name all day long; they celebrate your righteousness. For you are their glory and strength, and by your favor you exalt our horn. Indeed, our shield belongs to the Lord, –Psalm 89-14-19
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms+89%3A9-14&version=NIV
In Psalm 89, David proclaims that he will sing of the Lord’s great love forever and will make God’s faithfulness known through all generations. Declaring that God’s love stands firm forever. The heavens and earth belong to Him. He rules over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, He stills them.
Who is like you, Lord God Almighty? Your faithfulness surrounds you!
I wrote the original blog post Pursuing Justice in May 2019 and decided to revisit it today in light of the ongoing chaos, confusion, lawlessness, and anarchy following the death of George Floyd and the upheaval related to the Covid 19 pandemic. In May 2019, I read several articles that troubled by spirit: “Why America Can’t Solve Homelessness”, “102-year-old California woman evicted so landlord’s daughter can move in”, “Retirement should not mean hardship – but many older Americans live in poverty”, “Trump is giving new meaning to the ‘War on Poverty’”’, “Trump Immigration Plan May Throw 4 Million People Off Immigrant Waiting Lists”, “Why the ‘Equality Act’ means a setback for women” ”Arizona Prisons’ Ban on Book About Racism in Criminal Justice Draws Challenge”, “NAACP panel: Problems larger than racism need to be addressed” and more.
As I scan my newsfeed today, I’m seeing this: “U.S. see a record number of new coronovirus cases reported in a single day”; “Three Months In, These Patients Are Still Ravaged by Covid’s Fallout”; “Father of CHOP shooting victim speaks out in emotional “Hannity’ interview: All I know is my son is dead”; “Trump: Black Matters is a ‘symbol of hate’; In Illinois, political lies are evidence that Black lives don’t matter much”.
Who would have imaged that a year later the United States would be in such turmoil and disruption. Only God knew. To date over 500,000 people have lost their lives globally, and close to 128,000 Americans have died due to the coronovirus pandemic. Lawlessness and anarchy are increasing across the nation.
I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the Lord, give yourselves no rest, and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth.” –Isaiah 62:6,7
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+62%3A6-7&version=NIV
As a prophetic minister and watchman I will never be silent day or night, Lawlessness in America, Spirit of Lawlessness. The U.S. has become vulnerable to impending danger on many fronts. Not only that, in my mind I wonder “where do we go from here?” Do we look for someone to blame or do we turn to God as a nation for grace and mercy?
And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land,
Source: https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/words/Hedge
When it comes to pursuing justice what is the right thing to do? Scripture says in 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.”
The U.S. Declaration of Independence states “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
The U.S. Constitution states, “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
How does a nation promote the general welfare of its citizens during a pandemic? Something is beyond amiss when there have been over 2,624,873 COVID cases and 127,299 reported deaths in America alone.1 And when racial injustice, poverty and homelessness continues to prevail in this nation.
Amiss: not quite right; inappropriate or out of place.
How do our legislators and legislation ensure constitutional rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness when people are struggling just to survive in the midst of a pandemic? Epidemiologists and other experts had long warned it was only a matter of time before such a disaster struck. Covid-19 and shutdowns led to historically high unemployment and is likely to leave lasting mark on the U.S. economy.
This question is not only about what how society should be organized as it relates to justice and human welfare, but what role does biblical justice play in a nation. To answer it, we have to explore the meaning of biblical justice and how God intervenes in the affairs of nations God Is Sovereign Over The Affairs Of Men – Part 1, God Is Sovereign Over The Affairs Of Men – Part 2, God Is Sovereign Over The Affairs Of Men – Part 3.
A year ago I could see the effects of poverty and homeless on a subset of people. Today, many Americans are struggling to pay their bills, maintain housing or health care and take care of their families. Just a David declared in Psalm 89, the Lord’s great love lasts forever and He will make His faithfulness known through all generations.
The concern for justice is an act of love, compassion and mercy. Divine justice involves God being merciful and compassionate.
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!
Isaiah 30:18
As the people of God, we are called to engage societal and cultural issues related to justice. The Lord expects nothing less from His children.
No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8
For the Lord declares, “I … will be a wall of fire around her, and I will be the glory in her midst.” –Zechariah 2:5 NASB
Join me as a group of ministry leaders across the nation are building a firewall around the U.S., an urgent call to prayer for the nation. If you, your church or ministry is interested in participating in this prayer initiative beginning July 4, 2020, please contact me at info@afrancinegreen.com for further information. My prayer time slot is 9:00 am eastern standard time.
Shalom,
Dr. A
Notes:
BEYOND CHURCH WALLS 