Heaven’s Justice

Here is a little piece of scripture that makes me cringe. It’s a prayer invoking evil upon others, calling on God to bring calamity down on people. These are some of the most horrible words in the Bible:
 
“O daughter of Babylon, you will be destroyed. Happy is the one who pays you back for what you have done to us.
Happy is the one who takes your babies and smashes them against the rocks!” – Psalms 137:8-9
 
I remember that Jesus once challenged a group of men to “cast the first stone”. If He were speaking to these Jewish exiles in Babylon, would He challenge them to smash the first baby?
 
I think this shows the fallacy of the idea of retributive justice, the idea that God will somehow balance the scales of justice by bringing evil on those who do evil. Yet can you see how this brand of justice brings nothing good or solves no problem? It only brings more pain, more destruction, more sorrow, and more death.
 
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” – Proverbs 16:25
 
James and John were ready to call fire down from heaven and wipe out the Samaritans. After all, they had rejected Jesus. Didn’t they deserve to burn? God’s justice would be served, right?
 
But Jesus told them that they were following the wrong spirit. Jesus is all about restorative justice, not retributive. The way of heaven is not the way of the world. God’s heart and His nature is not in line with an eye for an eye. If the Old Testament seems to be retributive, then Jesus is the correction of that.
 
When I was more lost and spiritually blind, I did some very selfish and wicked things. If God’s justice was about retribution, then I could not be here declaring the wonderful works of God. I would be suffering much punishment, some say forever. Like the Samaritans, I also rejected a Jesus that I didn’t understand. In fact, I rejected Him again and again, many times. But eventually, He won me over. He never violated my will, but He did persuade my will. We are all here because we have not received retribution, but restoration. This is heaven’s justice. This is how God thinks. What a beautiful heart He has!
 
The gospel is lovely. It gives peace to our soul and hope for humanity.  
 
“For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you future and a hope.” – Jeremiah 29:11
 
We hope you continue to behold and know more of the beauty of the Lord.