People who long for justice and righteousness to be truly worked out in society are often extremely disappointed when the unjust walk free to harm again.

The desire for fairness, for a healthy individualism that leads to a voluntary (only) collectivism, and for the prosecution of criminals that matches the crimes committed, all seem to allude those who “hunger and thirst for righteousness” (Mt 5).

A jury is hung because the police force in the small town overlooked details and skipped major steps in the investigation. As a result the drug-drenched man who murdered (and each juror knows it) walks free and will likely harm again.

Many politicians steal money from citizens (overwhelming taxes/manipulated donations) in order to line their own pockets and buy future votes. Taxpayers loose large portions of their income while the politicians ascend in fame and power. And they walk free to harm again.

Religious leaders engage in the same criminal actions only clothed in religious garments. Trusting parishioners, afraid to face God without at least some effort, write the checks (in the name of Jesus) while the thieves smile on the drive to the bank.

God’s Wise Law

Here we need the wisdom of the Law of God. Though people are not and can not be saved by this wise Law, nonetheless those who meditate on it and desire to follow it will be blessed with its genius. They will also (perhaps eventually) find what they long for in terms of true justice.

Just after God had given Moses and the Israelites the Ten Commandments, He unfolds to Moses some of the cultural applications of those Ten Commandments. In particular, He raises some of the applications of “Do not steal.”

In Exodus 22 He discusses property rights and what to do if and when they are violated. Getting specific He deals with the issue of asking a neighbor to watch over a piece of property and what to do if it ends up dead (in the case of an animal) or missing (in the case of an inanimate piece of property or sum of money).

Exodus 22:8 If the thief is not found, the owner of the house shall come near to God to show whether or not he has put his hand to his neighbor’s property.

It is possible that a third-party thief stole the property, but if no thief is found, it is certainly possible that the one who was watching over the property actually stole it. If that is the case, they are pronounced guilty.

Now someone may raise the question: Why should the owner of the house suffer loss or be pronounced guilty in this case? After all, this neighbor was simply watching out for a piece of property that belonged to someone else.

But you see the neighbor is under no obligation to look over the piece of property. He could say no:

“Hi neighbor. Just wondering if you could watch over my donkey for a week while I’m out of town?”

“I wish I could but I will not be able to. Sorry.”

See, the neighbor can say No. If the neighbor says Yes and agrees to keep the donkey, he is taking on the responsibility for that donkey. This is an individualism that leads to a healthy and voluntary collectivism. In order for justice to be maintained, the neighbor who agrees to watch the property must also agree to take responsibility for the property if something were to happen to it.

Shall Come Near to God

According to the passage if something happens to the piece of property and no third-party thief is found, then the owner of the house who agreed to watch the property must “come near to God.” When this happens the implication is that the truth of the situation will be revealed.

Amazingly the presence of God exposes truth. Nobody can maintain a lie in the presence of God. He is the ultimate lie detector test.

People obviously know this and that is why we promise (and sometimes swear) to God. Or we say, “With God as my witness.”

Much can and should be said about the implications of this reality for social justice but let me conclude by simply challenging readers (even as I challenge myself) to confess to God the reality of what is in our souls. If you don’t you will run from Him for you know that in His presence the truth will come out. But you can’t run forever. Eventually you will stand face to face with Him and justice will be served fully and completely as you and I are brought near to Him. Confess now and let the truth flow like the Nile and perhaps the Law of God will not condemn you but will rather be sweet and delightful as honey (Ps 119:70).