Justice Is An Imperative
This is a new section of Historia and I am thrilled to be able to share it. Dan Hawk was a professor who profoundly influenced me during my college years. He often shares his reflections with his friends and they really strike at the heart of what it means to live in a moral society.
Dr. L. Daniel Hawk
Justice is not merely a social issue. It is a biblical imperative. The biblical notion of justice is rooted in a fundamental concern to maintain the equilibrium necessary for social well-being. An equitable society, in which all members flourish, is a healthy society. On the other hand, imbalances of wealth and power tear apart the fabric of society, resulting in suffering, violence, and disorder. The greater the imbalance, the greater the disorder. For this reason, biblical Israel was charged with “doing justice,” that is, actively working to minimize gaps between the powerful and wealthy and the powerless and poor.
Maintaining a just society is the fundamental function of the law code that God gave Israel at Sinai. The laws of Sinai were given to enable God’s people to resolve the conflicts and inequities that threaten social well-being. One law near the center of the law code, however, demonstrates in a striking way that doing justice is God’s highest priority.
You must not oppress a widow or an orphan. If you oppress them and they cry out to me, I will readily listen. My anger will burn, and I will kill you with the sword. Then your wives shall become widows and your children orphans (Exodus 22:22-24).
Widows and orphans often symbolize the powerless in society. This law is exceptional in being the one and only law that, if violated, will bring a direct divine response. If, God says, those in power do not do justice, but instead, *increase* social inequity, God will make everyone widows and orphans – and thus equilibrium will be restored. If Israel refuses to do justice, then God will.
The prophets of Israel, those pesky divine mouthpieces, knew that doing justice was the social practice that mattered most to God. They spoke dire warnings to the wealthy and powerful, and they drew direct connections between injustice and the violence that broke out in Israelite society.
If you believe the Bible speaks the truth about the world, you will recognize that the violence and chaos that marks the U.S. and the globe have their roots in massive disparities of wealth and power. If you believe that Christian political convictions must align with God’s priorities, then you will align yourself with those who seek to redress the obscene inequities in wealth, power, and privilege that mark U.S. society. If your voting is guided by biblical principles, your concerns about sexual immorality, religious freedom, and individual rights will take a back seat to a vote against all politicians and policies that fuel the widening gulf between the haves and have-nots.
I submit that the choice has rarely been as clear for Christian voters as it is in this election.
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When it comes to Old Testament scholarship and theology, Dr. Hawk is an expert. He is also an excellent communicator, able to make complex issues of theology accessible to those in his classroom. Students find Dr. Hawk to be kind, compassionate, and a compelling teacher. He is the author of a commentary on Ruth and two commentaries on Joshua.
Dr. Hawk is married to his beautiful wife, Linda, and they have two wonderful sons, Danny and Andrew.