What is Justice? Easy, right? Fair play. Equal treatment. Unbiased. If only it was that easy. God calls us to “do justice” but also clarifies that it is bigger than just Christ followers acting fairly and not cheating anyone. The call to “do justice” requires us to advocate for the poor, the less powerful, orphans, children, widows and the oppressed. The prophets in the Hebrew scriptures and Jesus in the Christian scriptures point us towards justice from God’s point of view. For Jesus and the Prophets, justice is not an abstract ideal but a concrete expectation. Justice is considered part of the character of God as well as our responsibility.
Micah 6:8 He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Jeremiah 22:3 Thus says the Lord: Act with justice and righteousness, and deliver from the hand of the oppressor anyone who has been robbed. And do no wrong or violence to the alien, the orphan, and the widow, or shed innocent blood in this place.