Justice and Righteousness - Never-Ending Streams

 

Lady Justice, Singapore Supreme Court

'Let justice roll on like a river and righteousness like a never failing stream!' Amos 5:24

We tend to make a display of our piety, paying so much attention to ceremonies, rituals, praises and worships. Our temple worships can be like Chinese Opera with clanging symbols and beating of drums. Our church worship can be like Taylor Swift Concerts with electric guitars, electronic keyboards and electric drums. There is no denying that when we worship God together we want to put in our best efforts. However this show of religiosity can be very insincere, and if so it is repugnant to God who used the strongest words through the Prophet Amos.

'I hate, I despise  your religious festivals; you assemblies are a stench to me. Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard form them. Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen listen to the music of your harps.' Amos 5:21-23

We may wonder why this litany of pronouncements against false, insincere and showy worship. The Lord prefers His people to 'walk the talk' with sincere justice and righteousness marking their daily living.

'But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never failing stream' Amos 5:24

The Hebrew word for justice is Mishpat. The meaning goes beyond just rightness or wrongness, nor punishment of wrongdoing. It also means to treat others with equity, giving people what they are due.

Timothy Keller in his essay on Justice in the Bible (Ref 1) noted, "Biblical justice is not a set of bullet points or a set of rules and guidelines. It is rooted in the very character of God and it is the outworking of that character, which is never less than just." One attribute of the Triune God, noted Keller,  is the immaculate equity and justness in all His dealings with man at all times and in all ways.

Tim Keller wrote, "One principle of biblical justice is universal equality which means that every person should be treated by the same standards and the same respect regardless of class, race, ethnicity, nationality, gender or of any other social category." 

'You shall not be partial to the poor or defer to the great but in righteousness shall you judge your neighbour.' Leviticus 19:15

The Hebrew word for righteousness is Tzadegah means being upright, as in someone who is straight in his dealings with God and others. Timothy Keller in a short article on Biblical righteousness (Ref 2) noted that it is not just about private morality; it is not personal but inevitably social. Tim Keller noted that Tzadegah refers to day by day living in which a person conducts all his relationships in family and society with fairness, generosity and equity.'

When the Prophet Amos wrote, "Let justice roll like a river and righteousness like a never failing stream" he was referring not about personal nor corporate piety but personal and corporate conduct, the way we treat others. 

Both Micah 6 and Amos 5 told us not to be preoccupied by the practices or rituals of our faith but to put the faith that we have to right practices. The practical expressions of our belief in and love for God should be lived out naturally, abundantly and evidently, like never-ending streams.

The hymn 'Brother, Sister, Let Me Serve' is the Christian call to selfless service and community. We have the chance to show justice, kindness, righteousness and humility in walking alongside others and bearing one another's joys and sorrows. God will be pleased if we learn to treat each other with justice and righteousness.

'To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.' Proverbs 21:3

 

Brother, Sister Let Me Serve You.

Let Me Be As Christ To You;

Pray That I May Have The Grace To

Let You Be My Servant Too.

Brother, Sister Let Me Serve You.

Let Me Be As Christ To You;

Pray That I May Have The Grace To

Let You Be My Servant Too.

We Are Pilgrims On A Journey,

And Companions On The Road;

We Are Here To Help Each Other

Walk The Mile And Bear The Load.

I Will Hold The Christ-Light For You

In The Night-Time Of Your Fear;

I Will Hold My Hand Out To You,

Speak The Peace You Long To Hear.

I Will Weep When You Are Weeping;

When You Laugh I’ll Laugh With You;

I Will Share Your Joy And Sorrow

Till We’ve Seen This Journey Through.

When We Sing To God In Heaven

We Shall Find Such Harmony,

Born Of All We’ve Known Together

Of Christ’s Love And Agony.

Brother, Sister Let Me Serve You.

Let Me Be As Christ To You;

Pray That I May Have The Grace To

Let You Be My Servant Too.

Lionel

Ref 1: Timothy Keller: https://quarterly.gospelinlife.com/justice-in-the-bible/

Ref 2: Timothy Keller: https://generositymonk.com/2016/09/14/tim-keller-biblical-righteousness-exhibits-generosity/

Who Am I? God's Vision of Humanity

Vitruvian Man

'Then God said, "Let us make mankind in our own image, in our own likeness so that they may rule over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them, male and female He created them.' Genesis 1:26 -27 

The Vitruvian Man is a drawing by Leonardo Da Vinci dated 1490. He wanted to draw a man with perfect proportions and placed the naked figure with arms and and legs outstretched inscribed within both a circle and a square. He was inspired by the notion of the ideal human figure first conceptualised by the Roman architect, Vitruvius.

The Renaissance artists, Raphael, Leonardo, Botticelli, Da Vinci and others, in their paintings and sculptures, contrived to depict men and women as beautiful, perfect human beings. That inspiration produced many works of art; these monumental representations of the creative Italian Renaissance and its celebration of man. 

These artists were influenced by the popular philosophy of their day, which promoted the primacy of Man. That philosophy gave rise to Humanism, a belief that placed man at the centre of the universe. Humanism is a secular view of life that affirms that we humans have the right, responsibility to give shape and meaning to life outside of any notion and influence of God. It is wholly man-centred and sought to define man and the universe from human discovery, knowledge and science instead of revelation from supernatural sources.

It gave birth to the idea of the Renaissance Man, a thinker, who has grappled with the questions Who am I? Why am I here? Where am I going? and who rests in thinking that humans have the answers to these questions outside of God. 

The 2023 Keswick Convention addressed these same questions. In stark contrast to humanism the take home message of this year's Keswick teaching is quite the opposite, 'Don't forge your own identity. Discover what God has in store for you.' 

The Convention elaborated on the doctrine Imago Dei, found on the first page of the Bible. God declared, "Let us make mankind in our own image in our likeness." From creation God made His vision and purpose for humankind, absolutely clear. The Convention explored what it means to be created in God's image, how it is to be lived out, how this truth is being challenged and how this sin-marred image is renewed in Jesus Christ.

Three core truths were iterated by Rev Jeremy McQuoid, the current chair of Keswick Ministries, in the message entitled, 'Image Bearers.' 

• God created us with dignity. The creation of mankind is treated differently from the rest of creation. Mankind was created at the apex of all creation on the sixth day, after God created all physical elements, nature and all living things. The narrative in Genesis 1 changes from the third person to the first person 'Let us' and in the plural, referring to the Holy Trinity at creation. This is the value God places on the creation of man and woman  

'Let us make mankind in our own image in our likeness.' Genesis 1:26a

• God gave us Authority. God told man to subdue the earth. We are to explore, discover and exploit it but as caretakers, not destroyers of the earth. We have a mandate to look after the earth. 

'God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the  fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and every living creature that moves on the ground."

• God destined us for Glory. Creation was very good when God made it. Even though it is marred by the fall there is still much beauty in creation, so much of its original glory for us to enjoy. In the mandate to caretake the earth, God gave us the privilege of looking after this marvellous creation. After this, we can look forward to a glorious new heaven and new earth. 

'God saw all that He had made, and it was very good.' Genesis 1:31

This is God's plan, His grand design and it is very good. So why would the humanist think otherwise? In defining what it takes to be a man, the humanist preferred to leave God out of the picture. They fall into a trap as old as the hills, the trap of the original sin, the trap to be like God,

"You will not certainly die," the serpent said to the woman. "For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." Genesis 3:4-5

When man disregard God and think the world of ourselves, there is no more standards, no more restrictions. St Paul said that there is no fear of God in their eyes. This accounts for man's loss of his humanity and dignity,

'All have turned away, they have altogether become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one. Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit. The poison of vipers is on their lips. Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood; ruin and misery mark their ways, and the way of peace they do not know. There is no fear of God before their eyes.' Romans 3:10-18

This is the outcome when we try to establish our own identity such as the humanist try to do, it will lead to confusion, chaos even evil. 

What does it mean to be a human being? In God's vision we are made in the 'In the Image of God'

In The Image Of God,

We Were Made Long Ago,

With The Purpose Divine,

Here His Glory To Show;

But We Failed Him One Day,

And Like Sheep Went Astray,

Thinking Not Of The Cost,

We His Likeness Had Lost.

But From Eternity God Had In Mind,

The Work Of Calvary, The Lost To Find,

From His Heaven So Broad,

Christ Came Down Earth To Trod,

So That Men Might Live Again,

In The Image Of God.

Now That I Have Believed,

And The Saviour Received,

Now That I From The Cry,

Of My Guilt Am Relieved,

I Will Live For The Lord,

Not For Gain Nor Reward,

But For Love, Thinking Of What,

His Grace Has Restored!

I’ll Never Comprehend Redemption’s Plan,

How Christ Could Condescend To Die For Man

Such A Saviour I’ll Praise,

To The End Of My Days,

As A Upward, Onward Trod,

In The Image Of God.

Lionel

Ref: The lectures dealing with Imago Dei at the convention can be found in this website (Click on Imago Dei). 

On Being Human

'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.'  Micah 6

On the 22 June 2016 Singaporeans woke up to the horrible news of torture and death of a foreign maid at the hands of her former employer. Myanmar National aged 24 years died as a result of severe abuse and beating the day before. The employer was sentenced to 30 years in prison. 

The poor young girl weighed only 24 kg at the time of death, the result of severe deprivation and malnutrition. She was literally starved to death. The whole family was involved, husband and mother too, in the heinous abuse. 

The three trials, the third trial being currently held, unveiled the extent of inhumanity that can exist in a common household even in peaceful Singapore. All Singaporeans were shocked at the extent of the cruelty, the inhumanity inflicted on an innocent human being. The doctor who examined the poor victim at death noted that her limbs were like just loose skin wrapping bones. Overlaying the last act that resulted in death must have been months of deprivation and exploitation, an example of modern slavery.

Slavery still exists in the 21st Century. According to the Global Estimates of Modern Slavery, there are 50 million slaves in 2021. Of these people 28 million were in forced labour and 22 million were trapped in forced marriages. The International Labour Organisation stated that slavery occurs in almost every country in the world. More than half of all forced labour and a quarter of forced marriages can be found in upper-middle and high-income countries.

What happened? What happened to the human spirit, human touch and human gentleness? The Bible recorded another trial in Micah 6:1-8 that exposed the underlying reason for this loss of human dignity.

A court case was recorded in Micah 6:1-8, a court case brought upon all humanity. This time the  prosecutor is God Himself. 

'Stand up and state your case against me. Let the mountains and hills be called to witness your complaints.' Micah 6:1

'And now O mountains, listen to the Lord's complaint! He has a case against His people. He will bring charges against His people, He will bring charges against Israel.' Micah 6:2    

What is the charge? The accusation is that human beings have forsaken God.

'O my people, what have I done to you? What have I done to make you tired of me? Answer me!' Micah 6:2

President M. Craig Barnes of Princeton Theological Seminary, in preaching on this passage commented that by forsaking God we forget to be humans. Every time humans forget they have a God, they start to act like gods. That is when the greatest evil will be unleashed on others such as the Holocaust during World War 2 in Europe and the torture and death of the domestic helper, more recently in Singapore. 

Many Singaporean families rely and benefit from the hard work of foreign maids. Unfortunately, sometimes these maids are exploited, made to work long hours; without any kindness shown to them. Every year, several employers of foreign maids are convicted of physical abuse on these maids and sentenced to heavy jail terms. 

How can we correct ourselves? The Micah passage tells us that it is not by superficialities, false piety and legalistic acts of religiosity. This was what God's people during Micah's time tried to offer in their defence at the heavenly trial

'What can we bring to the Lord? Should we bring him burnt offerings? Should we bow before God Most High with offerings of yearling calves? Should we offer Him thousands of rams and ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for our sins?' Micah 6:6-7

President Barnes said that these are meagre defence; these are corrupt questions asked by people who try to bribe their way to be in favour with God

It is a sad commentary of the human race, depraved and tainted by sin. When we forget God, we lose our humanity we become cruel. How can we save ourselves?  

 

Instead of pronouncing sentences after the trial, God meted out three corrective measures, clearly telling what He expects of us.

• Act Justly. To act justly is to act morally, to live with a proper sense of right and wrong. Justice is to treat everyone equitably. Every human being is unique, valued and beloved; made in God's image. No one should be treated as less than the other. 

• Love Mercy. Be kind to one another. God is a merciful God and He pours out His mercy on all of us. Although we sin and forsake him He will not treat us in the way we all deserve. Instead he shows us kindness, mercy and grace and reaches out to save us. This is an act of lovingkindness and God compels us to repeat the same for all our friends and even to our enemies.

• Walk Humbly. Live in Humility. This humility is anchored in the person of Jesus Christ, placing the highest value on every human being. In the same way, in humility we value others above ourselves. St Paul in Philippians Chapter 2 instructed, 'not looking to your own interests but each to the interests of the others. 

There is a further extension to these three imperatives, we are to walk humbly with our God. All start from this relationship with God and it underpins how we treat those around us. It is the reason for our humanity, our human touch, love and gentleness.

Act Justly, Love Mercy, Walk Humbly

Lionel

Upon This Rock....

The Garbage City of Cairo

On the 29 Nov 2010, our tourist bus meandered slowly through narrow streets lined by three-storey shop houses. This is Manshiyat Nasir or 'Garbage City', where several thousands of Egyptian Christian families, the Zabaleens, eked out a living by collecting and recycling the refuse of metropolitan Cairo. We could see children playing and families living out their lives amidst garbage piled ceiling high in their homes, spilling out into the streets. We were thankful that the bus windows were all up. Otherwise, none of us could possibly bear with the smell and stench of these streets.

At the turn of the 19th Century, there was an influx of very poor Christians from Upper Egypt to Cairo. They made a living out of collecting and recycling garbage, a common occupation for many a refugee family in many cities in the world. In 1969, the Egyptian government moved the rubbish collectors to this district under the Mugattam Mountain.

The Egyptian official who made the decision to relocate the poor Christians of Cairo here must have a wry sense of humour. Mugattam Mountain was the site of one of the most celebrated miracle in the history of the Egyptian Coptic Church, known as ‘The Moving of the Mountain’.

According to Coptic traditions, during the reign of the first Fatimid Caliph in the 11th Century a challenge was thrown to the Coptic Church. During a debate between the Islamic, Jewish and Christian religious leaders of the day, the Jews invoked the verse 

“If you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to the mountain move from here to there, and it will move” Mark 11:23

They demanded the Coptic Patriarch, Abraam to demonstrate this. Al-Muizz, the Muslim Caliph then threatened to persecute the Copts if the church failed in this test.

In a dream, Patriarch Abraam was guided by the Virgin Mary, to seek out a holy man, Simon the shoemaker, who would have the required faith to move this mountain. Recruiting Simon, the Christian congregation and Pope marched to Mugattam Mountain along with the religious leaders of the day. As the congregation prayed, the mountain shook violently as if a strong earthquake had hit the city. Each time the congregation rose from prayer, the mountain was lifted upwards. When they knelt down, the mountain came down with a deafening roar. This happened three times and with each time the rays of sunlight from the other side of the mountain could clearly be seen through the gap.

Then, Caliph Al Muizz proclaimed, “God is Great!” and turning to Abraam he said, “This is enough to prove your faith is true”. From then on, he allowed the Christians freedom to practice their faith in Egypt. The Coptic Church survived one of the severest persecution periods in their history.

Relocating the Zabaleen Christians to live out a miserable existence in a stench-hole at the holy site of the Coptic Church, is an affront and insult to Christianity. However, our Lord Jesus would see otherwise. 

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”. Matt 5:3 

For the poor and destitutes on Mugattam Mountain, a modern day miracle started from 1974.

After 3 miles through garbage lined alleys, none of the Singaporean tourists were ready for the sight as our bus turned the last corner. Before us, stood a large monastery, churches, hospital and social community complex which these garbage collectors had hewn out of the barren rock. On the rock faces on the mountain sides, they had sculptured various illustrative episodes described in the Bible.

To understand the miracle that has taken place at this site and the many everyday miracle testimonies in the lives of these simple Christian folks, please view a two part commentary on Youtube, ‘Fr. Samaan and Garbage City (Zabaleen)’. 

A chance meeting of a Christian brother, Farahat (later Father Samaan) and a garbage collector, Edis Agib in 1974 led to the transformation and miracle. Edis had approached Farahat to teach him to become a Christian. This led Farahat to minister to the physical and spiritual needs of the Zabaleen.


Worshipping at St Sammaan Church



One day whilst standing at the barren summit and staring down at the squatters below, Farahat was overwhelmed by a sense of lost and grief at the impossible situation of the people living on the slopes. As he cried out to God for direction, there was a strong gush of wind and pieces of paper were blown upwards from the garbage below. One of these papers that flew towards him was a tattered page from the Bible 

‘One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.” Acts 18:9,10

Farahat persevered and many of the garbage collectors turned to Jesus. A transformation and miracle occurred with God using the hands and labours of these destitute and poor people. The Lord saved them out of most pitiful conditions and allowed them to manifest their faith in a most inspiring and uplifting manner

It is a story of the indomitable faith of one man and the garbage collectors. It reminds me of the faith statement by St Peter, to which Jesus responded, 

“Upon this rock, I'll build my church and the gates of hell will not overcome it”.

What did Christ meant when He uttered these words? Christ was not referring to solid rock formations but the unshakeable faith and confession of many Christians throughout history when they proclaimed Him as Lord and Savour just as Peter did. 

I stood there at the mountain top, after visiting two of seven rock churches, staring at the sculptures on hill side and the garbage city below. I realised that the prophecy of Jesus on the establishment and success of His church was and is being fulfilled by the poor labourers on Mugattam mountain in Cairo, “Upon this rock, I’ll build my church”.

When others see with earthly eyes

Just what they want to see

You will see the things that never die

You will know and recognize

By simple child-like faith

The priceless truth that

Others will deny.

When others say I'm just a man

Who likes to dream His dreams

When others call a miracle a myth

You'll listen for eternity

In moments as they pass

And see with spirit eyes

What others miss.

Upon this rock I'll build My kingdom

And on this rock forever and ever it shall stand

And all the powers of Hell itself

Shall never more prevail against it

For Satan's thrones are built on sinking sand

Upon this rock I'll build My kingdom

And on this rock forever and ever it shall stand

Upon this rock of revelation

I'll build a strong and mighty nation

And it shall stand the storms of time

Upon this rock.

If in a simple carpenter

You see the Son of God

If you would chose to lose

When you could win

If you would give your life away

For nothing in return

Then you are where

My kingdom will begin.

Lionel

Updated 1st Published 19 Dec 2010

In November 2010, Bishop Robert Solomon led a group of Christians to tour Egypt and the Sinai visiting historic churches and the desert monasteries 

All Loves Excelling

'And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death not life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow - not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below - indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.' Romans 8:38-39 (NLT)

"Love divine is exemplified in our Saviour: His diligence in doing God's will and His patience in bearing it." Henry Scougal (Ref 1). Christ's ministry on earth manifested this love by His,

• Willingness to do God's will
• Bearing the consequences of obeying God's will
• Charity and love to all men

The measure of this love is shown by paying the ultimate penalty for our sins, saving us from eternal death, sacrificing His own life, dying on the cross.

'For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.' John 3:16

'Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friend.' John 15:13

'But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we are still sinners, Christ died for us.' Romans 5:8

St Paul prayed that we will

'Know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled with the measure of all the fullness of God.' Ephesians 3:19

Imagine having the fullness of God? What does this mean? The fullness of God is seen in us by we showing love for all our friends and neighbours. It is a command of Jesus Christ.

'A new command I give to you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know you that you are my disciples if you love one another.' John 13:34-35

And the measure of this love includes the willingness like Jesus to pay the ultimate sacrifice, as did the many Christian martyrs through the ages.

'My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command.' John 15:12-14

It is this love that sustained many Christians who faced hardships, deprivations and persecutions from the beginning of the Church to the present times.

'Love never fails' 1 Corinthians 13:8a

• Love is an inward drive. Henry Scougal, "The love that someone bears toward God and toward goodness comes not so much by virtue of a command to which they are responsive but rather by a new nature instructing them and prompting them in that direction." 

• Love is natural even impulsive. Henry Scougal "His love makes him willing to give - and even if there were an outward obligation to act in such a way, his heart would devise liberal things.

• Love is compelling. Henry Scougal, "Love is the powerful and prevailing passion by which all of a person's inclinations should be determined and on which perfection and happiness depend. The worth and excellency of a soul is to be measured by the object of its love." 

In 1747 Charles Wesley composed the song 'Love Divine, All Loves Excelling' celebrating this love of and love from God in the lives of Christians. This hymn tells us how this love from God will influence the life of Christians ever changing us from glory to glory until we enter eternity, taking our place in heaven.

Love divine, all loves excelling

Joy of heaven, to earth come down.

 Fix in us Thy humble dwelling

All Thy faithful mercies crown.

Jesus, Thou art all compassion,

pure unbounded love Thou art.

Visit us with Thy salvation;

Enter every trembling heart

Breathe, O breathe Thy loving Spirit

Into every troubled breast.

Let us all in Thee inherit

Let us find Thy perfect rest.

Take away our bent to sinning;

Alpha and Omega be.

End of faith, as its beginning

set our hearts at liberty

Come, Almighty, to deliver

Let us all Thy life receive.

Suddenly return and never,

Nevermore Thy temples leave

Thee we would be always blessing

Serve Thee as Thy hosts above,

Pray and praise Thee without ceasing,

Glory in Thy perfect love.

Finish, then, Thy new creation

True and spotless let us be.

Let us see Thy great salvation

Perfectly restored in Thee.

Changed from glory into glory,

Till in heaven we take our place

Till we cast our crowns before Thee

Lost in wonder, love and praise.

Lionel

Ref 1: Henry Scougal, The Life of God in the Soul of Man. Crossway Short Classics, Crossway 2022