17 I said to myself,
“God will bring into judgment
both the righteous and the wicked,
for there will be a time for every activity,
a time to judge every deed.” Ecclesiastes 3:17
The Teacher, the author of Ecclesiastes, now in chapter three turns his thinking towards justice. He realized that wicked and corrupt people are in places of authority. The righteous often come to trial also. This certainly rings a bell as we are watching court trials in the news right now. Regardless of whether we agree or disagree with recent court decisions, we hear the cries of “foul play.” Most of us probably remember the 1995 movie “Braveheart” and the cry for freedom against the oppression of the English. As American students we pondered the efficacy of “taxation without representation.” The 1997 movie Amistad reenacted the court trial surrounding slavery. We want our courts to be fair and just. Gangs and terrorists who create their own system of justice, we do not trust.
The Teacher resolves his cynicism by realizing that God will eventually judge all and bring justice. That is hard to trust and believe but God says:
Deuteronomy 32:35
35 It is mine to avenge; I will repay.
In due time their foot will slip;
their day of disaster is near
and their doom rushes upon them.”
Romans 12:17-19.
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. 18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. 19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,”[a] says the Lord.
Let us pray today for our legal systems, the people sitting in seats of authority and those facing judgment. May we also be willing to forgive and leave judgment to God.
On the Way to Wonder 