The Lament of Injustice
Notes
Transcript
// INTRO
// INTRO
Lament is Worship
Lament is Worship
Lament is us bringing our whole and open heart to the Lord, in worship.
Tools in the Writings
Tools in the Writings
We are using tools in the scripture to help us bring our pain, sorrow, grief, injustice to the Lord as an act of worship.
The Character of God
The Character of God
We saw that when Moses asked to see the face of God, God wouldn’t show him his face, for his own safety, but instead allowed him to see his backside.
From this, the goodness of the Lord, passed by and declared the Character of God.
Merciful
Gracious
Slow to Anger
Abounding in Steadfast Love & Faithfulness
Does NOT forsake (leave you, abandon)
Relents from Disaster (does everything He can to not see disaster come to pass)
A Common Path Through Lament
A Common Path Through Lament
Turn to God
Complaint made known
Ask for His help
Trust in His action
Praise Him
THE REALITY & RESPONSE OF INJUSTICE
THE REALITY & RESPONSE OF INJUSTICE
We live in a world that is marked by injustice - personally, culturally, economically, and systemically.
When we experience moments of injustice, we respond with one of two emotions:
retaliation
despair
Retaliation & Retribution
Retaliation & Retribution
When bad things happen to innocent people, we might want to retaliate.
Retaliation is the ideal of “eye for an eye” concept.
The only issue with this is that we would quickly have a blind world!
When we take matters into our own hands it only escalates the situation.
We mean well. We just want to “fix” the situation.
Yet, the Lord has a different and better way for us to handle the situation.
Retribution places the response in the hands of God.
35 Vengeance is mine, and recompense, for the time when their foot shall slip; for the day of their calamity is at hand, and their doom comes swiftly.’
The Lord is in control and will deliver his righteous judgment at the right time and in its fulness.
This verse is quoted by Paul while he is writing to the Roman church…
14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Right after this Paul goes into the value of the governing authorities placed over us.
This is why it is so important that we use our gift in the country to vote for our governing officials.
Current Events
Current Events
These last few weeks have been a mix of joy and heartbreak—celebrating anniversaries and birthdays with family, yet at the same time facing insomnia, heavy phone calls, and heartbreaking headlines of shootings and loss. One moment it’s celebration, the next it’s lament.
In weeks’ like these, I’m grateful to have a hope in something greater than I.
I’m grateful that I can bring my lament— pain, my questions, my broken heart —before God and receives it at worship.
1 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me?
I have said this opening line so many times this week…
“How long, O Lord?”
How long with the hatred continue?
How long with the divide continue to grow in our country?
How long with the wars continue and innocent lives be taken?
HOW LONG?
1 Why, O Lord, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? 2 In arrogance the wicked hotly pursue the poor; let them be caught in the schemes that they have devised. 3 For the wicked boasts of the desires of his soul, and the one greedy for gain curses and renounces the Lord. 4 In the pride of his face the wicked does not seek him; all his thoughts are, “There is no God.”
The author continue down the path of lament and arrives at the following,
14 But you do see, for you note mischief and vexation, that you may take it into your hands; to you the helpless commits himself; you have been the helper of the fatherless. 15 Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer; call his wickedness to account till you find none. 16 The Lord is king forever and ever; the nations perish from his land. 17 O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear 18 to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.
In the face of injustice, there is a cry for God to take the matter into his hands and do justice.
This longing for God’s justice sets the stage for Jesus’ teaching…
JESUS AND INJUSTICE
JESUS AND INJUSTICE
Jesus was a perfect man.
He was the word of God in the flesh.
All the Old Testament, the Law – Jesus was the fulness of it. He stepping into the Earth and show us the way that God intended it to be.
However, in first century civilization, they did not have many written copies of the law. Much of what was learned was through oral teaching and tradition.
Jewish Teaching Tradition
Jewish Teaching Tradition
In Jesus’ day, young boys memorized the Torah (Gen-Deut), many even the whole Tanak (Writings & Prophets).
The very best would be invited by a rabbi to follow him.
They would also memorize the oral traditions that were passed down.
Sometimes when Jesus teaches, he is addressing those oral traditions.
RETALIATION
RETALIATION
From the Sermon on the Mount; Jesus is teaching to a mixed crowd: religious leaders, poor, jews, gentiles, poor, rich, sick, well, roman government.
We’re going to see three ways Jesus teaches us to respond to injustice: with dignity, generosity, and courage.
38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.
Slap the Cheek
Slap the Cheek
The Mishna (oral tradition) stated that a back-handed slap was to be paid back at twice the price for retribution.
In first century culture, you would never address someone with your left hand as it was mainly used for dirty tasks.
You would interact with people with your right hand.
If you were going to slap someone, it was not necessarily meant to inflict harm, but rather to shame someone.
If you slapped them with an open hand, it was an act you were performing on someone that you saw as your equal.
If you slapped them with a backhand, you were stating to them that they were beneath you. You are superior to them.
In order to slap someone on the right cheek, you would have to backhand them. This is why Jesus uses the specific language here.
Where he breaks everyone’s mind is that instead of going to immediate double pay, he says to turn the other cheek.
So now I’m silently saying to you, face me as your equal.
It’s silently shining a spotlight on the injustice that has just been done to you.
It puts the ownership back on the person!
Absolutely brilliant!
Sue the Tunic
Sue the Tunic
40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.
In ancient Israel, the tunic was the inner garment (like a long shirt), and the cloak was the outer garment, which doubled as a blanket at night.
The Mosaic law (Exodus 22:26–27; Deut. 24:10–13) specifically protected the cloak: even if taken as collateral, it had to be returned by sunset so the person would have something to sleep in.
So the cloak was considered a basic human right — a person’s last layer of dignity and security.
Yet, here, Jesus is saying that if someone takes your tunic…this would mean that is your last oune of dignity.
Jesus says, if they take it, them give them your cloak as well.
This left the victim exposed, but the shame shifted to the oppressor and community.
In this instance, the oppressor is exposed and the victim keeps their dignity.
It strips the power from the oppressor—not by retaliation or violence—but by exposure of the wrong.
When Jesus said, ‘Give them your cloak also,’ He wasn’t telling His followers to be doormats — He was teaching them how to confront injustice without violence. To expose evil without losing dignity. To shame oppression by radical generosity.
Walk the Mile
Walk the Mile
41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.
Roman soldiers could legally force you to carry their pack one mile—an act of humiliation and oppression. But Jesus says, ‘Go two.’
The first mile is forced, but the second is chosen. Suddenly the oppressed person takes control, revealing a higher allegiance to God’s kingdom.
What was meant to degrade becomes an act of defiant generosity.
Suddenly, the oppressed person is no longer just a victim of the law — they become an active, willing participant, exposing the injustice while revealing a higher allegiance to God’s kingdom.
Subversive Generosity
Subversive Generosity
What we saw in the Tunic/Cloak and the Extra mile is called Subversive Generosity
:: responding to injustice with a radical, unexpected act of grace that flips the power dynamic.
This type of generosity will unmask a situation of injustice and reveal the Kingdom of God!
Jesus as the Model
Jesus as the Model
21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. 23 When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
While on the cross, Jesus cries out in lament, the beginning of Psalm 22
1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning?
Yet, in the midst of his suffering, finds a way to offer subversive generosity.
34 And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments.
In active injustice — dying a criminal’s death without a single charge — Jesus offers radical kingdom love that exposes the wrong and yet violence wasn’t needed.
“Lament doesn’t ignore injustice — it transforms our response to it.”
The Lord of Justice
The Lord of Justice
24 But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.
8 He has told you, O man, 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?
15 When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.
20 Justice, and only justice, you shall follow, that you may live and inherit the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
The Lord’s Throne
14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you.
APPLICATION
APPLICATION
>> Where do we see injustice around us (social, racial, economic, personal)?
Maybe you’ve experienced a personal injustice in your life. I encourage you to forgive them in your heart.
It’s doesn’t mean that you forget, or that they are off the hook.
Lament in injustice allows us to entrust that God will bring his righteous judgement to the situation.
6 He will render to each one according to his works: 7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; 8 but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.
5 You have rebuked the nations; you have made the wicked perish; you have blotted out their name forever and ever. 6 The enemy came to an end in everlasting ruins; their cities you rooted out; the very memory of them has perished. 7 But the Lord sits enthroned forever; he has established his throne for justice, 8 and he judges the world with righteousness; he judges the peoples with uprightness. 9 The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. 10 And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.
>> Instead of numbness or vengeance, we lament, pray, and act in love.
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
CLOSING
CLOSING
Jesus opening words to his sermon on the mountainside.
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
