The Foundation of His Throne

Cyril Georgeson

An old man lived alone in Russia. He wanted to dig his carrot garden, but it was very hard work. His only son, who would have helped him, was in prison; unjustly framed in a case of bank robbery. The old man wrote a letter to his son and mentioned his predicament. Shortly, he received this reply,” For HEAVEN’S SAKE Dad, don’t dig up that garden, that’s where I buried the guns and the money!” At 4 A.M. the next morning, a dozen policemen showed up and dug up the entire garden, without finding any money. Confused, the old man wrote another note to his son telling him what happened and asking him what to do next. His son’s reply was: “Now plant your carrots, Dad. It’s the best I could do from here”.

We feel good at the way things turned out in this story because we hunger for a world of justice. There is no doubt that injustice is abounding. The oppressed, the marginalized and the poor find themselves in the fringes more than ever.

That’s not fair

Though the dowry system is no longer legal in this part of the world, thousands and thousands of women are murdered each year over dowry disputes. Many women and girls face daily brutality for nothing more than being female. According to the 2011 census report, only two states in India – Kerala and Pud

ucherry have more women than men. On the other extreme (more men than women) are Uttar Pradesh with 91 Lakhs more men than women, followed by Bihar with 44 Lakh more men and Maharashtra with 41 lakhs more men. India as a whole has 3.5 crore more men than women! The negative gender ratio can be attributed to excess mortality of women and girls, physical and sexual violence, and both direct and indirect discrimination in the provision of food, medical treatment, and education.

Over 550 million illiterate adults in the world are women, outnumbering men by almost 3-1. The United Nation notes that this lack of education is a significant contributor in promoting poverty, higher HIV infection rates, and vulnerability to exploitation and trafficking.

Looking at things economically - As of 2012 only three percent of India’s population owns a Car/Scooter, Air Conditioner, Television, Fridge & Computer. Approximately 850 million people in India still subsist on less than Rs. 130 per day.

Do Justice

The Good book teaches us that ‘Righteousness and justice are the foundation of God’s throne’[i]. And because Justice is rooted in the very character of God ‘The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern’[ii] So, engaging with the world and the systems of the world to be a catalyst for justice is part of the calling of the disciple of Jesus Christ.

When Timothy Keller was professor at a theological seminary in the mid-eighties, one of his students was a young man named Mark Gornik. One day they were standing at the copier and he told Tim that he was about to move into Sandtown, one of the poorest and dangerous neighborhoods in Baltimore. Keller remembers being quite surprised. When asked why, he said simply, “To do justice.”

It had been decades since any white people had moved into Sandtown. For the first couple of years there, it was touch and go. Mark told a reporter, “The police thought I was a drug dealer, and the drug dealers thought I was a police officer. So, for a while there, I didn’t know who was going to shoot me first.”

Yet over the years Mark, along with leaders in the community, established a church and a comprehensive set of ministries that have slowly transformed the neighbourhood.[iii]

There are many Christians who have piety-ised their faith to just prayer, bible reading, church going and tithing. Their engagement in the world in minimal – no need to dirty their hands. But Jesus has some scorching remarks addressed to those who are religious in this manner - "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness"[iv]

Most would like to go through life without having to deal with any challenges outside their homes, or at most workplaces and church. But, that is really not an option for the disciple of Christ. Martin Niemöller (1892–1984) was a prominent Protestant pastor who emerged as an outspoken public foe of Adolf Hitler and spent the last seven years of Nazi rule in concentration camps. Niemöller is perhaps best remembered for the quotation:

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

Though, we should not just speak up just for self-preservation, often the poor, exploited and marginalised have no voice but ours. In the book of Micah that answer to the question ‘What does the Lord require of you?’ is ‘Do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with our God’. Micah enlightens us that God is interested in these, more than religious activity like offering sacrifices etc.

Solid Hope

For those who are perceptive, it is obvious that there are many who escape justice in this world – the dictators who have plundered their peoples, the business tycoons who have exploited their employees, the religious leaders who have deceived their followers, the politically connected who escaped the short arm of the law and the parents who have abused their children. This could lead to a sense of disappointment for those who are passionate about justice.

But the book of Revelation and other eschatological passages in scripture encourage us not to lose hope. These portions of scripture are not given just to satisfy our curiosity of what will happen in the future but are part of the whole counsel of God. In third last chapter of the Bible, we see the great judge sitting in judgement upon His throne and judging all. John writes in Revelation ‘I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and Hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds.

Yes, justice will finally be done to all by Him who is seated on the throne whose foundations are justice and righteousness.

[i] Psalm 89:14

[ii] Prov. 29:7

[iii] http://www.relevantmagazine.com/god/practical-faith/what-biblical-justice

[iv] Matt. 23:23

Previously published in the July 2018, 'Light of Life' magazine.