"Do not be unjust in judging - show neither partiality to the poor nor deference to the mighty, but with justice judge your neighbor. Do not go around spreading slander among your people, but also don't stand idly by when your neighbor's life is at stake; I am ADONAI." Vayikra (Leviticus) 19:15-16
"Speak up for those who can't speak for themselves, for the rights of all who need an advocate. Speak up, judge righteously, defend the cause of the poor and the needy." Mishlei (Proverbs 31:8-9)
"Learn to do good! Seek justice, relieve the oppressed, defend the orphans, plead for the widow." Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 1:17
"Give justice to the weak and the fatherless! Uphold the rights of the wretched and the poor!" Tehillim (Psalms 82:3)
"Watch yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him." Luke 17:3
Our God is a just God, and the one and only true Judge. Only He can determine the fate of each individual according to their actions. We, on the other hand, are called to seek justice and live righteously.
What does it mean to seek justice? Justice in Hebrew is Tzedek (צֶדֶק). Tzedek means to live rightly, or to follow the right way. It does not mean to execute judgement on others for that is what God does. To live rightly means to live according to what God has determined. When God asks us to seek "justice", it means to do what is right both in what we do and for others.
First of all, we ought to be an example of righteous living. If our neighbor commits a mistake, it is not our duty to label our neighbor and say "You are a sinner", for we are sinners as well. Notice how Yeshua (Jesus) says "rebuke him". In other words, point out his or her mistake. It is possible that a person may do something wrong unknowingly. Telling the person that they are mistaken is a warning so that they won't incur in guilt again. The same goes for us, we would also like to be warned if we are doing something wrong. It is like telling a person to avoid touching something hot so that they don't get burned. If the person still decides to touch it and gets burned, that was that person's decision, but we did our part in warning him or her. If the person wrongs us, and repents and seeks our forgiveness, Yeshua says "forgive him". Just as we are forgiven by God in Heaven.
Another very important aspect of seeking justice is making sure others are being treated rightly/justly. If someone is being treated unfairly and we do absolutely nothing about it, we are partaking in injustice and that sin will be on our heads. We need to be the voice of those who don't have a voice, the defenders of the defenseless. Why? Because God does that for us. He defends our cause when we are at our weakest point. And if we are to mirror His love to the world, then we to must defend the cause of the weak. If you are in school, don't stay silent when a classmate is being bullied. If someone is bad mouthing another person, stop the gossip before it spreads. If someone is being mistreated because he or she is at a disadvantage, stand up for that person and protect that person. God places His children in the exact place and moment where He wants them to be. If God gives you the chance to be a justice warrior, don't miss the opportunity. Be a doer, not just a bystander.
