18 “You shall appoint judges and officers in all your towns that the Lord your God is giving you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment. 19 You shall not pervert justice. You shall not show partiality, and you shall not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and subverts the cause of the righteous. 20 Justice, and only justice, you shall follow, that you may live and inherit the land that the Lord your God is giving you. (Deuteronomy 16)
What are we known for? Lebanon was known for its cedar trees; Athens for its philosphers; Israel was to be known for its Justice. Justice is one of the two pillars proclaimed in our society as well. This chapter follows after the one on poverty and how to deal with it. Without justice any society crumbles. It is not just something that runs through the court systems; it is an attitude and atmosphere that must prevade throughout relationships and other institutions as well: no partiality, no corruption, no prejudice, no self-righteousness. So let us demand justice not only from our courts and government officials, but even more so from ourselves.
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