There lived in a certain town two men: one was well-off, the other rather poor. But the poor man did have a lovely family and a pet lamb. The children loved the lamb, and the whole family shared their food with it, and the lamb slept in their arms. That lamb was, like many pet owners would say, like a family member.
Now the rich man was to entertain a guest, but rather than take from his own resources to prepare the banquet, he took the poor family’s beloved pet.
Can you feel your blood pressure rise at such an outrageous injustice? Mine does. And King David became very angry, says the scripture, when he heard this story from the prophet Nathan. David demanded justice in the Lord’s name, because the rich man had no pity, a word associated with mercy and compassion – what David himself would desperately need from God.
Then Nathan, as you know, made his famous pronouncement: You are the man! For David had done something very wrong that demanded justice. David confessed. The Lord took away his sin, but he had to live with the consequences of his actions.
No wonder David was devoted to singing psalms of God’s mercy and compassion – and justice. Psalm 51: Have mercy on me, O God, according to your faithful love, according to your great compassion. Then he not only confesses sin, but that God’s justice is justified.
This is the thing about justice and mercy: Sometimes, in our zeal to be sincere and spiritual, virtuous and moral, the justice we seek may turn and seek us out, and we hear that prophetic voice saying: You are the man, the woman! Jesus warned us of this possibility.
This reading from Zechariah is one of those places in scripture where justice and mercy come together, hand in hand. Justice without mercy is not true justice – it can become cruel and oppressive; and mercy without justice does not turn hearts to God, but dissolves into selfishness, lacking reverence and spiritual power.
Last Wednesday Father Chuck described how people can say sorry without sincerity and change of heart. One might speak mercy, but its evidence is seen in the fruits of compassion – how we lift up and help others, desiring what is good for them as Jesus showed us. Then true justice is satisfied, and hearts are changed.
God’s justice is not the kinds of justice seen today that result in stubbornness, backs turning on one another, stopping up their ears, and thinking evil of others in their hearts. Any claim of true justice must pass the test of the earlier prophets anchored in the words that the Lord Almighty had sent by His Spirit. Zechariah warned that the Lord Almighty was very angry with such hard hearts.
You may have heard of the Asbury University revival which is spreading. A professor from across the street reports how they were praising and praying, expressing repentance and contrition for sin. Someone said it was, “a gut-wrenching public confession.” As for revival – the professor is wary of any desire some might have to manufacture something that can be not only hollow but harmful (as warned Zechariah). But not so here, it seems. They worship, sing and pray for one another, seeking God’s justice and mercy for the needy and for the world. God is up to something, someone said.
Let this be our prayer and revival. Let us go to the mountain, walk to the river, kneel at the altar to pray with one another and for one another as friends in Christ; and from our prayers, may our worship, our deeds, how we regard one another, not be a show of religion, nor to manipulate others, but signs of true justice with mercy, and compassionate love for one another – evidence that God is up to something, right here in Salem! Word of the Lord! Thanks be to God!