This weekend, we’ve been celebrating the life and legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In one of the many sound bites we often hear of King’s preaching, he references the prophet Amos as he anticipates a day when God’s “justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream.” We throw those words around in our sermons and mission statements: “justice and righteousness.” But what is God calling the church to do?
The Hebrew word for “justice” is mishpat. The word appears no fewer than 200 times in Scripture. Mishpat is the idea that everyone should be treated with equal respect and judged by the same standards, regardless of their social and economic circumstances.
King’s last day was spent in Memphis, where he was preparing to speak in support of the city’s sanitation workers, who were on strike for fair wages. The images of the strike are unforgettable: Black men in dress pants, sport coats, and hats, wearing signs that read “I AM A MAN.” The sanitation workers wanted to be respected and recognized as men who were equal in every way to their white counterparts. Equitable pay was a way to seek justice and righteousness.
Righteousness is an ethical standard that refers to being in right relationship with others and with God. It involves treating others as a human made in the image of God. Modern ideas about justice often focus on seeking proper punishment for wrongdoing. Frequently in Scripture, however, mishpat is about restorative justice. Restorative justice is when we seek to protect the vulnerable, champion the cause of the oppressed and advocate for change to prevent injustice.
As we reflect on King’s life, let’s listen for God’s call to seek righteousness and justice, which is more than a dream. It’s the work of ministry.
