Monday, July 2, 2012

Court House, literally


2 Chronicles 19:6
He told them, ‘Consider carefully what you do, because you are not judging for man but for the LORD, who is with you whenever you give a verdict.

Now that my kids are past their innocent ages, almost many times a day would one or the other (or both!) run to me for complaints and justice. The cases are varied. From ownership issues to breaches of agreement, also reckless play and grabbing food. Although sometimes, the suspect was just in a teasing mode and the other, in plain, bad mood. But what I realized lately was that the one who got hurt, and cried loudest, is not always the victim. I had to backtrack for signs of provocation and manipulation.  At ages three and five, they already know how to outsmart each other. On my very-busy-days, it’s very tempting to lazily punish both for disagreeing. That’s the easiest way to quiet the house - - but harden their hearts :<

After Jehoshaphat’s nationwide campaign to teach God’s law two chapters back, we’ll find him here with another big thing for the land. Verse five said, ‘He appointed judges in each city in Judah’. The job description was to administer the law and to settle disputes, one in matters concerning the Lord, the other concerning the king. It is noteworthy that teaching precedes judging. For without proper instruction of what the rules are, how dare we punish our children for breaking anything? Another eye-catcher was how he twice used the word ‘carefully’: ‘Consider carefully what you do’ and ‘Judge carefully’. The first one pointed to the position. They were but representatives of the just God and must therefore act in the fear of Him. The second pointed to their performance.  It shouldn’t be marred with injustice, partiality or bribery. Again, in light of who God is.

But what is really striking for me is what he said in verse 10: ‘Warn them not to sin against the Lord or His wrath will come to you’. Our role a parent-judges, or leader-judges, or those real-judges out there is more than acquitting the innocent and punishing the guilty. It’s more than making sure that the law has been upheld and order’s been restored. Ultimately, the point of it all is their relationship with the Lord. It is not even my kids getting along with each other, or me getting my needed-peace. CAREFULLY administering justice in my home is to end every proceeding with ‘Because this pleases the Lord’. Same idea how we should use the Word of the Lord: not just for rebuking and correcting, but for teaching and training in righteousness.  Imagine the difference if our country’s justice system operated likewise? As was originally, so-wisely designed.
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Court House, literally


2 Chronicles 19:6
He told them, ‘Consider carefully what you do, because you are not judging for man but for the LORD, who is with you whenever you give a verdict.

Now that my kids are past their innocent ages, almost many times a day would one or the other (or both!) run to me for complaints and justice. The cases are varied. From ownership issues to breaches of agreement, also reckless play and grabbing food. Although sometimes, the suspect was just in a teasing mode and the other, in plain, bad mood. But what I realized lately was that the one who got hurt, and cried loudest, is not always the victim. I had to backtrack for signs of provocation and manipulation.  At ages three and five, they already know how to outsmart each other. On my very-busy-days, it’s very tempting to lazily punish both for disagreeing. That’s the easiest way to quiet the house - - but harden their hearts :<

After Jehoshaphat’s nationwide campaign to teach God’s law two chapters back, we’ll find him here with another big thing for the land. Verse five said, ‘He appointed judges in each city in Judah’. The job description was to administer the law and to settle disputes, one in matters concerning the Lord, the other concerning the king. It is noteworthy that teaching precedes judging. For without proper instruction of what the rules are, how dare we punish our children for breaking anything? Another eye-catcher was how he twice used the word ‘carefully’: ‘Consider carefully what you do’ and ‘Judge carefully’. The first one pointed to the position. They were but representatives of the just God and must therefore act in the fear of Him. The second pointed to their performance.  It shouldn’t be marred with injustice, partiality or bribery. Again, in light of who God is.

But what is really striking for me is what he said in verse 10: ‘Warn them not to sin against the Lord or His wrath will come to you’. Our role a parent-judges, or leader-judges, or those real-judges out there is more than acquitting the innocent and punishing the guilty. It’s more than making sure that the law has been upheld and order’s been restored. Ultimately, the point of it all is their relationship with the Lord. It is not even my kids getting along with each other, or me getting my needed-peace. CAREFULLY administering justice in my home is to end every proceeding with ‘Because this pleases the Lord’. Same idea how we should use the Word of the Lord: not just for rebuking and correcting, but for teaching and training in righteousness.  Imagine the difference if our country’s justice system operated likewise? As was originally, so-wisely designed.