God's hatred of injustice is seen in his vindication of its victims, his solemn warnings, his penalties against the guilty and his commands to his people to renounce it.
God hates injustice
Proverbs 6:16–19 See also Proverbs 11:1, Proverbs 12:22, Proverbs 17:15
There are six things that the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to Him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that run swiftly to evil, a false witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up discord among brothers.
God will vindicate the victims of injustice
They cry for justice
Psalm 43:1 There are some OT passages where vengeance upon persecutors is called for (e.g., Psalm 35:1–8; Psalm 69:22–28; Jeremiah 11:18–20; Jeremiah 18:19–23). These are called “imprecatory”. They arose from zeal for God's honour and from the desire for moral stability in society. They reflect an under-developed view of God's ultimate judgments and the failure to distinguish between the guilty and their innocent families. In the light of the NT the motives behind these prayers may be applauded but it is recognised that now they are best expressed in the denunciation of injustice accompanied by gospel witness, through which the hearts of oppressors are changed, leaving the matter of judgment as God's prerogative alone. See also Nehemiah 4:4–5; Psalm 94:1–7; Revelation 6:10; Job 19:25 In OT times a redeemer was a near relative responsible for securing the just rights of a poor kinsperson.
Vindicate me, O God, and plead my case against an ungodly nation; deliver me from deceitful and unjust men.
God will answer their cry
Luke 18:1–8 See also Psalm 12:5, Psalm 94:20–23; 2 Thessalonians 1:6–7; 2 Timothy 4:14; 2 Peter 2:9; Revelation 18:20, Revelation 19:2
Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray at all times and not lose heart: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected men. And there was a widow in that town who kept appealing to him, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ For a while he refused, but later he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect men, yet because this widow keeps pestering me, I will give her justice. Otherwise, she will wear me out with her perpetual requests.’” And the Lord said, “Listen to the words of the unjust judge. Will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry out to Him day and night? Will He delay in helping them? I tell you, He will promptly carry out justice on their behalf. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?”
God condemns injustice
Isaiah 10:1–3 See also Deuteronomy 16:19; Amos 1:3–4
Woe to those who enact unjust statutes and issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of fair treatment and withhold justice from the oppressed of My people, to make widows their prey and orphans their plunder. What will you do on the day of reckoning when devastation comes from afar? To whom will you flee for help? Where will you leave your wealth?
God will punish the unjust
Micah 2:1–3 See also Deuteronomy 27:17, Deuteronomy 27:19; 1 Kings 21:19; Proverbs 19:5, Proverbs 21:28; Amos 5:11–12, Amos 8:4–7; Nahum 3:1; Malachi 3:5; LUK 12:45–12:461CO Luke 6:6–8; 1 Thessalonians 4:6 James 5:1–6; Revelation 1:7
Woe to those who devise iniquity and plot evil on their beds! At morning’s light they accomplish it because the power is in their hands. They covet fields and seize them; they take away houses. They deprive a man of his home, a fellow man of his inheritance. Therefore this is what the LORD says: “I am planning against this nation a disaster from which you cannot free your necks. Then you will not walk so proudly, for it will be a time of calamity.
The apparent present success of the unjust
Psalm 37:1–2 See also Psalm 73:3–11, Psalm 73:15–17; Isaiah 26:10–11; Habakkuk 1:12–13
Of David. Do not fret over those who do evil; do not envy those who do wrong. For they wither quickly like grass and wilt like tender plants.
God's people must hate injustice
Injustice forbidden by God
Proverbs 22:22 See also Exodus 20:16, Exodus 22:21–22, Exodus 23:6–8; Leviticus 19:13, Leviticus 19:15, Leviticus 19:35; Deuteronomy 24:14–15, Deuteronomy 24:17; Ezekiel 45:9; Zechariah 7:10; Ephesians 6:9
Do not rob a poor man because he is poor, and do not crush the afflicted at the gate,
Injustice should be renounced by God's people
Psalm 119:163 See also Deuteronomy 24:7; Psalm 82:2; Proverbs 29:27; Colossians 3:21
I hate and abhor falsehood, but Your law I love.
Injustice displaced by love
Mark 12:31; Romans 13:10; Colossians 3:19
God's people must bear injustice patiently
James 5:7–8 See also Matthew 5:39, Matthew 5:44–45; 1 Corinthians 6:7
Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer awaits the precious fruit of the soil — how patient he is for the fall and spring rains. You, too, be patient and strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.