Just Joy

(Proverbs 21:15 KJV)  It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.

“Do justice” (execution” (6213a) of “justice” (4941) NASB) sounds so serious.  In one sense it is because justice is important to God.  But we need to dig down and acknowledge that God’s idea of justice is radically different than our modern culture.  God’s idea of justice is based on standards of right and wrong that have been built into creation.  Our legal system thinks that justice is getting a guy off because of a little mistake in the system.  Then we have the adjectives like “social” that make justice a total joke.

The “execution” part is a bit of translator overkill.  This Hebrew word is the simple word “do”.  It appears in one of the great passages of the Bible, also in relation to justice.

(Micah 6:8 KJV)  He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do (6213a) justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

We are not forcing justice.  We are doing it in quiet obedience.  That obedience brings us joy.

So?  Call it what you want, being fair, balance, or even justice.  It is expected of us.  It is part of what God expects and demands.