Celebrating Mercy, Justice, and Peace: Three Reflections in Honor of Martin Luther King Jr. DaySýnishorn

Steadfast in Justice

He [Josiah the king of Judah] did what was right and just, so all went well with him. -Jeremiah 22:15

The proliferation of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s commitment to justice was tangible, if but for a moment.

Following the 1965 march from Selma to Montgomery to register Black voters, King recounted sitting amongst a multiethnic, multicultural sea of civil rights allies in an airport terminal. This communal scene beautifully reflected justice personified.

Conversely, though, this scene was also a somber reminder of how rarely collaborative justice efforts occurred.

Contemplating the disheartening irony of this moment, King solemnly stated, “But these were the best of America, not all of America. Elsewhere the commitment was shallower. Conscience burned only dimly, and when atrocious behavior was curbed, the spirit settled easily into well-padded pockets of complacency. Justice at the deepest level had but few stalwart champions.”

Christians are called to be “stalwart,” or unwavering, purveyors of justice. King grounded his life on this biblical moral ethic.

The prophet Jeremiah rhetorically reiterated this principle as he proclaimed God’s judgment on wicked kings in contrast to a good one named Josiah: “He did what was right and just . . . . He defended the cause of the poor and needy . . . . Is that not what it means to know me?”

Dr. King lived a life of justice because he knew the ultimate King, Jesus Christ. A King whose throne is everlasting. A King who perfectly administered justice through sacrificial love. A King for us to follow.

Brandon Cleaver

How has the biblical ethic of justice compelled you to help others?

Gracious Father, thank You for exemplifying what authentic justice entails through Your teachings and Jesus’ ultimate example on the cross. Please compel our hearts to yearn to seek and administer justice in our spheres of influence.