Understanding Injustice
When Nathan the prophet confronted King David with his crimes of murder and adultery, he used the story of a rich man’s dealings with a poor man to tactfully illustrate his point. The cunning prophet veiled the accusation without revealing the accused by subtly pinpointing the essence of the transgression only.
In his story, the rich man had slaughtered the one and only beloved pet lamb of his poor neighbor to supply his feast. The evil was aggravated into outrage by the fact that the rich man owned many sheep of his own which he could have taken. Instead, he just overpowered someone else’s rights and feelings to satisfy his own selfish appetites.
Upon hearing the case, the King was infuriated with indignation and wrath. He ordered the immediate execution of whoever had committed such a glaring injustice. Then Nathan announced, “you’re the man.” David was crushed. Until then he had not perceived the substance of his crimes. Murder and adultery were clearly immoral violent acts but the heinousness of David’s wronging went deeper than that. He had violated defenseless innocence. It was an abominable injustice.
We tend to be preoccupied with the shallow obvious of transgressions, especially the more sensational ones involving sex or violence. David was blinded by it. But God looks on the heart of the matter, the ugly heart of the offender as well as the broken hearts of the victims.
The core of Sin
Injustice is at the core of all sin and knowing this truth is essential to being freed from it. The damage and losses of injustice’s can be immeasurable, unbearable. But God sees them all with the power to redeem their effects. We must see as He sees to be cleansed in the depths.
With the nature of his actions now vividly revealed to his own conscience, the King despised himself. He had destroyed a beautiful young couple whose only vulnerability was their devotion to their king. David was overpowered with remorse and began repenting. It was seeing the unthinkable hideousness of his injustice that broke him and began his reconciliation back to God.
The Lamb of God
For this reason, Jesus is presented as “The Lamb that was slain.” Seeing how transgression involves the violation of defenseless innocence dynamically impacts us as its perpetrators, or as its victims. So God says “behold the lamb!” None was ever more innocent than God’s beautiful Son.
“Behold the lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world,” Jn.1:29. Perspective is essential to repentance and healing. Jesus, “The Lamb,” mercifully ministers both to the world that slayed Him.