Mandate Before Israel had a king, God made sure His people had justice, as the entire book of Judges testifies. Deborah, the prophetess, set up a court under a palm tree (Judges 4:5) and Samuel presided over a court, traveling from place to place to hear cases and administer justice (1 Samuel 7:16). Later, the king became the chief judge of the land. If God is righteousness, how can we as His people fail to contend for righteousness ? After all, we are made in His image and likeness (Genesis 1:26). We therefore have a duty to radiate and demonstrate Righteousness. Job 34:10 – Therefore, wise men, listen to me: there is no wickedness with God, or injustice with the Almighty! In Romans 9:14 we read : What shall we say then? Is there iniquity with God?Absolutely not! The word iniquity is translated in Greek with ‘adikia (G93) and means iniquity. Also one of the names of God is Justice. Jeremiah 33:16 – In those days Judah will be redeemed and Jerusalem will dwell unconcerned. This is what people will call the city: Yahweh-Tsidkenu, the Lord our Righteousness. If we do not contend for righteousness, we forfeit a part of God’s presence in our lives and thus a part of His Throne in our lives, see also Psalm 89. Both individually and corporate.

It is clear from the texts below that the Christian has been commissioned by God received and thus has also received the mandate from God to fight against iniquity.

Old Testament texts showing that we should practice righteousness.

Genesis 18:18-19 – The LORD said:18 For surely Abraham will become great and become a mighty people, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed in him. 19 For I chose him, that he might command his children and his house after him to observe the way of the LORD, by doing righteousness and justice, that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has spoken concerning him. To do justice and righteousness is to follow the way that the Lord directs, God tells Abraham in reference to the destruction of Sodom, where they did nothing for the poor and the powerless.

Deuteronomy 10:12 – Now then, Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God to fear, to go in all His ways, to love Him, and to serve the LORD, your God, with all your heart and with all your soul.

Deuteronomy 32:4 – He is the rock, Whose work is perfect, for all His ways are one and all right. God is truth and not injustice; just and true He is.

Psalm 82:3 – Do justice to the little and the orphan, prove the wretched and the poor righteousness. 4 Deliver the lowly and the poor, snatch him from the hand of the wicked.

Psalm 85:11-14 – Goodness and faithfulness meet, righteousness and peace kiss each other. 12 Faithfulness rises from the earth, righteousness looks down from heaven. 13 Also the LORD gives the good, and gives our land its yield. 14 Justice goes before His face out, He sets her along the road where His footsteps are.

Psalm 89:15 – Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne, kindness and faithfulness go forth before Thy face.

Proverbs 21:3 – To do justice and right is more preferable to the LORD than sacrifice.

Proverbs 21:15 – To the righteous it is a joy to do justice, but to those who do injustice, it is a terror.

Proverbs 21:21 – He who pursues righteousness and mercy finds life, righteousness and honor.

Proverbs 24:11-12 – Save those who are caught up to die, (Literally: for death). Woe if you stand aloof from those who stagger to slaughter. 12 When you say: Behold, we have not known that; will not He Who tests the hearts notice that? He Who tests your z iel watching, will He not know? After all, He will repay a man according to his work. Read also Job 34:11, Psalm 62:13 and Jeremiah 32:19

Proverbs 31:8-9 – Open your mouth before a mute, before the trial of all who are perish. 9 Open your mouth, judge with justice, and provide justice for the wretched and the poor.

Isaiah 1:16-20 – Stop doing evil, 17 learn to do good, seek justice! Help the oppressed, do justice to the orphan, plead the widow’s case! 18 Come now, let us together have a trial, says the LORD. Though your sins were as scarlet, they shall become white as snow; though they were red as crimson, they shall become as white wool. 19 If you are willing and listen, you will eat the good of the land, 20 but if you are refuse and disobey, you will be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Hosea 12:6 – And you, turn to your God, keep to goodness and justice, look continually to thy God.

Amos 5:24 Let justice flow like water, righteousness like an ever flowing stream.

Micah 6:8 – He has made known to you, man, what is good. And what does the LORD ask of you other than to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with your God.

Justice is a main theme in the New Testament, from Matthew to Revelation. In the earliest phase of His ministry, Jesus announced that His mission would be focused on the poor, the captives, the blind and the oppressed (Luke 4:18-19). This inaugural address signaled that Christ’s heart would be focused on the lost, the least and the defeated.

Matthew 5:6 – Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satiated.

Matthew 5:10 – Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. This means that those who fight for justice can be persecuted. Many examples there are, even very recent ones, guards at Abortion centers were even arrested.

Matthew 6:33 – But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.

Luke 4:17-19 – And to Him was given the book of the prophet Isaiah, and when He opened the book, He found the place where it was written:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me; He has sent Me to preach to the poor the Gospel, to heal those who are broken-hearted,19 to preach to preach release to prisoners and sight to the blind, to send the defeated send away into liberty, to preach the year of the Lord’s good pleasure. Isaiah 61.

Luke 11:42 – But woe to you, Pharisees, for you give tithes of the coin and the grapevine and of all spices, but you overlook justice and the love of God. These things one should do and not neglect these other things.

Romans 2:6 – Who will repay each according to his works, 7 namely, those who with perseverance do good and seek glory, honor and incorruptibility: eternal life.

Galatians 6:7 – Do not err: God will not be mocked, for whatever man sows, he will reap also.

Hebrews 7:2 – To him Abraham also gave of everything the tenth part. In the first place he was – according to the translation of his name – king of righteousness and further he was also king of Salem, which is king of peace.

Revelation 22:12 – And behold, I am coming soon, and My reward is with Me to reward each one reward as his work shall be.