The Lack of Justice

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Nov 28, 1911

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 38, No. 47.

The Lack of Justice

JUSTICE ALBERT G. BURNETT of the Appellate Court of California recently made an address before the California Bar Association in which he delivered the following sentences:

"There is something radically wrong with our administration of the law when it takes several months to impanel a jury." "The amount of time we consume in the actual trial of cases, especially criminal cases, is really scandalous."

The foregoing sentences are but the voicing of what many eminent jurists as well as a host of others are saying everywhere. The lack of justice through the influence of money and political wire-pulling is seen and deplored on all sides. In connection with these facts and utterances consider the following words of one of the worthy ancients:

We roar all like bears, and mourn sore like doves: we look for judgment, but there is none; for salvation, but it is far off from us. For our transgressions are multiplied before Thee, and our sins testify against us: for our transgressions are with us; and as for our iniquities, we know them; in transgressing and lying against the Lord, and departing away from our God, speaking oppression and revolt, conceiving and uttering from the heart words of falsehood. And judgment is turned away backward, and justice standeth afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity can not enter. Yea, truth faileth; and he that departeth from evil maketh himself a prey: and the Lord saw it, and it displeased Him that there was no judgment. And He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore His arm brought salvation unto Him: and His righteousness, it sustained Him. For He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon His head; and He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloak. According to their deeds, accordingly He will repay, fury to His adversaries, recompense to His enemies; to the islands He will repay recompense. So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun. When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him. Isa. 59:11-19.

It will be observed that the foregoing scripture applies at a time when there is a general lack of justice. "Truth is fallen in the street, and equity can not enter." The Lord sees it, "and it displeased Him that there was no judgment." He wonders that there is no intercessor to take the part of the ones who are oppressed, or to plead for justice to be meted out to those who are trailing equity in the dust of the street. Then the Lord arises in His strength to execute the justice that men have refused.

The Lord, on more than one occasion, has meted out justice in the form of righteous destructive judgments, and the times in which we live are calling for Him to act again. Sneer at this if you must; but watch the course of events, and think.