A Tetrad Of Teachers For Tumultuous Times – Part Three
“To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity.” Proverbs 1:3 (KJV, emphasis added)
For today’s blog, we will conclude our discussion on the tetrad of teachers offered to us by God’s Word. These teachers provide great insight as to how to navigate the tumultuous times in which we live. In Part Two of this series, we focused on the instruction offered by Ms. Wisdom. Today, we will conclude by focusing on the remaining three instructors: Ms. Justice, Mr. Judgment and Mr. Equity.
Have you ever considered that the Hebrew Scriptures personifies wisdom as a woman?
“Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars: She hath killed her beasts; she hath mingled her wine; she hath also furnished her table. She hath sent forth her maidens: she crieth upon the highest places of the city.” Proverbs 9:1-3 (KJV)
I also find it interesting that Justice is called a lady. The idea of Lady Justice dates to ancient Greek and Egyptian times. “Lady Justice” originates from the personification of Justice in Ancient Roman art known as Iustitia or Justitia. Typically, Lady Justice is presented as a woman that is blindfolded and carrying a sword and a set of scales. Most of our courthouses in the United States are connected with this symbol of Justice. She is supposed to represent what is fair and equal in the administration of the law. In addition, her judgment is without pollution, preference, profiteering or prejudice. There is something to be learned both from Ms. Wisdom and Ms. Justice (Lady Justice).
Our first lady, Ms. Wisdom calls us to be wise. Lady Justice calls us to produce what is right and also to be right in respect to our relationships. First, to be right with God (our vertical relationship) and second, to be right with people (our horizontal relationships). Just as God is just and loving, so we are called to exercise justice and engage in a life that is loving. Lady Justice is exalted in Scripture and God calls all of us to submit and embrace her authority and influence in our lives.
“He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” Micah 6:8 (KJV, emphasis added)
Lady Justice instructs us to do right in accordance to what is right before God as opposed to what is right based on one’s personal preferences and lawless leanings. We are to exercise what is right in the sight of God and not our sullied sentiments. Lady Justice is also highly esteemed in the eyes of our Holy God. Therefore, we should pay attention and apply her advice in all our actions. Scripture always calls us to do the right thing.
“To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.” Proverbs 21:3 (KJV, emphasis added)
Now I invite you to join me and sit under the instruction of our third teacher, Mr. Judgment. I refer to him as Mr. Judgement because I wanted to give us some divine diversity in our discipleship. Just like Ms. Justice, Mr. Judgment enjoys the esteem of our eternal God. Mr. Judgment’s instruction is extremely essential for excellent decision-making in a judicial context. When biblically employed, Mr. Judgment exercises his influence deciding a case in a court or legal proceeding. Judges must execute a decision or judgment after litigation has been lawfully completed. The Most Righteous Judge (God the Father) has judged all of us as transgressors against His Law.
“Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.” 1 John 3:4 (KJV)
“But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.” Galatians 3:22 (KJV)
Mr. Judgment will never shrink in stating the seriousness, severity and tough truth about judgment for those who reject and disobey the gospel.
“Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.” 1 Thessalonians 1:6-9 (KJV)
Now let’s enter Mr. Equity’s class, our last class for today. Mr. Equity exhorts us to exercise equality and expel partiality. He points us to the powerful and permanent truths about the character of God as it relates to seeing and embracing everyone as equal. Regardless of one’s biological sex (at birth), people group, or position in life (wealthy or poor, educated or uneducated, Jew or gentile) all men and women are created equal in the sight of God.
“For the LORD your God is God of gods, and Lord of lords, a great God, a mighty, and a terrible, which regardeth not persons, nor taketh reward.” Deuteronomy 10:17 (KJV)
“For there is no respect of persons with God.” Romans 2:11 (KJV)
“But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.” Colossians 3:25 (KJV)
In closing, I respectfully implore the body of Christ to resist and repel the reckless and rebellious recourses of worldly teachers and return to this respected, righteous, and revered tetrad of teachers for these tumultuous times.
For the Glory of God,
PBKSR