In Jacob’s prophecy for his son Judah, it was very much about the law. Judah would hold the “sceptre” and “the ruler’s staff” (Genesis 49:10), representing royal authority and the ruler’s right to govern and uphold the law. “Obedience” to that law (verse 10) would therefore become an essential part of being a nation. And God got that point across in Judah “the lion cub” (9).
In Jacob’s prophecy for his son Dan, it was very much about “providing justice for his people” (16). So in the making of a nation, or kingdom, God revealed the need for both law and justice. And with Dan and Judah already collaborating in advancing and protecting God’s kingdom of Israel, and in building and beautifying God’s dwelling place in that kingdom too (previous blog), it’s not surprising to see the two lion cubs collaborating again.
And it’s that collaboration of law and justice pictured by Judah and Dan that’s been the backbone of nations wherever Christianity has been a major influence. God set the pattern in the Old Testament nation of Israel, instituting a rule of law at Mount Sinai, clearly stated in ten commandments engraved by God’s own hand on stone tablets, and expanded into other constitutional laws that provided for the protection and safety of the people. It’s not surprising, then, that Christian influenced nations have placed great importance on a rule of law enshrined in a Bill of Rights or Charter of Rights, and in the Magna Carta that made the king and his government just as subject to the rule of law as everyone else.
But with Israel in the Old Testament God also took into account the need for justice, that allowed for adjustments to the law, or even protection from the penalties of breaking the law, because of circumstances. The head of an axe flying off its handle and killing someone, for instance, would not be considered murder. And six cities of refuge were provided for those causing unintentional harm to safely hole up in while their case was being judged.
Justice in God’s world required a fair trial, proper compensation and appropriate punishment. The rule of law provided clear boundaries, but justice prevailed if those boundaries were crossed by accident, mistake, or ignorance. And that was the pattern God set for his people, but something went desperately wrong, that serves to show us all – in any age or nation – what happens “When law and justice die”….(next blog)
