Just and Right

“David reigned over all Israel, doing what was just and right for all his people.” – 2 Samuel 8:15

When I read this verse yesterday, I read it over a few times and focused on three words: just, right, all. It can also be seen as “justice and equality,” “judgment and righteousness,” and the word “fair” is even used (ESV, Youngs, GW). When we look at our leadership today, do we see these things? When we look at our government, do we see these things? I’m not going to respond further to the recent news, the recent questions that have arisen. If you are a leader yourself at work or church, could someone see these things with your leadership? If you are a parent, are these things evident?

Saul was king before David, and nowhere do we read that he was “doing what was just and right for all his people.” As we look at King Saul, we see impulsiveness, we see a man who did not have a heart for the Lord. When we look at David, we read again and again that he inquired of the Lord, and that he was a man after God’s heart. He had a whole heart for the Lord. As a result, he tried to do what was “just and right for all his people.”

There is a lot of news in politics today, having nothing to do with fair leading and justice, but a lot to do with possible scandals. There is unfairness in the workplace and even at church. In our homes, there is at times favoritism and injustice.

Today, let us focus our eyes on the Lord and inquire of the Lord just like David did again and again. As you get closer to Him, you will find that you will have no part in other things, but you will only want to be “doing what was just and right” with everything you touch.