“The Law of The Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul, the statues of The Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.” ~ (Psalm 19:7 NIV)

The beauty of God’s law is, though it may take a minute, justice will prevail. God’s time is not our time. 2 Peter 3:8 reads, “1,000 years to us is like one day with God.”

Fifty years ago, a young black preacher couldn’t walk across the Edmund Pettus Bridge without being attacked by Alabama state troopers. This month, President Barack Obama — a black man — walked across that bridge protected by the Secret Service.

Three weeks ago, Attorney General Eric Holder found that Ferguson, Missouri, is “A city where blacks make up about two-thirds of the population, [but] they accounted for 85 percent of the total charges brought by Ferguson police, and more than 90 percent of arrests.”

He went on to say, “Some police would compete to see who could issue the most citations to African Americans. Often the charges were trumped up, or fictitious. Police and city officials laced their emails with racist jokes.”

Psalm 19:1 states “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.” Justice in America is supposed to be blind, but often her silence is deafening. As her silence fills the earth, and her unspoken truth somehow gets spoken, justice seemingly gets denied.

“Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.” (Psalm 19:2) God’s word streaks across the skies from the mouths of His preachers and prophets, like those of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.  Those words go from sunrise to sunset often warming the hearts of the faithful. King’s preaching revelations worked back then to pull our lives together, as President Obama works today to do the same.

The beauty of God’s law is, much like looking at a beautiful painting or a beautiful person, it is easy on the eye. When God’s law is at work, you immediately know it, when you see it!

The directions of God are plain and easy to see. The injustices of that Bloody Sunday, March 7, 1965, were an ugly sight for America to see. This is why people of all colors came from across the country to the next march across Pettus Bridge; they just could not stand to look upon the racial injustices of that time.

However, 50 years later all eyes saw the beauty of God’s law. A black president and his beautiful wife marched across that bridge with former protestor, now Congressman John Lewis. “The precepts of The Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of The Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.” (Psalm 19:8)

There is so much beauty in God’s law, yet it also holds a sense of irony. His statues are right, just as they should be, His commandments are pure, holy, just and good. This is why His word also says that “The fear of The Lord is the beginning of wisdom.”

It is not wisdom but sadness to see more shootings of both young black men and police officers. Holder said of the Ferguson community something true of most communities today, “This investigation found a community that was deeply polarized; a community where deep distrust and hostility often characterized interactions between police and area residents.”

God’s word is 24-karat gold, and is as hard and beautiful as a diamond.  His word is often set with precious gems around it, like emeralds. And like any precious jewelry, it comes with a lifetime guarantee.

We must also know His word warns us of dangers, while simultaneously directing us to the greatest of treasures. His word keeps us from sin, from pride, from arrogance and from thinking we can just take over.

But who without God’s help can discern their own errors? When we break God’s laws, we must know He is not only watching, but He is also planning His divine rebuttal.

Let me close saying to you what David said in Psalm 19:14, to The Lord, “May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart, be pleasing in your sight.”

 

The Rev. Dr. R. Joaquin Willis is pastor of the Church of the Open Door UCC in Miami’s Liberty City community. He may be reached at 305-759-0373 or pastor@churchoftheopendoormiami.org