“If fire breaks out and catches in thorns so that the stacked grain or the standing grain or the field is consumed, he who started the fire shall make restitution.” Exodus 22.6

Justice is the reflection of God’s character into human society via human actions. Men act justly when they act with deference, respect, goodness, righteousness, love, and truth toward one another. The Law of God was given to the people of Israel to guide them in the paths of justice, expressed as love for God and neighbors. As such, as John explained, the Law of God is not burdensome (1 Jn. 5.1-3).

The Biblical view of justice is a jewel of five facets. The first of these, obligatory justice, is simply what we owe our neighbors in the way of love and respect as fellow image-bearers of God. Obligatory justice must be learned at home, not, first of all, in the courts and legislatures of the land. And unless we learn obligatory justice at home, we shall be unable to achieve much more in the way of justice in other sectors of society.

The second facet of the jewel of justice as revealed in the Law of God is preventive justice. God instructed His people to take precautions in certain of their activities so that they did not jeopardize the property or wellbeing of their neighbors. They were expected to prevent injustice by thinking ahead and taking actions appropriate to ensure that neighbor love would not be interrupted or compromised.

The practice of preventive justice is exemplified in the Law of God in various ways, designed to suggest a variety of situations and circumstances. One must guard against his flocks or cattle grazing in a neighbor’s fields (Deut. 22.1-4). Open pits should be covered (Ex. 21.33, 34). Homes must be built to guard against injury to people (Deut. 22.8). Dangerous animals must be kept in (Ex. 21.35, 36). Inheritances are to be protected (Num. 27.8-11). And so forth. Even animals and the creation itself are protected by the Law from being treated unjustly by human beings (cf. Deut. 25.4; 22.6, 7).

Public policy should provide laws and statutes that can help to ensure that people will keep the interests and wellbeing of their neighbors in mind at all times. People cannot be permitted to undertake endeavors which have the potential to endanger their neighbors or their property without taking appropriate precautions. By keeping watch over a fire one has started one may ensure that only what should be burned is burned, thus preventing injustice from occurring against one’s neighbor.

These various statutes serve primarily to remind people to consider the interests and wellbeing of their neighbor so as to prevent any injustice arising from negligence or indifference. As with obligatory justice, preventive justice is backed up by other forms of justice. These statutes and precepts are intended to guide people in loving their neighbors so that no unintended harm may come from any of our actions.

T. M. Moore

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