A Just Weight

Proverbs 11:1

“Just” comes from Justice. Justice indicates a judgment of equity. In the Old Testament it was very basic: An eye for and eye, a tooth for a tooth, a life for a life… this is pure justice, equal recompense. If you cause me to suffer you will suffer likewise

Pure justice does not address the thought that “two wrongs don’t make a right”. It does not consider mercy or grace. It is equal punishment for a given wrong. It did not matter that another family might be left without a father, son or provider. It did not matter that there would now be two men in the community with only one eye or with the same snaggly grin. The concept of justice was an incentive to keep men from following their sin nature to do what ever they wanted. A man who feared justice would be more inclined to help his neighbor than to harm him in any way. This line of thinking (philosophy of life) synchronizes well with the fundamental Biblical principle Jesus expressed in the “Golden rule” and Paul speaks of in Romans 13:8.

On the other hand, such a pure system of justice could become vindictive and have an escalating effect that would lead to the fall of a society through feuds, vendettas, retaliations and so on. God knew this and made adjustments in the Old Testament Law where the innocent, though they inadvertently caused the death of another, could escape death themselves. The thief could make restitution; the fornicator could marry (with no divorce option) or die. God made allowances where justice would be meted our with an equal punishment to fit the crime, not necessarily an identical punishment.

In the realm of human endeavor God demands equity in man’s dealing with man. There is an expectation of fairness and a mandate for honesty. We are to be as “just” as we can in all our dealings. God holds us accountable. When we are unjust it is an abomination and God is offended. (Prov. 11:1)

A just weight is literally speaking of a standard where one is trading equal for equal but it pictures far more. It speaks of you and me. Our business dealings, our personal dealings, our attitude toward one another to seek fairness and to be honest. Anything less is an offence to God.

Justice requires judgment. It is a legal term. Someone has to have the authority and credentials to make determinations in matters of equity. Weights had to be matched to a standard. Someone that both parties trusted had to certify that. If you trusted your neighbor or the person you were dealing with it wasn’t a problem. But if you questioned their integrity you needed to take the matter to a higher authority.

God is pleased when we are honest and trusting. God is offended when matters, especially among brothers, are done otherwise. He will judge accordingly and He knows what a just weight is.

Related passages:
Ex. 22:24-25 …eye for an eye…
Mat. 5:38 Jesus’ thoughts
Romans 13:8 keep the Law through love
Lev. 19:35-36 Principles of Life - In the midst of admonitions of proper behavior God includes the just weight and measures.
Deut. 25:13-16 You are not even to have the corrupt standards, though unused, in your house.


RLH