by Marti Fischer

Imagine a courtroom. God is asking us to observe not just what is broken, but recognize that God Himself calls us to account — He stands as the Judge, the Prosecutor, and even the Jury. We are summoned to answer the question:

“Who can bring about justice? Who can set things right?”

At the core of this trial, God asks each of us: “How will you heal a broken, suffering humanity?” And the truth is, we, on our own, have no answer. No matter how advanced our thinking, how noble our intentions, or how well-crafted our philosophies, humanity on its own cannot set things right. This has been the case throughout history, as evidenced by countless efforts that fall short of what is just, what is right. Not only today as we near the show down — the November elections in the United States — between two parties who each believe they have the right answer that will set things right, we see everywhere in the world, leaders who are lost, systems that fail, and solutions that turn out to be worthless. We look to human wisdom and find it insufficient. Or as Amos said in 5:23-24, stop trying to trust on your own understanding, which is only noise.

Take away from me the noise of your songs;
I will not listen to the melody of your harps.

But let justice roll down like water
and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

But how do we let justice roll down like water and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream? In the midst of this courtroom of hopelessness, another figure enters the courtroom: the Servant of the Lord, identified in Isaiah 42:1-4. The Servant of the Lord is the One who brings true justice and righteousness into the world.

Jesus is not merely another leader or philosopher; He is the solution, the embodiment of God’s justice and righteousness. As Isaiah describes, He will bring forth justice not through loud declarations or violent force, but with quiet, persistent compassion. He won’t break the bruised reed or extinguish the dimly burning wick. This means that He brings justice not by crushing the weak or overlooked but by gently and lovingly restoring them.

The justice that Jesus brings is the setting right of all things—the realignment of the world with God’s original design. He doesn’t just fix the surface; He reaches into the heart of the issue — whether it’s in society, in families, or in our own personal lives — and transforms it according to God’s perfect standard. And that standard is righteousness, which is being in alignment with the very character of God.

Justice and Righteousness are inseparable but distinct. Understanding the connection between justice and righteousness is key to understanding how we can live lives that reflect God’s will. Righteousness is about conforming to the standard of God’s character — living in a way that mirrors His goodness, truth, and love. Justice is the outworking of righteousness; it is righteousness in action. Through the power of Servant of the Lord, we live in alignment with God’s character, the natural result is justice — things being set right in our relationships, communities, and the world.

But here’s the thing: we cannot bring about this justice on our own. Left to our own devices, we are like the leaders and thinkers in the courtroom — unable to give a satisfying answer to the world’s deepest needs. That’s why the Servant of the Lord is so crucial. Jesus is the only one who can bring justice because He is the only one perfectly aligned with God’s standard of righteousness. He alone can establish the rightness that the world needs.

This truth offers more than just intellectual understanding — it invites us into a transformation that affects every part of our lives. The call to “behold the Servant” is a call to fix our eyes on Jesus as the solution to every personal and societal problem. Here’s how this plays out:

1. In our personal lives: Often, we try to set things right on our own — whether it’s mending broken relationships, overcoming personal struggles, or striving to be better people. But true transformation comes when we allow Jesus to align us with God’s standard of righteousness. When we surrender to Him, He works within us to heal, restore, and make us whole.

1. In our families and communities: Justice begins at home. When we allow Jesus to shape our relationships, we start to see justice and righteousness flow into how we treat others, how we respond to challenges, and how we engage with our communities. Instead of perpetuating cycles of hurt or conflict, we become agents of God’s justice, reflecting His love and care.

1. In the wider world: We often feel powerless in the face of global problems — poverty, injustice, corruption, and division. But we are called to reflect God’s justice in our actions, knowing that Jesus is already working to bring things in alignment with God’s standard. This gives us hope and purpose as we seek to live out justice, whether through advocacy, service, or simply loving our neighbors well.

There is incredible encouragement in this message. While we may feel inadequate to bring about real change on our own, Jesus is more than adequate. He is already at work, and He invites us to join Him in His purpose to set things right. When we fix our eyes on the Servant of the Lord, we are no longer burdened by the weight of the world’s problems, nor are we left without a solution. Instead, we are empowered by His Spirit to live out righteousness and justice in ways that reflect God’s heart.

So, when we face the brokenness of the world or our own lives, the answer is not to despair or try harder in our own strength. The answer is to behold the Servant, to place our trust in Jesus, and to allow Him to bring about the justice, rolling down like water, and righteousness, like an ever-flowing stream that only He can bring. He will not fail, and His work will establish justice in the earth. Let’s trust in Him and live as reflections of His justice and righteousness.