Not long ago a friend of mine posted on Facebook two contrasting cases of injustice. The first is the case of Lee Carol Brooker. At 75 years old, this veteran is serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole for growing 34 marijuana plants in his back yard. Certainly this is more than a person would need to grow for “personal use” though there was no indication that he was dealing the drug. Conversely, in an age where 25 states have either passed legalization laws, or are about to, the sentence seems harsh.

The second case is of Brock Turner, a 20-year-old college student who was arrested for raping several girls on campus. During the course of trying the case the charges were reduced to three charges of sexual assault. The convictions carried a possible 14 years in prison. He was convicted on all counts but received a six-month sentence, three of which were probation. Clearly the Stanford student got off easy for his heinous crimes. The judges in both cases clearly were not familiar with the wisdom of Solomon.

A king brings stability to a land by justice, but one who exacts tribute tears it down” -- Proverbs 29.4

While its certainly true that bad behavior isn’t excused by worse behavior, there is far more to these stories. As we’ve said before, “man’s justice is about fairness and rehabilitation; God’s justice is about righteousness and redemption.” Yet in each case it appears that fairness and rehabilitation were cast to the wind.

Brooker received the maximum sentence for two reasons: (1) he had a record, armed robbery of several liquor stores 30 years before, and (2) in his state of residence (Alabama) the two convictions required the most severe punishment allowed by law. Turner on the other hand committed his crimes in California, a state known for liberal policy and “tolerance” of sexual deviancy. It makes me wonder if this isn’t as much about the crimes committed as it is about where one lives. Booker broke the law in Alabama and received a harsh sentence, Turner broke the law in California and received a cake walk. Which begs the question, where would you rather live?

I think in man’s economy of justice I’d rather live under harsh justice than none at all. At least order is kept in the former environment, which is more livable than the anarchy that reigns in the later. What is important to keep in mind, however, is that true justice will have its day. As the psalmist wrote:

For justice will prevail, and all the morally upright will be vindicated -- Psalm 94.15

If you have been treated with harsh injustice, you can rest in the knowledge that one day everything will be made right. If you have received undeserved mercy you should be fearful, for one day your crimes will catch up to you. As it is written:

“I have no peer,” God says, “there is no God but me, a just God and a savior, there is none but me” -- Isaiah 45.21b