Let Justice Flow like Streams (ELW 717)
1 Let justice flow like streams
of sparkling water, pure,
enabling growth, refreshing life,
abundant, cleansing, sure.
2 Let righteousness roll on
as others’ cares we heed,
an ever-flowing stream of faith
translated into deed.
3 So may God’s plumb line, straight,
define our measure true,
and justice, right, and peace pervade
this world our whole life through.
© 1984 Jane Parker Huber, admin. Westminster John Knox Press
Reprinted under OneLicense.net #A730924
Devotion
This short hymn, set to a familiar tune, proclaims that justice leads to cleansing and righteousness to faithful deeds. It fits very much with the readings for this week, in which Micah asks God’s people to “do justice,” and Jesus teaches that righteousness is the way of the Lord. The pursuit of justice is an ongoing theme, not just in the Bible, but in the contemporary world as well. Justice for women, for laborers in the workforce, and for those facing racial or sexual-orientation discrimination are of concern to many Christians today. While serving as a missionary in Argentina during the 1980s, that country carried out a justice campaign to overthrow a military government that had caused the disappearance of some 30,000 citizens who were accused of dissent. After a failed war with Great Britain, democracy was restored, and the military leaders were tried for their crimes. Hymns of victory were sung as “justice flowed like streams of sparkling water, enabling growth, refreshing life.” This hymn invites our shout-out that justice and righteousness are God’s desire and all people’s mission.
Prayer
We confess, Lord God, that not all people are treated equally, as you intend. Help us to be advocates of justice as we seek to live righteously. Amen.