When a Wrong is Right
One of my favorite quotes is from a well-known rabbi named Abraham Joshua Heschel. He is a Polish-born American rabbi who, in a show of solidarity, walked alongside Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the famous civil rights march in Selma in 1965.[1]
The quote from Rabbi Heschel is this: “When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people.”
Rabbi Heschel joined Dr. King hoping to help usher in the civil rights that were glaringly absent for the Black community and to stand against racism and social injustice. All over the world today, flagrant violations of human rights show us just what a fractured, unfair, and callous world we live in.
There is an example from another well-known Jewish religious leader that caused me to see this from a different perspective. Sometimes, being wronged may become right, because God may use it for His purposes and for a greater good.
The New Testament book “The Acts of the Apostles,” features an apostle who focuses on delivering the gospel message of Jesus the Messiah as it spreads from Jerusalem and Judea, to Samaria, and then to the Gentile nations.
This man, Saul of Tarsus (with the Greek name Paul), was a former Pharisee.[2] His experience in meeting the crucified and then risen Messiah Jesus resulted in an amazing conversion.[3] He fiercely loved his people, the Jewish people, and delivered the gospel to them, even though his primary calling was to the Gentiles.
In the 16th chapter of the book of Acts, we read of Paul and another devout Jewish follower named Silas. They were being accused as Jews of trying to make the people follow unlawful customs, when in fact, they had just set a young woman free from a demonic spirit. Her unscrupulous traffickers, who kept her as a slave to make money from her divination, had “lost their source of income” when the demonic spirit no longer controlled this poor woman.
This woman was being wronged and Paul and Silas did what was right. They were arrested on false charges, subjected to a severe beating, and placed in stocks in the local jail.[4]
Let’s look at the text that follows. Paul and Silas had Roman citizenship and could have objected and threatened to report their unlawful beating to higher authorities but did not. Instead, we find these words:
Now about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them; [5]
They “were praying and singing hymns of praise to God.” We do not want to overlook this but let the next words speak to our hearts, “and the prisoners were listening to them.”
What does the world hear from us as followers of Jesus when we are pressed, and unfairly treated or when we disagree with people who do not follow Jesus or even acknowledge God? People are listening to us. Our Messiah is listening to us. The unseen spiritual realm is listening to us.
What are they hearing from us?
The prisoners were listening to these two Jewish followers of Jesus because they were hearing something unexpected, something extraordinary, something that does not make sense to an unredeemed mind. These men were not shouting about injustice, nor screaming of their innocence. They were praying and singings hymns of praise to God!
The Holy Spirit does not shout so why do we?
I do not know about you but if I was one of those present in that prison, I would be wondering how these severely beaten men could be praying and praising a “god” who had allowed this to happen to them. There must be pieces missing.
One of those listening to Paul and Silas was the jailer. Soon after their praising, an earthquake occurred. The doors to the cell were dislodged and sprang open. The jailer, fearing the prisoners had escaped and it would cost him his life, prepared to kill himself. Paul however pleaded with him not to do it. No one had fled.
Paul’s actions matched his message. The jailer was so moved he ran and fell before Paul and Silas asking the most important question any person can ever utter, “What must I do to be saved?”[6]
This man and his entire family listened with hearts prepared by God. That night the prisoners, Paul and Silas, were used to help the jailer and his family to be set free from the power and penalty of sin as they believed in the message of Jesus.
When we complain, when we shout about our rights, and get angry, the world sees we really are no different. We are sending a message that our omniscient God, whom we claim to know and serve, has let us down and we need to confront and fight for the outcome we desire or feel we deserve.
But, when we talk to God, when we praise Him during tribulation, well, that shows we ARE different. This shows faith in the face of injustice. This says, “We will praise our God because He knows what is happening and He promises to be with us through our trials.”
We may not understand why, but we know nothing escapes His attention, so we trust Him anyway.
We read this about Messiah Jesus:
And the chief priests started accusing Him of many things. But Pilate questioned Him again, saying, “Do You offer nothing in answer? See how many charges they are bringing against You!” But Jesus said nothing further in answer, so Pilate was amazed.[7]
I am not suggesting people should not stand against injustice or human rights violations. But as followers of Jesus, shouldn’t we be willing to give up our personal rights sometimes, even to be wronged, if it means others may listen to the life-changing gospel, which is the power of God for salvation, to the Jewish people first and also the Gentiles?[8]
Years ago, a successful perfume campaign used a memorable line uttered by a woman. “If you want to capture someone’s attention, whisper.”[9] (She of course whispered when she spoke that final word, whisper.)
If during trials, we can praise and pray, what does that say? It speaks louder than an angry outburst and shows us to be people of faith. We may gain an ear to share the gospel as it did for Paul and Silas.
The next time you want to complain – refrain.
Praising and praying to God when wronged for the gospel, captures the attention of those who do not believe in Jesus, just like a whisper does.
The words in the book of Hebrews remind us of this important truth:
So then, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come Through Him then, let’s continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips praising His name.[10]
Before our voice of complaint we raise, first go to God with prayer and praise.
Written by Jeff, LIFE staff
For what personal injustice do you need to praise God and pray?
For what injustice to others would God move you to action?
Can you look back at a time when your situation seemed particularly gloomy, but God worked to bring a better solution than you imagined? How does reflecting on such past events strengthen your faith to trust Him for your present challenges?
Endnotes:
[1] https://jewishjournal.com/culture/133501/now-that-i-am-old-i-admire-kind-people-rabbi-abraham-joshua-heschel/; https://jwa.org/node/11889
[2] Philippians 3:3-7.
[3] Acts 9:1-20.
[4] Acts 16:16-24.
[5] Acts 16:25.
[6] Acts 16:31.
[7] Mark 15:13.
[8] Romans 1:16.
[9] Nuance perfume by Coty.
[10] Hebrews 13:13-15.