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This week we're praying for justice, using guidance from five Psalms and two of Jesus's parables. Today we'll start with a prayer for our political leaders and those in power.

Petition Prayer for Justice

Psalm 72 is David’s prayer for Solomon, and also ultimately applies to Jesus’ kingdom of justice. However, this Psalm has been used throughout the centuries to pray for political leaders to act with justice so they will help the people under their authority flourish.

I suggest praying through the entire Psalm daily and applying it to your situation. Or you can use just the first two verses:

I recorded a version of this post that includes an inspiring story from Christian history. You can watch it here.

Tomorrow we will learn how to "lament" against injustice...

I first learned about Martin Luther King Jr. in grade school. He was presented to me as a model citizen, and someone we should celebrate.

Later, in my 30s there was a renaissance in the interest of King, and I heard more about him as a radical yet effective activist.

In the last two years I've sought out MLK's theology, the faith that drove him to imagine and work toward a more just America. Thankfully there have been many books to greet me on my journey of discovery.

Below I have three suggestions if you want to understand what Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. believed about God, himself, and his neighbors.

The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr.

edited by Clayborne Carson

First off, get the audiobook. It's read by LaVar Burton with reserved dramatic flair, and also includes audio of MLK speeches!

This autobiography was edited together in the late 90's, thirty years after Dr. King was murdered, and includes material from his books, Stride Toward Freedom: The Montgomery Story (1958), Why We Can’t Wait (1964), and Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community? (1967).

The narrative is less about King's personal life, and more about his theological influences, highlights from his justice campaigns, and how he made sense of the victories, setbacks, and violence that he and others faced.

Martin Luther King, Jr., and the Image of God

by Richard W. Wills Sr.

Where did MLK get his radical understanding of the dignity all humans have as images of God? How was Dr. King's idea of the "beloved community" that extends outside of God's church and into all of society?

Wills answers those questions and creates a sort of family tree of MLK's faith. The branches on that tree include his family, the Black church, King contemporaries, and his seminary education.

The Power of Unearned Suffering: The Roots and Implications of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Theodicy

by Mika Edmondson

The most important, yet overlooked section in Dr. King's "I have a Dream" speech is the passage about "redemptive suffering":

Edmondson examines where King learned that doctrine, tackles the arguments against it.

This week we read a few passages in Job where he details how he lived a life of justice. It was proactive and open-handed, protecting the weak and righting wrongs. Job extended his high status like an umbrella over those with low status, and was so generous that he made the heart of the widow sing.

This Week's Justice Reading Plan

• Job 12 - 37
• Psalm 138 - 144

Bible Project’s “One Year Reading Plan”

• Printable PDF
• Bible App Study Plan

Justice Resources

In order for Christians to do justice and fully love our neighbors, we must understand the sophisticated system of oppression that quietly governs American society and its institutions. Racism is real, it's active in America - it's systemic.

Here are 5 brilliant books that tell story of systemic racism in healthcare, housing, criminal justice, and public policy in general: The History of Systemic Racism in America.

I've read these books myself in the last two years this have completely changed my view of the problem of race, and what I as a Christian should do about it.

Recent Justice Year Entries

If this was forwarded to you…

…consider subscribing to free Justice Year resources. There are 3 ways to get started, that match any Bible study goals.

Photo by kiiru max

This week you'll start by reading about King's Solomon reign, but you'll end the week learning about how his song, Rehoboam lost the united kingdom of Israel in a civil war and watched it split into "Israel" and "Judah".

What happened? Slavery.

Rehoboam not only continued the forced labor practices of Solomon, but when the people asked for a "lighter yoke" he doubled down, promising that he would treat the workers even harsher.

The workers fought for their freedom, and won a civil war that established their new nation.

This Week's Justice Reading Plan

• 2 Samuel 22-24
• 1 Kings 1-19
• Psalm 93 - 99

Bible Project’s “One Year Reading Plan”

• Printable PDF
• Bible App Study Plan

Justice Resources

🎧 Music

Jon Batiste - "We Are"

Batiste won the Grammy for Album of the Year for "We Are". In my review I explore Batiste's subversive message about living as a modern human in America, and struggling to fight against injustice.

Review: The Modern Soundtrack for Justice – “We Are” by Jon Batiste

If this was forwarded to you…

…consider subscribing to free Justice Year resources. There are 3 ways to get started, that match any Bible study goals.

This week you'll read about one of the evilest acts in ancient Isreal's history. It tore the 12 tribes apart, and sparked a bloody civil war. Then you'll also read about a small, but righteous gesture between King David's grandparents that previewed his justice-filled, unifying reign.

This Week's Justice Reading Plan

• Judges 4-21
• Ruth - all
• Psalm 71-77

Bible Project’s “One Year Reading Plan”

• Printable PDF
• Bible App Study Plan

Justice Resources

?Book

"Fight Like Jesus: How Jesus Waged Peace Throughout Holy Week" by Jason Porterfield

In the impactful book “Fight Like Jesus: How Jesus Waged Peace Throughout Holy Week” the author Jason Porterfield makes the case that Jesus confronted injustice head on, but was committed to non-violent methods. When it comes to confronting evil, our king was both impassioned and peaceful. 

“Fight Like Jesus” takes us on a walk with Jesus through Holy Week. We watch him enter Jerusalem, clear the temple, and return daily to debate the teachers of the law. Then get arrested, and unjustly convicted, get crucified, and rise from the dead. Amen.

By looking closely at Jesus during his final week, Porterfield wants to inspire us to live out the call to do justice peacefully, just like Jesus did.

Read my full review.

If this was forwarded to you…

…consider subscribing to free Justice Year resources. There are 3 ways to get started, that match any Bible study goals.

Usually when a king is "mighty" he oppresses people, and does whatever he wants. But Psalm 99 depicts a king who is strong, but uses that strength to protect the weak.

As you read through 1Kings and 2Kings, consider how these rulers use their power, in light of Psalm 99.

This Week's Justice Reading Plan

• 1Kings 4-22
• 2Kings 1-3
• Psalm 95-101

Bible Project’s “One Year Reading Plan”

• Printable PDF
• Bible App Study Plan

Justice Resources

My review: "How God Became King" by NT Wright

Should Christians engage in "politics" and "social justice"? NT wright's book tackles those questions and more be taking a fresh look at the history of Jesus contained in the gospels.

In my review I add one element I think Wright has overlooked that will give us a deeper understanding of what our role as Christians when it comes to justice.

If this was forwarded to you…

…consider subscribing to free Justice Year resources. There are 3 ways to get started, that match any Bible study goals.

(Photo by Sagui Andrea)

This Week’s Justice Reading Plan

• Deuteronomy 21-34
• Joshua 1-12
• Psalm 60 – 67

Bible Project’s “One Year Reading Plan”

• Printable PDF
• Bible App Study Plan

Justice Resources

Special prayers this week for the war in Ukraine.

It was hard to sleep and pray on Thursday night as I thought about the families being displaced from their lives and homes.

On Friday at noon I was able to participate in a church-wide prayer with my denomination, led by Christians in Eastern Europe. Praying with hundreds of others on a livestream made me feel connected, hopeful, and energized.

It also prompted me to shake up this newsletter's schedule and premiere a resource I'd planned for later.

Read: "How to Pray for Justice (3 Psalms to Know)"

Recent Justice Entries

If this was forwarded to you…

…consider subscribing to free Justice Year resources. There are 3 ways to get started, that match any Bible study goals.