God’s Plumb Line
Justice and Righteousness
In the book of Isaiah, the prophet speaks words from God. “And I will make justice the measuring line and righteousness the mason’s level.”
This passage was written directly to the people from the southern kingdom of Judah. Yet, its truths are still true today. There are things we must learn from this passage that pertain to our world and our lives, today.
A plumb line has a weight (plumb bob) at one end and is used to measure depth and vertical lines. Without a plumb line, buildings would not be plumb, nor would the floors be even.
A mason’s level is a level longer than a carpenter’s level, and is used in laying brick and masonry. Brick and masonry are used to build the basis, or the foundation, of a building.
The foundation must be sure and secure. The building must be built on that sure foundation, and its structure must be intact, without flaws. That’s what makes a building a good building.
Justice as a plumb line
God is a just God, and He requires justice of us. Justice assures that people are treated fairly, properly, and reasonably. Our conduct and treatment of others must be measured by God’s word – and by His justice. A person who serves God will want to be a person of justice. Being dishonest and unfair is not justice.
Righteousness as a plumb line
Righteousness is the quality of being morally right and justifiable. It also means “to act in accord with divine or moral law.” Decent, honest, ethical are other words that help define a righteous person. A mason’s level is compared to righteousness in this Psalm.
The foundation and the building
A building is built from the ground up. It begins with a firm and sure foundation. This only happens when the right tools are used. Thus it is with living a moral life. When we use the right tools, it helps us build a foundation that is true and sure. Our foundation is straight and the rest of the building is built on that foundation.
Because our foundation is certain and sure, we can know that the building itself is more certain to be plumb – or straight. A sure foundation lends itself to a strong, straight building.
When God measures us by these standards, we can know that His verdict is true. When we build on The Foundation, our building is guaranteed to last eternally.
Photo credits: istock.com
