Justice: A Biblical Perspective
Carol J. Dempsey
Chalice Press: $15.99
113 pages

The first chapter examines the difficult subject of retributional justice: the school of thought that promotes "an eye for an eye". Often associated with the Old Testament, this form of justice has been difficult for many people to connect with their own faith. Dempsey takes time to examine the historical context from which this concept arose.

Chapters 2, 4, and 5 examine "hospitality of the heart", compassion and peace. These form the more familiar concept of justice for most of us. These chapters discuss the departure from retributuional justice to a justice centered around love and care for others. This principle is expanded to include social justice, liberation and providing for others.

Chapter 3: "Women, Children, Slaves, and Donkeys" was on of the most interesting for me. It covered groups for whom there is a direct call for justice in the scriptures. First, the story of Hagar and Ishmael being cast out, being gifted with a well from God and having the promise of being a great nation. It follows with tales of caring for widows and orphans, the healing of sick, and Jesus welcoming the children who his disciples were turning away. The third part is a long discussion about the justice of biblical slavery. The last section "expanded the borders" on the concept of justice. It looked at the justice apparent in the story of Balaam and his donkey. When you think of justice do you consider the justice that animals are do?

This book is short (only 113 pages) and incredibly well written. It is concise, but at the same time, it poses incredibly deep questions and covers a broad collection of scriptures. Dempsey looks at justice in ways I had not considered, and covers the familiar passages with new insight. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in justice, especially someone who does not have enough time for a long or strenuous book.