By Anil Netto
“Very depressed with what has happened. What to do, huh?” That was a text message sent by a friend of mine after recent events. If you take a short-term view of events, then yes, recent events can be depressing. People with power, wealth and position are calling the shots while paying lip service to human rights, justice and the law. Might, it would seem, is right.

Against such forces, those whose only ‘weapons’ are truth and justice often seem powerless, their efforts futile. But, lest we need reminding, God stands behind those who uphold truth and justice and compassion. His time-frame is not the same as ours. He abhors those who use power for their own ends, so that they can further the economics of greed and corruption: In the end, though, he will pass judgment on those who oppress whether “hero, warrior, judge, prophet, diviner, elder, captain, dignitary, counsellor, architect, soothsayer.” (Isaiah 3:2-3)

Further in Chapter 3: 'I shall give them boys for princes, raw lads to rule over them.' 5 People will be ill-treated by one another, each by his neighbour; the young will insult the aged, and the low, the respected. 6 Yes, a man will catch hold of his brother in their father's house, to say, 'You have a cloak, so you be leader, and rule this heap of ruins.'

This is how God will deal with those with those who oppress, those who rely on their own powers instead of the will of God — all in his good time: 12 O my people, their oppressors pillage them and extortioners rule over them! O my people, your rulers mislead you and efface the paths you ought to follow! 13 Yahweh has risen to accuse, is standing to pass judgement on the people. 14 Yahweh is about to try the elders and the princes of his people, 'You are the ones who have ravaged the vineyard, the spoils of the poor are in your houses. 15 By what right do you crush my people and grind the faces of the poor?' says the Lord Yahweh Sabaoth.

For those who rule roughshod over the people, God will remove all their trappings of power and prestige — again all in his good time: 18 That day the Lord will take away the ornamental chains, medallions, crescents, 19 pendants, bracelets, trinkets, 20 diadems, ankle-chains, necklaces, scent bottles, amulets, 21 finger-rings, nose-rings, 22 party dresses, cloaks, scarves, purses, 23 mirrors, linen clothes, turbans and mantillas. 24 Then, instead of perfume, a stink; instead of belt, a rope, instead of hair elaborately dressed, a shaven scalp, instead of gorgeous clothes, sacking round the waist, and brand marks instead of beauty.

Those who labour in the vineyard to establish his kingdom may not see the results of their labour.

Take, for instance, those who struggled against apartheid in South Africa in the 1950s and 1960s, or those in the civil rights movement in the United States in the 1960s. Many of them did not live to see the fruit of their labour and activism.

But that does not mean their work was futile. They passed the baton to others in the struggle and in the long run, they succeeded in overcoming oppression and discrimination. In the same way, those who spoke out against the ISA in the 1960s may not have lived to see this law repealed. But others have continued the struggle. Today, the ISA stands thoroughly discredited so much so, the government today is reluctant to use it because it knows the public is aware that it is a unjust law.

And if along the way, in the dark shadow of the great struggle against injustice, we may feel lost and alone and hopeless, let us remember Isaiah's great promise: his song foretelling the coming of the great light that will dawn on those who live in the land of the shadow of death.

It is the exultant and hopeful song of One who will break the rod of the oppressors, and throw the warrior's boot into the fire as fuel. The One who will reign over God’s kingdom to establish justice and righteousness, especially for the meek and the poor.

For those who long for justice and peace, for the real kingdom of God, this One is our hope and our dream. We must not lose hope but continue in faith to build his kingdom, through every act and deed that furthers his vision of a kingdom of justice and peace.