Martin Luther King Jr. famously preached, The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice. I recently read this quote from Bono, The arc of the moral universe does not bend toward justice. It has to be bent, and this requires sheer force of will. I believe that MLK and the rest of us would agree. No matter how the moral universe turns—justice don’t come easy.

David faced rebellion from within his family and trusted advisors. Due in part to his own sin, a peaceful kingdom fell into chaos. In the midst of his trials, David turned to the Lord as he sought justice.

Those who seek to destroy my life shall go down into the depths of the earth; they shall be given over to the power of the sword; they shall be a portion for jackals. But the king shall rejoice in God; all who swear by him shall exult, for the mouths of liars will be stopped.

We too can trust in the Lord, and even rejoice knowing that by his hand the mouths of liars will be stopped. MLK built his calls for fairness and equity upon his faith in God, and Bono does the same today. The moral arc of the universe might indeed bend toward justice, but only if we involve the Lord in its bending.

Psalm 63

Photo by DIEU