The Value of Order

“The righteous person shall live though his faith”

Habbakuk

Laws are merely words. Whether set in stone, written on papyrus, or printed on paper, they standing alone are meaningless. The Prophet Habakkuk addresses this matter in this Ten Commandments’ moment. Is the Decalogue alone of no value? This article explores what gives meaning to law.

The Prophet Habakkuk reflects upon an impending societal collapse and an eventual invasion. This is captured in the Book of Habakkuk located in the Hebrew Bible’s Twelve Prophets section. The Prophet views this collapse as reason that the Israelite nation will be consumed by a regional superpower.

Habakkuk asks the Lord a big question:

“Why do You allow me to see iniquity and You look at evil deeds, with robbery and injustice before me, while the one who carries strife and contention still remains? Habakkuk 1:3.

The Prophet answers this question: “That is why the Torah is weakened and justice never emerges. Since the wicked surround the righteous, therefore justice emerges distorted.” Habakkuk 1:4.

In essense, in order for laws to work, disobedient individuals must be removed from society. They cannot be allowed to run rampant. A society allowing for outrageous conduct to fester places itself in great danger. Lawlessness is a nation’s existential threat.

This theme applies today: What impact can a wicked child have on their siblings? What impact can a disruptive student have on a classroom? What impact can disruptive students have on a school? What impact can a wicked child have on a good kid? What impact can a robber have on a store? What impact can many robbers have on a store? What impact can mass theft have on a community? What impact can street crime have on a block? What impact can constant street crime have on a neighborhood?

In essense, keeping problematic individuals away from others can improve a society. For example, how much learning can be accomplished when the one disruptive student is removed from the classroom?

From this premise, the following contention is made: Righteous people need the Ten Commandments and the Torah, and the Ten Commandments and Torah need righteous people. There is a symbiotic relationship. This relationship, however, is always at peril due to the fact that wickedness exists.

Thus, an underbelly of the Torah and Ten Commandments requires that wickedness not be allowed to become pervasive in a society. A society’s greatness requires that the righteous be allowed to exist with minimal exposure to the wicked.

In sum, the reality is that a functioning justice system is required in order to make any system of law work. Laws only work when righteous aka law abiding citizens operate within it. Enforcement of law is essential to remove the wicked from the righteous. [note: laws must be those which protect society and not advance the alternative] The allowance for wickedness to run rampant has consequences. It places the entire society as risk. The entire world is observing a country’s health through accounts of theft, murder, violence and other immoral activities. When outsiders see such wickedness, they see weakness; they see prey.

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