Let Justice Roll Down Like Waters
By Mead | Quotes by Martin Luther King Jr. & Theodore Parker | Images by Piccinng & Ian Turnell
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
civil rights activist
“Let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an everlasting stream.” These words from Amos 5:24 are as relevant today as they were thousands of years ago. And Amos, a shepherd turned prophet, wasn’t speaking to kings or scholars.
Water serves as a profound metaphor in this quote. Justice, like water, must flow and adapt; it must not stagnate or trickle in half-measures, if it is to leave righteousness in its wake. Righteousness, in this context, is akin to a steady, enduring stream—an existence directed by integrity and a steadfast commitment to what is right, regardless of the length of the journey. Together, justice and righteousness form the essential forces that nourish a healthy and meaningful life.
As Theodore Parker (often quoted by Martin Luther King Jr.) reminds us:
“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice.”
But just like water, the flow of justice and righteousness gets hampered if there are too many barriers. Sometimes the barriers are external systems of oppression. However, more crucially, they often arise from within us—like through our fear, or reluctance to change.
Amos’s words are thus a wake-up call. They urge us to examine the life we’re building, and ask whether we’re letting justice flow, or blocking it?
The beauty of water, though, is that it finds a way. Even the smallest actions—a kind gesture, can help it flow. If we remove our barriers, perhaps we can create our own personal river that transforms us.
So, how will you let justice roll?
Thank you for reading. I hope you found it enjoyable.