Indeed it is. In fact, the very use of the English word "justice" or the Greek word dikaiosunh is misleading. Here's what an eminent Greek theologian, Alexander Kalomiros says about this:
"Does this conception of justice have anything to do with the justice that God revealed to us? Does the phrase justice of God have this meaning in the Old and New Testaments?
Perhaps the beginning of the mistaken interpretation of the word justice in the Holy Scriptures was its translation by the Greek word dikaiosunh. Not that it is a mistaken translation, but because this word, being a word of the pagan, humanistic, Greek civilization, was charged with human notions which could easily lead to misunderstandings.
First of all, the word dikaiosunh brings to mind an equal distribution. This is why it is represented by a balance. The good are rewarded and the bad are punished by human society in a fair way. This is human justice, the one which takes place in court.
Is this the meaning of God's justice, however?
The word dikaiosunh, justice, is a translation of the Hebraic word tsedaká. This word means the divine energy which accomplishes man's salvation. It is parallel and almost synonymous to the other Hebraic word, heséd which means mercy, compassion, love, and to the word, eméth which means fidelity, truth. This, as you see, gives a completely other dimension to what we usually conceive as justice. This is how the Church understood God's justice. This is what the Fathers of the Church taught of it. How can you call God just, writes Saint Isaac the Syrian, when you read the passage on the wage given to the workers? 'Friend, I do thee no wrong; I will give unto this last even as unto thee who worked for me from the first hour. Is thine eye evil, because I am good?' How can a man call God just, continues Saint Isaac, when he comes across the passage on the prodigal son, who wasted his wealth in riotous living, and yet only for the contrition which he showed, the father ran and fell upon his neck, and gave him authority over all his wealth? None other but His very Son said these things concerning Him lest we doubt it, and thus He bare witness concerning Him. Where, then, is God's justice, for whilst we were sinners, Christ died for us!
So we see that God is not just, with the human meaning of this word, but we see that His justice means His goodness and love, which are given in an unjust manner, that is, God always gives without taking anything in return, and He gives to persons like us who are not worthy of receiving. That is why Saint Isaac teaches us Do not call God just, for His justice is not manifest in the things concerning you. And if David calls Him just and upright, His Son revealed to us that He is good and kind. 'He is good', He says, 'to the evil and impious.'"
Indeed it is. In fact, the very use of the English word "justice" or the Greek word dikaiosunh is misleading. Here's what an eminent Greek theologian, Alexander Kalomiros says about this:
... "So we see that God is not just, with the human meaning of this word, but we see that His justice means His goodness and love, which are given in an unjust manner, that is, God always gives without taking anything in return, and He gives to persons like us who are not worthy of receiving."
Amen, Kolo. Thank you very much for posting this. I completely agree with where Alexander Kalomiros is coming from. We know God's justice is definitionally perfect, and we know there are many examples in the Bible where what God does fails to line up with the human sense of justice. Therefore, they must be different. And that's not a bad thing. I thank God they are different, otherwise, I wouldn't have a chance! :)