Tag: God’s justice
God’s justice
Scripture reading for November 21st: 2nd Thessalonians 1, Psalms 82, Proverbs 15
2nd Thessalonians 1: 5-10 “This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering–since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His might, when He comes on that Day to be glorified in His saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.”
Paul sought to build up and encourage these believers who were suffering much affliction and persecution from unbelievers. He encouraged them by reminding them of God’s justice and the coming judgment of the wicked at the arrival of Christ. The Psalmist, in Psalm 82:8, calls on God to arise and judge the earth. He proclaimed that God would inherit all nations! Paul proclaimed that the Lord Jesus would return in blazing fire with His holy angels and repay all unbelievers and those who rejected the opportunity for salvation through Jesus Christ. Their just ‘payment’ would be ‘eternal destruction’ and eternal separation from God and His believing people. The writer of Proverbs describe the ‘sever discipline’ of those who forsake God’s way. God sees the hearts of all men and is Judge of all!
Psalm 82:1,8 “God has taken His place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods He holds judgment.” . . .”Arise, O God, judge the earth; for You shall inherit all the nations!”
Prayer: Father God, You are Holy and Just and righteous in all You decree and do. Thank You for reminding us of the culmination of all justice at the return of Jesus Christ in flaming fire with the holy angels. We as believers, will arise to marvel at Your amazing grace and rejoice in Your eternal justice and reign of peace. Search my heart O God, and lead me in the way of eternal life in Jesus Christ.
Proverbs 15:10-11 “There is severe discipline for him who forsakes the way; whoever hates reproof will die. Sheol and Abaddon lie open before the Lord; how much more the hearts of the children of man!”
Wrestling with God’s justice!
Scripture reading for May 21st: Job 8-10
When you talk with unbelievers, one of their main accusations against God is the injustice that is in the world. How can a loving God allow suffering of innocent people? If God is all powerful, why does He allow evil to happen to good people? If He is indeed just, does this mean that all suffering people suffer because God is punishing them? These are not new questions, they were also discussed in the time of Job!
Job’s friend Bildad the Shuhite told Job that his words claiming innocence were like a blustering wind! He said when Job’s children sinned, God merely gave them their due! (Job 8:2-4) God gave people what they deserved and he pointed Job to past generations and what they had experienced. (Job 8:8-9) He encouraged Job to plead with God for mercy and told him that God could restore him if he were really pure and upright. (Job 8:5-6)
Job answered his friend with a question: ” How can any mortal man be righteous before God?” (Job 9:2) Job understood the great gap between him and God. He felt the need for a mediator, one who could arbitrate for him with this great God. (Job 9:32-35) Job spoke plainly to God about his need to understand what he had done wrong. (Job 10:2) He was not sure if he was guilty. Even if he was innocent, Job was hurting so much that he felt shame! (Job 10:15)
Suffering often forces us to ask the hard questions about our own life. Job truly wanted to know if he was guilty of sin. Job grappled with his mortality and God’s great power and knowledge. He tried to understand the justice of God in a situation that felt unfair. His friend Bildad had tried to help him see an aspect of God’s justice, but without clear understanding of his sin this did not help.
God answered Job’s inner desire! We now have a mediator who will stand before God on our behalf! Jesus Christ is the one mediator between God and man! He is a man like us and understands our suffering and weakness and is able to help us when we suffer! God is just and merciful to each of us through His own Son, Jesus Christ! (1st Timothy 2:5-6)