2005-07-10 - God Must Judge

Psalm 7, Part 4

4. A Plea for the Just Verdict of the Righteous Judge (vv. 8-10) ⁸

   We must understand that when David calls for justice here, he is not claiming that he is without sin. He is simply noting that in this specific situation, he can stand in the truth of his own innocence. But his view spreads from his own situation to the fact his enemies are the enemies of God's children. Again, this is consistent with Christ's position that, when His children are persecuted for His sake, it is an attack on Him as well.

   The view of many is that God, being a God of love, can't judge men. He must forgive them and therefore all will be saved. But contrary to this view, since God is righteous and just as well as loving, He must judge. His very nature requires it. God will judge! If He doesn't, then He is not just. The whole reason that He took on the form of man, that He was willing to die for our sins, was because this was the only way justice could be met. None need be judged, but they must be willing to accept Christ's payment for their just punishment. God Must Judge!

5. A Prediction concerning the Overthrow of the Evildoers by the Almighty (vv. 11-13) ⁹

   And it is this truth, God Must Judge, that gives us confidence in the final outcome of life. There will be justice. There will be vindication. There will be a world where God will rule over those who have chosen to follow Him. The enemies of God, those who are against Him, will be overthrown. This was true for an obedient Israel, and this is true for the world at large. David can speak with confidence in the midst of trials, because of who God is. David knows that evil will be overthrown, because God demands it. And if evil is overthrown, so will the evildoers!

6. The Unhappy End of the Man Who Plots Evil (vv. 14-16) ¹⁰

   David doesn't fall into the trap of believing, as many contemporary people do, that there is no such thing as evil, or therefore evil men. Regardless of this folly, God says there is evil, and that the one who conceives evil will reap the results of their actions. Paul essentially expresses the same thought as David, when he says: "Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life" (Galatians 6: 7-8).

Comments or Questions?
Geoff

GKragen@aol.com
http://www.cfdevotionals.org

⁸ Leupold, p. 95.
⁹ Ibid., p. 96.
¹⁰ Ibid, p. 97.