2005-08-27 - Justice is Future

Psalm 9, Part 4

1. Praise for a Mighty Deliverance (vv. 1-12) cont'd.

   And clearly David does move into a future view of God, when he tells us of the eternal nature of the throne of God and the fact that the day will come when God will judge the world, ruling over it justly. This is obviously Millennial in thrust. The Day is coming when Messiah will judge the nations, based on their treatment of the Jew. It will be this judgment that will decide which peoples enter the Millennial Kingdom. This is a works-based judgment, therefore can't refer to who goes to Heaven or Hell, which is a Christ-based judgment.

   "All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.'... Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels'" (Matthew 25:32-32;41).

   During the Millennium itself, Christ will rule, exercising a just dominion over the world. He will be the final protector of the helpless, of those that had been the abused, the victims of the powerful. He will protect those who call on Him. And the response will be the worship and praise of the Almighty, of the Righteous, of the Just God who will bring vindication of His children.

   "Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory!" (Revelation 19:6-7).

   And one reason for praise is that the Lord will vindicate His children. All the persecution and tribulation that has fallen on the believer will bring judgment on the perpetrators of injustice. The reason we praise will not be out of a spirit of revenge, because with God's justice comes the triumph of His name, the vindication of His honor.

2. A plea for the continuation of this deliverance (vv. 13-20): But this promise of justice is future; meanwhile life still isn't fair. Men have not yet learned to fear the Lord. God's people were, and are still, suffering at the hands of the enemy. David prays for relief, so he can continue to praise the Lord. We constantly pray God will protect us from a degree of attack that would actually interfere with our ability to serve Him.

   And as is often the case, the enemy falls into the very trap he sets for us. Satan took Judas to destroy God's plan for our salvation. Yet in that act, Satan set in motion the events that brought Christ to the cross, completing the work of our rescue.

   David notes that often the judgment of God is brought about by the very individuals being judged. Many feel AIDs is a direct judgment of God on homosexuality. While this is possible, it is unlikely and doesn't fit the facts that AIDs is a bigger problem for the peoples of Africa than for anyone in this county. It is clear the disease is often spread though acts which God has clearly identified as sinful and immoral, both for the heterosexual and homosexual. He doesn't have to bring judgment, for the very act of sin brings its own destruction.

   "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 6:8).

To be continued.

Comments or Questions?
Geoff

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