Judge

Isaiah 11:3-4a, Isaiah 16:5, Psalm 96:13

A judge is someone who decides and executes laws while keeping evidence in mind. We often think of a judge as a scary authoritative person. The judge makes the rules and in some cases holds them right over someone, determining life or death. As the creator of the world, our God holds authority over all things. Yes, God is also in control over life and death, but His judgment over the world should bring peace and not fear. Our God is a just Judge. We know that God is for us, and we have nothing to fear (Romans 8:31). Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” This means that if we have placed our faith in Jesus as our Lord and Savior, He is with us and not only desires the best for us, but knows what is best. 

Yet we live in a broken world in which sin has entered in part because of you and me. With the weight of sin there needs to be a Judge. We can’t expect there to be order without a Ruler. 

The world was first introduced to judges in chapter two of the book of Judges. The Israelites had again pursued evil rather than the Lord and God was provoked to anger (Judges 2:11-12). God, being the One in control, provided a way out of their sin by appointing judges: “Then the Lord raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those who plundered them” (Judges 2:16). This starts a cycle of judges being raised up and bringing order to God’s people for generations. Some of these judges were great and strived to please the Lord and others leaned into their own understanding and caused the people to stray away from the Lord. 

Then later on in the Old Testament it was prophesied that a ruler would come who would judge the world with righteousness (Isaiah 11:3-4a). He would be the ultimate Judge. Isaiah 16:5 says, 

“then a throne will be established in steadfast love, 

and on it will sit in faithfulness in the tent of David

one who judges and seeks justice

and is swift to do righteousness.” 

So we can trust based on God’s word that He is a righteous Judge. And before we get it in our heads that only “really bad” people need a judge or people who get caught be reminded that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23) and “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). 

Church we must be judged for our sins, but the beautiful thing is that we follow a God who is a righteous Judge. God doesn’t leave us in our sin to be judged rightfully for what we deserve, but “being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us… made us alive together with Christ” (Ephesians 2:4). So be reminded Church, that we deserve death and eternal separation away from our Father, yet being a loving and righteous judge, He gave Himself up for our ransom, so that He could look at us as we stand before Him and see the blood of Jesus making us white as snow and say, “well done, my good and faithful servant” (Matthew 24:21).