O Lord, the God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, let your glorious justice shine forth! Arise, O Judge of the earth. Give the proud what they deserve. How long, O Lord? How long will the wicked be allowed to gloat? How long will they speak with arrogance? How long will these evil people boast? They crush your people, Lord, hurting those you claim as your own. They kill widows and foreigners and murder orphans. “The Lord isn’t looking,” they say, “and besides, the God of Israel doesn’t care.” Think again, you fools! When will you finally catch on? Is he deaf—the one who made your ears? Is he blind—the one who formed your eyes? He punishes the nations—won’t he also punish you? He knows everything—doesn’t he also know what you are doing? The Lord knows people’s thoughts; he knows they are worthless! Joyful are those you discipline, Lord, those you teach with your instructions. You give them relief from troubled times until a pit is dug to capture the wicked. The Lord will not reject his people; he will not abandon his special possession. Judgment will again be founded on justice, and those with virtuous hearts will pursue it. Who will protect me from the wicked? Who will stand up for me against evildoers? Unless the Lord had helped me, I would soon have settled in the silence of the grave. I cried out, “I am slipping!” but your unfailing love, O Lord, supported me. When doubts filled my mind, your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer. Can unjust leaders claim that God is on their side— leaders whose decrees permit injustice? They gang up against the righteous and condemn the innocent to death. But the Lord is my fortress; my God is the mighty rock where I hide. God will turn the sins of evil people back on them. He will destroy them for their sins. The Lord our God will destroy them.
Psalms 94:1-23 NLT
Our God is just. Often we forget about God’s justice and holiness. Life is not fair, but the Lord is, and He ceaselessly works for justice, calling for His people to join Him in this work. The Lord disciplines His people (v.12) and protects them in times of trouble (vv.13-19). There is no true justice without God; humans too easily mix in our own selfish ambition or mixed motives (vv.20-23). Those who follow the Lord join His work in making the world a more just place for every human being.
God is loving, and His love and judgment go together. Some believe that judgment is the opposite of love, but those suffering injustices cry out for righteous judgment (vv.1-7). Only those who love hear and respond to this cry. Even for those who do not like the word “judgment,” they would agree that we want judges who judge well, drivers who have good judgment, and law enforcement that makes good judgment calls. We raise our kids to have good judgment, and we discipline our kids using judgment. Love is stronger than acceptance! Acceptance can be cold, passive, and distant. Love is warm, embracing, and active. True love works for the best in others, and it includes good judgment.
Why is it important to understand that love and good judgment go together? How can you work for justice this week?
