"Our Just God"
Ps. 97:2
Welcome back to our series on Knowing God. In this series, we’re attempting to know more of what God is like MENTALLY, so that we might know Him better EXPERIENTIALLY.
Thus far, we have uncovered 4 attributes of God’s being. We have spoken of His Immutability, Omni-presence, Omnipotence, Omniscience , and Holiness.
Today, we look at another attribute, set forth in our text at the end of Ps.97:2 which says.. "Righteousness and JUSTICE are the foundation of His throne."
So justice is our focus this morning... for we want to know about our just God.
Speaking of justice... in the Old West, vigilantes were once self-appointed law enforcement. One writer says that "vigilantism was often carried out by citizens who were moderate and orderly in their appli- cation of force," but notes... "the danger of mob rule was also present." Yeah! Just ask the poor fellow who’s grave at Boot Hill Cemetery bears this epitaph: "LYNCHED BY MISTAKE."
T.S. Now, let’s begin by asking the question...
WHAT IS JUSTICE? Consider for a moment...
JUSTICE DEFINED
Generally speaking, justice is the "act, practice, or obligation of awarding each his just due." To this, we must add the ideas of "equity, fairness, and impartiality. Not to have these... is not to have justice, but injustice!
But let’s go further...consider...
JUSTICE DETAILED
For justice to occur, there must be 4 essential elements:
First, a DESIRE for justice above everything else. Without a desire for justice, how can justice occur?
Second, there must a LAW or STANDARD by which conduct is measured. Without a standard, how can a proper judgment be made? It can’t... or at least not fairly!
Third, there must be a FAIR AND IMPARTIAL PENALTY for each act of disobedience. Penalties must be fairly matched with offenses and impartiality carried out. Liars do not get the death penalty; nor should Hitler receive the same degree of punishment as a very moral person who rejected Christ as Savior!
Fourth, and most importantly, there must be a Judge with SUFFICIENT KNOWLEDGE, AUTHORITY and MEANS by which to punish offenders.
Justice is impossible without all these elements.. Now, to raise a second question...
WHY IS JUSTICE SO IMPERFECTLY FOUND AMONG MEN?
FIRST, MAN IS FINITE.
Admittedly, man has limitations that directly impact the prospect of justice. What sort of limitations?
For one thing, HE IS LIMITED IN HIS DESIRE FOR JUSTICE
Usually, we don’t really desire justice, unless we’re the offended party. For instance...
The last time you were pulled over for speeding... did you want the officer to give you a ticket or a warn-ing? Like most, you probably desired a warning. If so, you desired mercy, NOT justice. Justice demands that lawbreakers be ticketed.
However, now suppose somebody ran a red light and crashed into your car. The other driver admits he was at fault, but tells the officer he doesn’t want a ticket, and won’t pay for your damaged car. Do you want the officer to give him a ticket, or a warning? You want justice don’t you? Why because you’re the offended party!
So our desire for justice isn’t always there... unless it’s personal. A second limitation...
MAN IS LIMITED BY HIS LAW
In order for justice to occur, a proper standard and penalty must be in place. However, the problem is... laws enacted, and penalties imposed... aren’t always fair. Some laws aren’t enforced, some are obsolete, and some laws are down right stupid!
My friends, did you know that’s it’s still against the law to take a bath on Sunday in some communities? The law is still on the books in some places! Did you know further that it is estimated that we have 35 million laws to enforce 10 Commandments?
However, good laws are necessary.... For without them... we have an inadequate standard by which to measure conduct which frustrates justice.Again...
THIRD, MAN IS LIMITED IN HIS KNOWLEDGE AND APPLICATION OF THE LAW
In other words, even when our laws are just... often it is not enforced! Why? Sometimes judges and juries don’t have all the relevant facts; other times, they have the facts, but their power is limited to bring about justice.
For not all murderers are caught, and when they are.. often they are not convicted. If the O.J. Simpson trial taught us anything... it taught us that people can and do get away with murder!
At the same time, some people are falsely arrested and convicted of crimes they did not commit. One man named...
Ron Eaton did 16 years behind bars for a crime he didn’t commit. Afterwards he said, "I didn’t have a dime in my pockets or a friend in the world, when they put me on trial for armed robbery. That’s why I spent 16 years in prison for a crime committed by 2 other men while I was 1,700 miles away.
But why do these things happen? One reason is... man is finite. Justice is frustrated because of man’s limited desire, knowledge, authority, and power to bring about justice?
But there’s another reason why justice is imperfect, for no only is man finite...
MAN IS SINFUL.
In this regard, thank God we live in a country where checks and balances are built into our judicial system. Why? Because sin has touched not only every facet of man’s being, but everything to which he aspires... including his desire for justice. How so?
One way is through GREED.
Like all men, judges, and elected officials are not immune to greed. In fact, their positions of power makes them a prime target for bribery. The desire for money has caused many a Judge to look the other way. Let me give you one example...
Judge Martin Manton, a Court of Appeals Judge was almost nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court. Almost, because it became known that he took bribes from parties appearing before him. However, he claimed innocence on the ground that he took bribes from both sides, decided the case on its merits, and then returned the money to the losing party. Such a defense caused Judge Learned Hand, perhaps the most distinguished Court of Appeals judge in our history, to call Manton a MORAL MORON!"
So greed is one way justice is frustrated... But how else?
PARTIALITY OFTEN FRUSTRATES JUSTICE.
Partiality is prejudice... and according to James 2... prejudice is sin! Justice demands impartiality! All men must be judged by the same Law. We cannot have a double standard! As someone once said, "Corn can’t expect justice from a court composed of chickens."
That’s why Lady Justice is portrayed as blindfolded, holding a pair of balances. Justice means that all people are treated impartially under the Law,... regardless of race, sex, religion, etc.
Finally, man’s justice is imperfect because...
MAN’S SYSTEM OF JUSTICE IS INNATELY FLAWED. Why? One reason is...
UNSCRUPULOUS LAWYERS
Do I need to say more? Sometimes, all too often a person is acquitted, not because he is innocent... but only through the dubious acts of counsel. Speaking of lawyers a boy once asked...
"What ’s a lawyer, Pa?" To which He replied... "A lawyer, my son is a man who induces two other men to strip for a fight, and then runs away with their clothes."
Along these lines... justice is often stolen...for another reason ...
UNDUE LEGAL TECHNICALITIES
You know the familiar story! A proven murderer is set free because of some minute legal technicality... which had little to do with guilt or innocence. Some years ago...
Richard Speck murdered eight student nurses in Chicago in cold-blooded deliberation. He was tried and sentenced to death. Acknowledging his guilt, the U.S. Supreme Court later ruled that the death sentence was illegally passed upon him because there was no one on the jury opposed to a death penalty! How sad! How very sad,indeed!
We conclude that justice is often frustrated because of man’s finite and sinful limitations. That brings us then to our next point.. The heart of our text...
WHAT IS JUSTICE IN RELATION TO GOD?
This is an important question, since man’s sense of justice is directly derived from his belief in God. What is justice in relation to God?
First, and foremost it is...
AN EXPRESSION OF HIS HOLY CHARACTER
Our text says... "clouds and darkness surround You... righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your rule.." "Clouds and darkness" are a picturesque way of saying... God is holy. Such imagery is associated with His purity. I refer you once again to Mt. Sinai... a place shrouded in darkness and ominous clouds... a way to emphasize God’s holiness!
Then again, justice derives from God’s holiness and righteousness of character. Specifically, righteousness is God’s love of holiness... while justice is his hatred of sin.
Repeatedly, the scriptures speak of Our Just God!
There is no truer statement than this: God will not do wrong. The Almighty cannot twist JUSTICE.- Job 34:12
We cannot imagine the power of the Almighty, yet he is so JUST and merciful- Job. 37:23
Fear the Lord and judge with care, for the Lord our God does NOT tolerate perverted JUSTICE, PARTIALITY, or the TAKING OF BRIBES."- 2 Chron 19:7
Let them boast in this alone: that they truly know me and understand that I am the Lord who is JUST and RIGHTEOUS, whose love is unfailing, and that I DELIGHT in these things. I, the Lord, have spoken!- Jer. 9:24
His judgments are JUST and true- REV. 19:2.
God’s motivation for justice does not come from a motivation outside of Himself. God acts justly... because He’s just! It’s His nature to be just! God is just... Just like He is love... because He can’t be otherwise! Deut 32:4 says... He is the Rock; His work is perfect. Everything He does is JUST and fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how JUST and upright He is!
POINT IS... GOD’S CHARACTER DRIVES HIS EXERCISE OF JUSTICE.
So justice is an expression of God’s character... But it is also..
AN ENFORCEMENT OF GOD’S HOLY LAW
God’s law is an expression of his holiness! Paul calls the Law "holy and good" in Rom. 7, and thus it is ... because it expresses God’s holy character and will. The 10 commandments are His moral rules for maintaining a moral society. Unlike man, God has all knowledge, authority and power to enforce His Law. His unlimited resources guarantee justice... either here or in the life o come!
Finally, in regard to justice and God.... I must say lastly, justice is an indisputable...
EVIDENCE OF GOD’S HOLY RULE
God is sovereign... He rules from heaven with all holiness and justice! The evidence for God’s holy rule is found in the words of the Psalmist in 9:4... "For you have judged in my favor; from your THRONE, you have judged with FAIRNESS.
Again, Ps.98:9 proclaims... the Lord is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with JUSTICE, and the nations with FAIRNESS. That my friends, is a prophecy of the Second Coming... when Christ comes in great power and glory to set up His Millennial Kingdom.
In view of such a just and holy God shouldn’t we exclaim with Isaac Watts...
With my whole heart I’ll raise my song, Thy wonders I’ll proclaim;
Thou, sovereign Judge of right and wrong, Wilt put my foes to shame.
I’ll sing thy majesty and grace; My God prepares His throne
To judge the world in righteousness, And make His vengeance known.
That brings us then to our final point... since justice is an expression of God’s nature... an enforcement of His holy Law, and an evidence of His Holy rule...
WHY IS GOD’S JUSTICE IMPORTANT TO ME? God’s justice is important because...
IT ASSURES ME THAT EVERYONE WILL RECEIVE THEIR JUST DUE. Why such assurance?
HIS JUDGMENT IS ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN.
Like the Psalmist, sometimes it bothers us... that some appear to get away with evil! But my friends... know this... because God is Just ... nobody.. ever gets away with anything!
Acts 17:31 reminds us... "God has set a day for judging the world with justice by the man He has appointed, and He proved to everyone who this is by raising him from the dead." The appointed Judge is Jesus Christ. His resurrection guarantees every man’s certain judgment!
Again, Heb. 9:27 says... "it is appointed unto men once to die and after this the judgment. Though men may scoff and jest, every one of us will stand before Christ our Judge. Along these lines... Tozer comments...
God’s justice stands forever against the sinner in utter severity. The vague and tenuous hope that God is too kind to punish the ungodly has become a deadly opiate for the consciences of millions. It hushes their fears and allows them to practice all pleasant forms of iniquity while death draws every day nearer and the command to repent goes unregarded. ..we dare not so trifle with our eternal future
Again, God’s justice is not only important because of our certain appointment with our Judge, but also because of the scrutiny of that judgment.. For...
HIS JUDGMENT WILL BE METICULOUSLY CRITICAL.
Imagine! Everything you have ever done! Every thought you have ever had! Every word you ever spoke... will be a part of your final judgment!
Solomon writes about this in 12:14 by saying... God will judge us for EVERYTHING WE DO, including every secret thing, whether good or bad. Jesus warns in Rev. 2:23 I am the one who searches out the THOUGHTS and INTENTIONS of every person. And I will give to each of you WHATEVER YOU DESERVE... And again in Mt. 12:36 He says... And I tell you this, that you must give an account on judgment day of EVERY IDLE WORD you speak. 37 The words you say now reflect your fate then; either you will be justified by them or you will be condemned."
Further, His judgment will not only be absolutely certain, and meticulously critical...
HIS JUDGMENT WILL BE TOTALLY IMPARTIAL AND BLAMELESSLY FAIR!
There will be no cries of partiality or prejudice. For God is no respecter of persons.
Along these lines... An ill-prepared college student took an economics exam just before Christmas vacation and wrote on his paper. "Only God knows the answers to these questions. Merry Christmas!" The professor graded the papers and wrote this note: "God gets 100, you get 0. Happy New Year!"
My friends! Every person will get exactly what they deserve! God doesn’t grade on a curve!
Another reason why God’s justice should be important to me because...
IT WARNS ME THAT HOW I LIVE NOW WILL BE THE BASIS OF MY JUDGMENT THEN.
2 Pet. 2:17 says... And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has NO favorites when he judges. He will judge or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during your time as foreigners here on earth.
The Psalmist echo’s this thought by saying in 32:19... You have all wisdom and do great and mighty miracles. You are very aware of the CONDUCT of all people, and you REWARD them according to their DEEDS.
Finally, God’s justice is important because ...
IT REMINDS ME OF HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO KNOW CHR
IST AS SAVIOR.
God is a God of Justice! And, God’s justice was fully satisfied in the death of Christ for you. To reject Him means... you will experience the fullness of God’s wrath forever! For... God’s wrath at the smallest sin is infinitely greater than our anger at the most shocking crime"
Though written to specifically to Christians... 1 Jn. 1:9 shows the way to God’s forgiveness. It says... If we say we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and refusing to accept the truth. 9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and JUST to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong
Convicted in 1973 of trying to bribe a witness, one man remained free during three years of appeals. Finally, in 1976, after all appeals were exhausted, he should have begun serving a four-year sentence; However, no one notified him when to surrender, and he never bothered to report. For seven years, he lived in a twilight of fear and hope. Had he escaped oversight, he wondered? Or would the arm of justice finally reach out and snatch him away? Finally, perhaps on the tip of an informant, the court routed the offender from the crack he had fallen into and ordered him to prison at a specific time. He gambled on escaping the system—but failed.
Many in the world resemble that man spiritually. Somehow, they hope to escape divine justice, to be small enough to be overlooked, to have offended so little that no one will care.
But it will all be futile! For, from our Just God there are no cracks to fall through. There are no places to hide... Except in the blood of the Lamb!
