Love And Justice

Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise! Let the earth and all living things join in. Let the rivers clap their hands in glee! Let the hills sing out their songs of joy before the LORD, for he is coming to judge the earth. He will judge the world with justice, and the nations with fairness. [Psalm 98.7-9]

It is interesting that all the praise given to God here is because He is coming to judge the earth. The Psalmist does not make all this ado about God's love or mercy, but about His justice.

In light of what I wrote yesterday (Eyes Of Love And Justice), it would seem that perhaps we have been a little "out of focus" in our worship of God by "closing our eye on justice" fixating mostly on His love as our primary reason to praise Him.

We have a tendency to make justice all about the Old Testament as if it was a dispensation that has passed giving way to the age of grace and love. But what we fail to remember is that Jesus existed before the Old Testament. Love and justice are both characteristics of God forever - they are timeless just like God. They always have been, and always will be, characteristics for which God is worthy of praise.

Also to this same point is the fact that love and justice are clearly addressed in one of the oldest books of the Bible: Job.

But Job replied, “You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” So in all this, Job said nothing wrong. [Job 2.10]

What we all need to understand is that "bad" is judgment. God is not "bad" but the curses for disobedience (Deuteronomy 28.15-68) are interpreted by man as "bad," when, in fact, the Psalmist indicates judgment is good and praiseworthy. Job evidently had an accurate understanding of this.

Job stood up and tore his robe in grief. Then he shaved his head and fell to the ground to worship. He said, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The LORD gave me what I had, and the LORD has taken it away. Praise the name of the LORD!” In all of this, Job did not sin by blaming God. [Job 1.20-22]

So keen was Job's sense of understanding of both God's love and justice that, at least in the onset of his judgement, he worshiped God. But like we also saw in Job, it is difficult to praise God for His justice like we can for His love. It was God's justice that revealed Job's hidden pride. And, that justice brought Job to repentance for his pride which then led to his restoration to a place of greater blessing than he had ever known before.

While some of the Psalms contained in recent OYCB readings seem harsh in their call for justice (particularly upon enemies), their value to us is paramount in comprehending that God is just as worthy of praise in His justice as He is in His love.

Prepare for overwhelming revelation when all this is considered in the light of Jesus Christ! There is infinitely more to this than can be addressed here, but suffice it to say, an intent study of God's justice will compliment His love in depths previously unimaginable. And for this, God is worthy of praise!

Father, thank You for Your justice! Thank You for Your love! Thank You for Your Word that speaks clearly of both and their relationship. Forgive me for "closing one eye" as I look to You and worship You only for Your love. Help me to realize the clarity that only looking upon life through both eyes of love and justice can bring. Help me to see the amazing relationship of love and justice in Jesus Christ.