Tuesday: God Is the Judge

Daily Lesson for Tuesday 16th of January 2024

Read Psalms 75:1-10. Why is the boasting of the wicked in vain?

As the Sovereign King, the Lord is also a Lawgiver (Psalms 99:7) and a Judge (Psalms 98:9, Psalms 97:2).

Image © Review & Herald Publishing at Goodsalt.com

The wicked constantly threaten the just order that God established in the world, but the Lord will judge the world and bring the rule of evil to its end (Psalms 75:8-10, Psalms 96:13).

In Psalms 75:1-10, several images depict the irrevocable destruction of the wicked. The image of a cup with red wine (Psalms 75:8) conveys the intensity of God’s fury (Jeremiah 25:15, Revelation 14:10). Cutting off the horns of the wicked depicts the end of their power and dominion, while the horns of the righteous shall be exalted (Psalms 75:10). God chooses a “proper time” (Psalms 75:2, NKJV) or “appointed time” (NIV) for His judgment. This executive judgment clearly will take place at the end of time (Psalms 96:13, 1 Corinthians 15:23-26).

The Lord probes people’s hearts as part of His judgment. Read Psalms 14:2. It is reminiscent of Genesis 6:5,8. Both texts show that the execution of God’s judgment of the world is preceded by God’s examination of the people’s lives and seeking whomever He can save. This judgment is sometimes called “the investigative judgment,” when God defends the righteous and decides the fate of the wicked.

How does it work?

First, God delivers His people from the wicked (Psalms 97:10, Psalms 146:9) and crowns the humble with salvation (Psalms 149:4). Second, the unrepentant wicked are destroyed forever (Psalms 97:3). Some psalms poetically describe the uselessness of human weapons against the Divine Judge (Psalms 76:3-6). The Lord is also a forgiving God, although He punishes people’s misdeeds (Psalms 99:8). God’s people, not only the wicked, shall give an account to God (Psalms 50:4, Psalms 135:14).

The Psalms convey the same notion that is expressed in other biblical texts, that God’s judgment begins with God’s people and is extended to the whole earth (Deuteronomy 32:36, 1 Peter 4:17). The psalmist cries to God to judge him but relies on God’s righteousness to defend him (Psalms 7:8-11; Psalms 139:23-24).

The Psalms call us to rejoice in anticipation of God’s judgments (Psalms 67:4, Psalms 96:10-13, Psalms 98:4-9). How is God’s judgment good news for those covered by the blood of Christ?