“HIS RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENTS”
There are false teachers who claim that God is not a God of judgment. They think that since we are “under grace” that He will not bring judgment. They fail to understand that although He is a God of love, mercy, and grace – He is also a holy, just, and righteous God. When people do not obey His instructions, and follow His commands, there are dreadful consequences. Righteousness & justice prevail…
Deuteronomy 32:4 – He is the Rock, His work is perfect: for ALL HIS WAYS ARE JUDGMENT, a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is He.
In Moses song, there is an interesting revelation of the Lord. “All His ways are judgment!” In these last days the Lord wants to teach His ways, and for us us walk in His paths (Isaiah 2:3). For us to know HIs ways, we need to understand His judgments!
IT IS NOT A MATTER OF “IF” BUT “WHEN”
Psalm 75:1,2 …Your wondrous works declare that Your name is near. 2 God says, “When I choose the PROPER TIME, I WILL JUDGE uprightly. 3 The earth and all its inhabitants are dissolved; I set up its pillars firmly.” Selah
Psalm 31:15 – (The Psalmist prayed) My times are in your hand... Deliver me from the hand of my enemies, and from those who persecute me. In His good timing there will surely be JUDGMENT!
Note, he trusted the Lord’s timing for answers to his prayers.
SOME JUDGMENT COMES SOONER — SOME LATER
I TIMOTHY 5:24 – Some men’s sins are clearly evident, preceding them to JUDGMENT, but those of some men follow later.
WHEN JESUS COMES AGAIN THERE WILL BE JUDGMENT
DANIEL 7:13,14,21 – And behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. 14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed. “I was watching; and the same horn was making war against the saints, and prevailing against them, 22 until the Ancient of Days came, and A JUDGMENT was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom.
PROPHETIC REVELATION OF JESUS
Revelation 19:10 – …Worship God! For the TESTIMONY OF JESUS is the spirit of prophecy.”
JUDGMENT
Hebrews 6:2 – …of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal JUDGMENT.
Note, judgment is listed as one of the foundational truths for a Christian. If we want to have a good, Biblical spiritual foundation we need to understand the importance of JUDGMENT.
Judgment is a good thing. It is designed to be a blessing for the righteous, but punishment for the wicked. The righteous are vindicated (defended) & delivered from oppression. JUDGMENT comes upon the wicked; & there are rewards for the righteous.
Justice & righteousness ultimately PREVAILS! “Vengeance is mine, I will repay” says the Lord! (Romans 12:19.)
PSALM 76:9 – When God arose to JUDGMENT, To deliver all the oppressed of the earth. Selah
JESUS IS OUR JUDGE
“His Righteous Judgments”
JOHN 9:39 – And Jesus said, “For JUDGMENT I have come into this world…”
John 5:22 – For the Father judges no one, but has committed all judgment to the Son,
(AMPC) – Even the Father judges no one, for He has given all judgment (the last judgment and the whole business of judging) entirely into the hands of the Son. (MSG) – The Father handed all authority to judge over to the Son. (NLT) – the Father judges no one. Instead, he has given the Son absolute authority to judge, (TPT) – “The Father now judges no one, for he has given all the authority to judge to the Son.
John 5:24,27 – … and has given Him authority to execute JUDGMENT also, because He is the Son of Man. “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into JUDGMENT, but has passed from death into life.
Note, Believers in Jesus escape the dreadful consequences of sin & are given eternal life… Hallelujah!
John 5:30 – I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and MY JUDGMENT IS RIGHTEOUS, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.
John 12:48 – He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which JUDGES him— the word that I have spoken will JUDGE him in the last day.
Note, we will be judged by the Word of God!
JESUS WILL JUDGE THE NATIONS
Matthew 25:31-32 – “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the holy angels with Him, then He will sit on the throne of His glory. 32 All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate them one from another, as a shepherd divides his sheep from the goats.
Psalm 9:7-8,16 – But the Lord shall endure forever; He has prepared His throne for JUDGMENT. 8 He shall JUDGE the world in RIGHTEOUSNESS, And He shall administer JUDGMENT for the peoples in uprightness…The Lord is known by the JUDGMENT He executes; The wicked is snared in the work of his own hands.
Isaiah 26:9 – …when Your JUDGMENTS are in the earth, The inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.
ISAIAH 9:6-7 – For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with JUDGMENT and JUSTICE from that time forward, even forever.
Matthew 5;21-22 – “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the JUDGMENT.’ 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the JUDGMENT. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.
Matthew 12:36 – But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of JUDGMENT.
JUDE 1:15 – … to execute JUDGMENT on all, to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him.”
PSALM 48:11 – Let Mount Zion rejoice, Let the daughters of Judah be glad, Because of Your JUDGMENTS.
Note – righteous judgments should bring great joy, gladness, thanksgiving & praise to the people of God.
JUDGE
The Supreme (Sovereign) Being; Someone who has authority to hear and determine causes; One who presides in a judicial court; One who has skill (wisdom) to decide on the merits of a question, or on the value of any thing; one who can discern truth and propriety. To try; to examine and pass sentence on; God shall JUDGE the righteous and the wicked – (Ecclesiastes 3:17.) To rule or govern. •The Lord shall JUDGE his people (Hebrews 10:30.); To doom to punishment; to punish; “I will JUDGE you according to your ways.” (Ezekiel 7:3.)
Genesis 18:25 – Shall not the JUDGE of all the earth do right?
In the history of Israel, a chief magistrate. The Israelites were governed by judges more than three hundred years, and the history of their transactions is called the book of Judges in the Bible.
SHEEP SEPARATED FROM GOATS
Matthew 25:31-46 – (Story of shepherd separating his sheep from the goats.This is what the judgment will be like – there will be a separation of people. Those who have pleased God will join Him in heaven;Those who have not pleased Him will be sent to a place of eternal punishment; This passage shows how people will be judged. )
They are not judged by their apparent religiousness – he judges them on how they treated each other. Some of them were very surprised.Those He rejects object (with surprise), because they did many works that they thought would please Him… Jesus says He never knew them. Apparently these people did not know Jesus well enough to know what really pleases Him. They thought they were doing great works, but ignored the things that pleased Jesus (helping others). It was not necessarily that they did evil things (at least mentioned in the story) – but they did not do the good things that showed love. Those that did please Jesus were also surprised when He said they had helped Him. They didn’t know that Jesus saw their good works toward their brothers as done to Him.
What are goats like? They are stubborn. They resist being told what to do. They’ll eat (take in) almost anything, even garbage. People who resist God and want to do their own thing are stubborn, and end up accepting the lies and garbage of this world. The goats in this story thought they were doing God’s work, but were obviously not listening to how He wanted it done, or they were doing it for their own goals, not His. He didn’t even know them.
JUDGMENT
DEFINITION – The act of judging; the act or process of the mind in comparing its ideas, to find their agreement or disagreement, and to ascertain truth; or the process of examining facts and arguments, to ascertain propriety and justice; or the process of examining the relations between one proposition and another. JUDGMENT supplies the want of certain knowledge; Determining truth & implementation of justice;The sentence of doom pronounced by the judge or court in which any cause is tried – it is a determination or decision made; Determination; decision; In Scripture, the spirit of wisdom and prudence, enabling a person to discern right and wrong, good and evil; A remarkable punishment; an extraordinary calamity inflicted by God on sinners. The final trial of the human race when God will decide the fate of every fate of every individual, and award sentence according to justice. For God shall bring every work into JUDGMENT with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil. (Ecclesiastes 12:14.)
JUDGMENTS are prepared for scorners. (Proverbs 19:28; Isaiah 26:8.)
The righteous statutes and commandments of God are called his judgments. (Psalm 119:66)
JUDGMENT IS A WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
John 16:8-11 – And when He has come (the Holy Spirit), He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of JUDGMENT 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me; 10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; 11 of JUDGMENT, because the ruler of this world is JUDGED.
MERCY AND JUDGMENT
Romans 11:22 – Therefore consider the goodness AND severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, IF you CONTINUE in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.
John 15:5- If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned.
GOD’S RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENTS
Psalm 19:9 – The JUDGMENTS of the Lord are true and RIGHTEOUS altogether.
Isaiah 5:16 – But the Lord of hosts shall be exalted in JUDGMENT, And God who is holy shall be hallowed in RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Jeremiah 4:2 – ‘The Lord lives,’ In truth, in JUDGMENT, and in SRIGHTEOUSNESS; The nations shall bless themselves in Him, And in Him they shall glory.”
Jeremiah 9:24 – But let him who glories glory in this, That he understands and knows Me, That I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, JUDGMENT, and RIGHTEOUSNESS in the earth. For in these I DELIGHT,” says the Lord.
Psalm 119:75,137,160 – I know, O Lord, that Your JUDGMENTS are right, And that in faithfulness You have afflicted me. RIGHTEOUS are You, O Lord, And upright are Your judgments… The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENTS endures forever.
Isaiah 4:4 – When the Lord has washed away the filth of the daughters of Zion, and purged the blood of Jerusalem from her midst, by the spirit of JUDGMENT and by the spirit of burning,
Jeremiah 23:5 – “Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness. A King shall reign and prosper, And execute JUDGMENT and RIGHTEOUSNESS in the earth.
Romans 1:32; 2:2,5 – …- who, knowing the RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them…. But we know that the JUDGMENT of God is according to truth against those who practice such things… in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT of God.
STORIES / ILLUSTRATIONS
The FLOOD
Noah & his family were saved (the RIGHTEOUS). •The WICKED were destroyed.
The LAST DAYS – FIRE
The WICKED will be destroyed. The RIGHTEOUS will be saved.
2 PETER 3:3-7 -…scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.”
2 PETER 3:10-17 – But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; since you this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked…
SODOM & GOMORRAH
The RIGHTEOUS were saved. The WICKED were destroyed.
EGYPTIANS – PLAGUES (LIGHT / DARKNESS)
Exodus 10:22-23 – … there was a thick darkness in all the land of Egypt 3 days. They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for 3 days: BUT all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.
NINEVAH
JUDGMENT was pronounced upon them for their wickedness. When the city sincerely repented, the Lord spared them for several hundred more years. Their judgment was delayed.
The GOLDEN CALF
Exodus 32:15-25 – (The Israelites made an idol. Vs. 20 – Moses burned it in the fire, ground it into powder – put it into the water & made them drink of it.) Vs. 25 – (They were put to shame before their enemies.) Vs. 28 – (3,000 men were slain.) Vs. 35 – (The Lord plagued the people, because they made the calf…)
HAMAN (story found In the book of Esther)
Haman made an evil plot to destroy the Jews. Instead of them being destroyed, Haman & his sons were destroyed. He was hung on the same gallows that he had made for Mordecai. God’s RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENTS prevailed!
EZRA
Their enemies were trying to stop their work of rebuilding the temple. When they sent a letter to the king… and King Darius considered it – – God’s will over ruled & the enemies plans were defeated.
Ezra 6: 7,8 ,9, 11-12– “Let the work of the this house of God alone – let the Jews build this house of God.” “Let expenses be given unto these men that they be not hindered.” “let that which they have need of… be given to them day by day without fail.” ”Also I issue a decree that whoever alters this edict, let a timber be pulled from his house and erected, and let him be hanged on it; and let his house be made a refuse heap because of this.” “And may the God who causes His name to dwell there destroy any king or people who put their hand to alter it, or to destroy this house of God which is in Jerusalem. I Darius issue a decree; let it be done diligently.”
JOSHUA
Joshua 24:14 -15 – “Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served… as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
Joshua 24:20 – IF you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, THEN He will turn and do you harm and consume you, after He has done you good.”
BLESSINGS / CURSES
Dueteronomy 28:1-2 – “Now it shall come to pass, IF you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. 2 And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, BECAUSE you obey the voice of the Lord your God:
Deuteronomy 28:15 – “BUT it shall come to pass, IF you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you…
CONSEQUENCES
There are CONSEQUENCES for our decisions!
Israel / Judah — Captivity & Dispersion (I Peter 1:1; & James 1:1.)
Wise & foolish virgins (Matthew 25:1-13.) – some denied entry to the wedding… the foolish didn’t make it through the door.
Nebuchadnezzar – (Daniel 4:28-33.) – King Nebuchadnezzar’s heart was lifted up with pride. He was humbled with insanity. Finally he came to his senses again, and gave the Lord praise.
Darius – (Daniel 5.) – King Darius heat was lifted up with pride, and he served & worshipped false gods. God brought judgment upon him, and took the kingdom from him.
Ananias and Saphirra (Acts 5:1-11.) In summary… They sold a possession, & brought part of it to the disciples. They lied about how much they were giving to the Lord. The Lord was not pleased, and both of them were killed right on the spot. It produced the fear of God with those who observed these things…
Herod – Acts 12:21-23 – So on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne and gave an oration to them. 22 And the people kept shouting, “The voice of a god and not of a man!” 23 Then immediately an angel of the Lord struck him, because he did not give glory to God. And he was eaten by worms and died.
Elijah & the false prophets of Baal (the false prophets were killed – I Kings 18:40.)
Achan – Joshua 7:24; 22:20 (his disobedience was punished with death along with his family)
Korah, Dathan, and Abiram – Numbers 16 (they were all judged — destroyed)
MORE SCRIPTURES
HEBREWS 9:27 And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the JUDGMENT…
ROMANS 14:10 – For we shall all stand before the JUDGMENT seat of Christ.
2 CORINTHIANS 5:10 – For we must all appear before the JUDGMENT seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
I PETER 4:17 – the time has come for JUDGMENT to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?
REVELATION — There are so many references to the Lord’s righteous judgments upon the wicked in the book of Revelation. Here are several:
Revelation 14:7 – Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his JUDGMENT is come:
Revelation 15:4 – …your JUDGMENTS are made manifest.
Revelation 16:7 – …true and righteous are your JUDGMENTS.
PROVERBS 2:21,22 – The UPRIGHT shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it. 22 But the WICKED shall be cut off from the earth, and the transgressors shall be rooted out of it.
PSALM 1:4-6 – The UNGODLY are not so, But are like the chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the UNGODLY shall not stand in the JUDGMENT, Nor SINNERS in the congregation of the RIGHTEOUS. For the Lord knows the way of the RIGHTEOUS, BUT the way of the ungodly shall PERISH.
2 PETER 2:4-10 – For if God did not spare the angels who sinned, but cast them down to HELL and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved for JUDGMENT; bringing in the flood on the world of the ungodly; and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; …then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of JUDGMENT, and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority.
2 THESSALONIANS 1:4-6 – …your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure, 5 which is manifest evidence of the RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; 6 since it is a RIGHTEOUS thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you…
NUMBERS 14:18 – ‘The Lord is longsuffering and ABUNDANT IN MERCY, forgiving iniquity and transgression; BUT He by no means clears the guilty…
THE FEAR OF THE LORD!
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 9:10.)
When His RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENTS are manifested, it teaches people wisdom. When He teaches us His ways let’s faithfully walk in His paths
WE NEED THE REVELATION OF THE WORD
ROMANS 11:33 – Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His JUDGMENTS and His ways past finding out!
Note – We need the revelation of God’s Word to truly understand the deep mysteries of His JUDGMENTS & WAYS.
IN JUDGMENT (ANGER/WRATH) REMEMBER MERCY
Habakkuk 3:2 –(prayer) …in wrath remember mercy.
(MSG) And as you bring judgment, as you surely must, remember mercy. )
God is a God of RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT upon wickedness, but He is also a God great MERCIES & lovingkindness upon the repentant. If people turn to Him, and repent of their evil ways, He will forgive (2 Chronicles 7:14)
I PETER 2:10 – … in time past were not – but now are the people of God: which had not obtained MERCY, but now have obtained MERCY.
REVIVAL NEEDED — PRAY
Habakkuk 3:2 – O Lord, REVIVE Your work in the midst of the years! In the midst of the years make it known; In wrath remember MERCY.
Psalm 138:7 – Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you will REVIVE me: you shall stretch forth your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand shall save me.
PERSONAL APPLICATION
Not everything is acceptable with the Lord!
Submit to His Lordship – be obedient to HIm!
Live by His Word – take heed to His instructions & righteous commandments. Judgment day is coming!
PSALM 94:15 – But JUDGMENT will return to righteousness, And all the upright in heart will follow it.
PAY ATTENTION TO HIS WARNINGS
Prepare to meet God! (Amos 4:12)
Backsliders repent & return to the Lord! (2 Chronicles 7:14; Hosea 6:1; James 4:8; Isaiah 30:15; 35:10.)
JUDGMENT Day is coming! (2 Peter 3:10-17; Hebrews 9:27)
PRAYER
Let’s pray together – Lord, we are reminded of your righteous judgments. As you will surely bring judgment, we also plead & intercede for your mercy to be extended to people all over of the earth! You are not willing that any perish. Your loving sacrifice on the cross is to show forth your lovingkindness and mercy to the world – that the world might be saved. Open our eyes to your pending judgments in the earth, and help us to be prepared. Also, we pray that you would use our bold testimonies & witness to help others be ready. Help us to be wise and redeem the time. We fear you, Lord, & your righteous judgments. We desire to live holy lives that are pleasing in your sight. We want to serve you faithfully all our life. We want to come to know you better, & have a closer relationship with you. We love you and appreciate your merciful loving-kindness and truth so much! Your righteous judgments are true and righteous altogether. We will continue to joyfully sing & praise you, & declare your goodness with hearts full of thanksgiving. You are worthy! Hallelujah! AMEN!
