What I Like About a Judge Pt. 2

As much as being labelled a judge is a scary thing, recognizing God as judge is even scarier. We project our image of judge/judgmental onto God and assume that God the judge is someone waiting to condemn us. But how does the Bible view God as judge?

God's salvation power is in God's "judge-ness." Revelation 19:1-2 says "“Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for true and just are his judgments." Revelation 19 celebrates the destruction of Babylon, the earthly capital of injustice, and the progression forward of God's kingdom of peace. That is a judgment I am happy for.

Continuing the theme, salvation from sin is often viewed as an obstruction of justice. "If we got what we deserve, we would be distanced from God forever..." or something like that is an oft-used statement in the line of reasoning of evangelicals nation-wide. And certainly, the inability of humankind to achieve salvation on our own merit is a good point. But 1 John 1:9 shows the aforementioned statement to be limited at best, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." It seems that God's system and God's "judge-ness" is rooted in forgiveness and grace. After all, God did set up the system of salvation. It would only stand to reason that God's justice would be rooted in God's character.

And therefore, God as judge doesn't provoke fear in me. In fact, like Abraham, it provokes faith. When God was ready to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham appeals to God the judge for mercy. Genesis 18:24-25: "Will you really sweep it away and not spare[e] the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? Far be it from you to do such a thing —to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?"

God as judge allows me to pray for justice. God as judge allows me to pray and be heard. And most importantly, God as judge assures me that salvation is irrevocable and that shalom will overcome.