“May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, ² that your way may be known upon earth, your saving power among all nations. ³ Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you. ⁴ Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. ⁵ Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you. ⁶ The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, has blessed us. ⁷ May God continue to bless us; let all the ends of the earth revere him.” Psalm 67 

“The just judge is primarily he who rights a wrong in a civil case. He would, no doubt, also try a criminal case justly, but that is hardly ever what the Psalmists are thinking of. Christians cry to God for mercy instead of justice; they (Jews) cried to God for justice instead of injustice. The Divine judge is the defender, the rescuer. Scholars tell me that in the Book of Judges the word we so translate might almost be rendered ‘champions’; for though these ‘judges’ do sometimes perform what we should call judicial functions, many of them are much more concerned with rescuing the oppressed Israelites. They are more like ‘Jack the Giant Killer’ than like a modern judge in a wig.” (Reflections on the Psalms, “Judgment in the Psalms”, Rejoicing in Judgment, from Preparing For Easter; Fifty Devotional Readings from C.S. Lewis) 

There are many passages in the Psalms that make the point clear – G-d will minister true judgment; G-d defends the poor, forgets not the complaint of the poor, and will help all the meek upon the earth. The Psalms are filled with a longing for judgment – a judgment that is coming as good news for all people. When G-d finally comes to judge, the last, the lost, least and little will finally be heard. 

How do you view G-d’s judgment: G-d is the judge in a criminal trial where we are the defendant hoping for an acquittal, or pardon? Or do you view G-d the judge in a civil case where we are the plaintiff hoping for a resounding triumph where we receive appropriate “damages”? That, my friends, is an interesting question.

Pastor Dave