S216P5 – Psalms of promise: justice will come
Psa. 50:1-6
The Mighty One, God the LORD, has spoken and called the earth from the rising of the sun to its going down. Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God will shine forth. Our God shall come, and shall not keep silent; a fire shall devour before Him, and it shall be very tempestuous all around Him. He shall call to the heavens from above, and to the earth, that He may judge His people: “Gather My saints together to Me, those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.” Let the heavens declare His righteousness, for God Himself is Judge.
The moment he became a Christian, he experienced the same awakening that millions and millions of others had experienced before him. The world in which he lived became clearer to him. What previously had appeared normal all of a sudden started to look much different. Seeing the world through the eyes of one who understood its spiritual components, his life became difficult in some ways. He understood sin and injustice, and it broke his heart to see so much of it around him. The prosperity of the wicked and the persecution of those made righteous made him cry out daily. What fueled that perseverance of prayer was the promise that justice would prevail eternally one day.
The day of the Lord’s judgment can evoke many visions in people’s minds. Some are unsure whether they believe, and they might be nervous that they could be found unprepared, yet they do not seek change. Others will laugh at the thought because they certainly do not believe. Still others think that they will question and judge God regarding the state of this world if He ever shows up. The result for all these will be the same on that day, and they certainly should fear it. The Lord’s saints also will be judged, but our judgment will be different. The storm which tosses and the fire which devours will do neither to us. We will stand firm and not be burned because we stand under the perfect mantle of Christ. For us and for them, justice will be served, even if it looks much different.
This passage speaks of God judging his saints, but the promise here resides in our covenant with him. The promise is that this covenant of sacrifice will yield its stated result. The Lord will keep his word and preserve us. We will be judged, and our judgment will be just, but this will be a liberation for us. This will be the ultimate moment of newness. Not only will we be made perfect, but no longer will we be subject to or witness to injustice. The Lord’s covenant will be kept. We will survive judgment and enter into our inheritance with Christ, made possible through his sacrifice. Father, thank You for the promise of your covenant, that we would see justice come upon creation and bring us into perfect eternity with You.