Friday, May 22, 2015

Because of Jesus, God is our Righteous Judge

"A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation." (Psalm 68: 5)

Just as God our Father is not in heaven looking to find fault, but rather be the father for those who have none, so too the Lord God is our spouse, our bridegroom who avenges wrongs done to us.

We find a partial illustration of God's judgment on our behalf in the parable of the persistent widow, which Jesus related to his disciples:

"1And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; 2Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: 3And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. 4And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; 5Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. 6And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.   (Luke 18: 1-6)

Now notice that this judge did not fear God nor even care about mankind, yet this widow, who never stopped demanding justice, finally forced the unjust judge to relent.

With this illustration in mind, Jesus draws up the true picture of His Father, our God, and how he avenges us:

7And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? 8I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?" (Luke 18: 7-8)

Notice that God our avenger will take care of our needs "speedily".

The real question is not about how fast our Father moves on our behalf.

The real issue comes down to: do we believe that He can and will help us?

Consider this hesitance in the case of the leper who approached Jesus after His Sermon on the Mount:

"1When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him. 2And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 3And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed. 4And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them." (Matthew 8: 1-4)

Today, we are the bride of Christ, no longer even widowed!

"Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God." (Romans 7: 4)

and

"26But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.
"27For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. (Galatians 4: 26-27)
 
Because of Jesus, we have God our Righteous Father to avenge all wrongs against us. Better yet, we who were widowed because of Adam's sin find a new husband and a new standing in Christ Jesus, too!

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